Bayview Marina, Darwin

Amid the high temperatures and humid clime of Australia’s Northern Territory, the decking used for the Bayview Marina needed to accomplish a seemingly impossible feat – provide an attractive walkway befitting an upmarket part of town, that could not only withstand Darwin’s tropical climate but withstand the salt spray and moisture that came with being installed directly over the water.

When the original timber deck needed replacing, the Bayview Marina Body Corporate partnered with DECO Australia to help eliminate the issues associated with timber decks in hot, humid coastal areas.

DecoDeck®, the timber-look aluminium decking from DECO, provided the ideal solution. With a marine grade finish and dimensionally stable boards, DecoDeck® would not rot, corrode or be impacted by its close proximity to the water. The Super Durable™ DecoWood® finish of the deck, which has been tested in extreme exposure areas, was also well-equipped to deal with strong sunlight, without resulting in the colour fading. DecoWood® Casuarina, a popular natural woodgrain finish, was chosen for its warm tones, which suited the area.

Walking on a marina would mean slips and trips needed to be prevented – and the special slip-resistant DecoWood® finish provided for all DecoDeck® products was an excellent solution. Formulated with special rubber particles, the finish gives DecoDeck® a P4 slip rating, making it suitable for a marina application.

In an area with year-round high temperatures, the temperature of the deck also needed to be a consideration – pedestrians needed to be able to walk on it without burning their feet. The aluminium decking, which is a good conductor of heat – provided the solution, as it would not develop ‘hot spots’ in the sun and would spread the temperature evenly across the boards. To ensure the deck would be suitable for this public landscape design, the Chairman of the body corporate first installed it in his own home to test it out – and he was pleasantly supplied by the results! Satisfied the deck was comfortable to walk on during a hot Darwin day, he approved it for the marina.

The finished deck is a breathtaking sight to see and a perfect example of how DecoDeck® combines beauty, practicality and longevity in hardwearing outdoor design applications.