BiForm vs Timber
Which should you choose?
When it comes to choosing the right decking material for your project, the options can be overwhelming. At BiForm, we believe in providing clear, straightforward information to help you make an informed decision. Traditional timber is no longer the obvious choice for your deck. BiForm Composite Decking offers a modern, low-maintenance alternative to timber, and is sourced ethically with enhanced durability. Below, we've highlighted the key differences to help you understand that there is a new obvious choice…BiForm Solid Composite Decking.
See how BiForm compares to Timber
|
|
Feature |
BiForm Composite Decking |
Timber |
|---|---|---|---|
Durability |
✅ Resistant to rot, mold, and pests |
❌ Prone to rot, mold, and pest damage |
|
Moisture Resistance |
✅ Won't warp, twist, or move with moisture |
❌ Prone to moisture damage and warping |
|
UV Resistance |
✅ UV tested and resistant |
❌ Can degrade over time from UV exposure |
|
Fire Rating |
✅ Fire-tested for added safety |
❌ Not typically fire-rated |
|
Family Safe |
✅ Slip-resistant, splinter-free, and no nails popping up |
❌ Can become slippery and may splinter over time; nails can pop up |
|
BRANZ Appraisal |
✅ BRANZ Appraised |
❌ Not BRANZ Appraised |
|
Antifungal |
✅ Contains antifungal agent |
❌ No resistance to fungal growth |
|
Low Maintenance |
✅ No staining, oiling, or painting required |
❌ Requires regular staining, oiling, or painting |
|
Longevity |
✅ Long-lasting; typically over 25 years |
❌ Shorter lifespan; usually 10-15 years |
|
Sustainability |
✅ Made from recycled materials; uses FSC-certified timber |
❌Often sourced from deforestation |
|
Installation |
✅ Hidden fixing clip makes installation quicker and easier |
❌ More complex installation |
|
Cost-Effectiveness |
✅ Lower long-term cost due to minimal upkeep |
❌ Higher long-term cost due to maintenance |
|
Aesthetic Variety |
✅ Available in a range of colours and finishes |
❌ Limited to natural wood tones |
|
Toxic Chemicals |
✅ Red-list free (contains no harmful chemicals) |
❌ May contain harmful chemicals from treatments |
|
Warranty |
✅ 25-year warranty |
❌ Typically shorter periods or no warranty given |
Durability
Unlike timber, BiForm is resistant to pest and wont rot or decay, rewarding you with termite free durability for decades.
Moisture Resistance
Our product stands strong in the wet! It doesn’t swell, warp or twist with moisture.
Timber absorbs moisture and swells/moves. This leads to structural weakness and issues with warping, twisting and cracking.
UV Resistance
In New Zealand, UV resistance is especially important. Our boards have been UV tested for durability and proven to be resistant to fading and deterioration.
Through exposure to UV, timber decking will experience fading, deterioration and warping.
Fire Rating
BiForm Composite is Fire Rated for the NZ Building Code and has been chosen for projects specifically based on fire test results.
As for timber, on cold winters night, what are you putting into your fireplace?
Family Safe
Enjoy your deck with peace of mind knowing that BiForm wont put your little ones (and bigger ones) at risk. Our boards have an R11 slip resistance rating, wont splinter and there are no nails popping up.
We all have childhood memories of sliding along a wet timber deck or getting the tweezers out to remove a pesky splinter!
BRANZ Appraisal
We make some pretty bold claims about how amazing our product is and that is because we have the rigorous product testing from BRANZ to prove it.
Tested to the building code, our WPC composite decking is the only of its kind to hold a BRANZ Appraisal.
Maintenance
BiForm doesn’t require any oiling, staining or painting meaning that you can spend your weekends enjoying your composite deck, instead of working on maintaining a timber one.
Sustainability
Our boards are made from 60% FSC Certified timber and 30% recycled plastic. This composition, along with our company-wide ccommitment to sustainability makes us leaders in our market.
Installation
Our high quality concealed fixing clips allow for a quick and easy installation.
We have quizzed builders who estimate that they can install a BiForm deck in half the time that it would take for a timber deck of the same size!
Not only does this get your job finished faster but also makes the labour portion a lot easier on the wallet!
Cost-Effectiveness
Though the initial cost of a BiForm deck will likely cost more that a timber deck, the cost difference is negated very quickly simply by not having to oil or stain your deck. Within just a few years you will likely already be saving on what would otherwise be an ongoing yearly cost.
Toxic Chemicals
We are proud of the fact that our composite doesn’t contain any toxic chemicals and we are the only ones to hold a Red-List Free Declare label that proves it.
Unfortunately, with timber there is every possibility that there will be toxic chemicals present from treatments.
Warranty
BiForm Solid Composite Decking comes with a 25 year limited warranty- one of the best available on the market. It isn’t common, but if you’re lucky enough find a timber decking board with a warranty, it will be for a much shorter period.
Akira Kuroe
"The end result is just stunning, well beyond my expectations. It has a very modern and contemporary look, feels nice and solid yet still has a natural timber-like warmth to it, and the camo colour gives a pleasant “non-uniformness” which softens up this grey colour really nicely."
Anil Savaram
"The finished deck exceeds my expectations and the quality of work seemed excellent.We are extremely satisfied and will be happy to recommend your work to any potential clients”.
Brian Neill
“We were impressed by not only the promise of a fine product but the amount of personal attention we received from the company. Once ordered the decking was freighted to Christchurch with commendable efficiency”.
Wayne And Diane Donnelly
“We wanted to install a 60 sqm floating deck over an existing deck with waterproof membrane. We had a height limit of 75mm for our existing balustrades to remain compliant."
Chris Van De Geest
“I was amazed at the result it come up way better than I thought , can’t believe the difference to my back yard."