Interholco and Hermpac have combined their expertise to build an FSC-certified kanda deck, a fine example of the successful use of a lesser known timber species.
Find the original communication of Interholco on its website
Heaven is a place on earth in Langs Beach, New Zealand and the impression will be nothing short of the real thing once you arrive. Nestled on white sands, a brisk hour and a half away from Auckland, this holiday home is the perfect getaway for any length of stay, from a stretched-out day to long weeks.
The decked terrace seamlessly connects the holiday homes living areas with the sprawling communal grass reserve. Timber slats for the decking enclose sweeping views of the ocean. The brief mentioned curving wide boards for the decking edge and stairs. Kanda (Beilschmiedia spp.) supplied by Interholco proved to be ideal for this particular use.
An interesting point was that this was a replacement of a Kwila (Merbau) decking which had curved stairs and edges. Numerous other hardwoods would not have been able to work with the existing curves of the deck. Kanda was chosen for the terrace as it ticked all the boxes: FSC certified, relatively stable, class 2 durable. Plus, Kanda's colour and grain are attractive, it is easy to work with and install, allowing for good length spread.
‘The project specified a wide board decking that had minimal bleeding of the tannins and that could handle north facing, i.e. hot, exposed, coastal weather conditions,’ said Steve Carter, Hermpac Sales and Marketing Manager. ‘With this in mind, the project used Hermpac 140 x 21 Watershed profile which has a slight curve on the face to allow water to run off the edges of the board and then coated in Wood-X clear base oil to help minimize the uptake and release of moisture.’
Since it is based on a field at a stone’s throw from the beach, the decking gets used constantly in summer, as an access way but also a communal gathering area to watch kids play on the reserve and enjoy the view of the beach and water.
Langs Beach is blessed with natural wonder, on either side. Explore the breathtaking Waipu walk along the ‘pancake’ limestone rocks that make this coastline unique. Or walk up the Mangawhai cliffs to enjoy a panoramic view. Want to really feel like a local? Then bring your own boat and join the water-sporters. See you soon in Langs Beach – kia ora!
