JOURNAL / OUTDOORS

A pergola or deck takes sun, rain and, next to a pool, water every day. With the right wood and good detailing they last many years; with a soft wood or poor details, they crack, warp or rot within a few seasons.

The species

  • Tzalam. Stable and durable; we use it for pergolas, decks and beams.
  • Macuil. Lighter and pale; it works well for decks and pergolas, including on the coast.
  • Zapote. Very hard and durable, for beams and exposed structural pieces.
  • Indoor floors use other woods, such as granadillo, katalox or oak; outdoors it is better to stick with the ones above.

Design matters as much as the wood

  • Let water run off. Joints and cuts that don’t hold it, and beams with a protected top face.
  • Let the wood breathe. A deck sits on a frame that lifts it off the ground, never directly on soil.
  • Spaced boards. A few millimeters between boards let water through and the wood dry.
  • Corrosion-resistant hardware. Screws and anchors that hold up, especially near the sea.
  • Generous sections. A thicker piece warps less in the sun.

Maintenance

Any wood outdoors needs its finish renewed from time to time, more often on the coast and on faces in direct sun. Left unfinished, hardwood weathers to a silver-gray tone; that is a valid aesthetic choice, as long as it is made from the start.