Why isn't pitch pine available as decking?

Why we sell Pitch Pine – but not as decking

At Gunreben, we do indeed stock Pitch Pine – but as solid wood flooring for interiors. We intentionally do not offer this wood for decking.

That is not a contradiction. Pitch Pine is a beautiful wood full of character. It has a warm color, a vibrant grain, and is excellently suited for indoor floors. It creates a floor with a unique charm, especially in old buildings, country houses, or high-quality renovations.

You can read more about the wood itself in our article "Pitch Pine – the better alternative to oak?".

Why Pitch Pine is not our choice for terraces

The name itself reveals the deciding factor: Pitch refers to resin. Therefore, Pitch Pine is literally a resinous pine.

Indoors, the high resin content is part of the wood's character. On a terrace, it can become a problem. There, the wood is exposed to the sun, heats up, gets wet, and dries out again. With resinous softwoods, this can cause resin to bleed. We do not want to subject our customers to sticky spots, stains, and trapped dirt on a terrace surface.

Furthermore, high resin content does not automatically equate to high durability outdoors. For decking, what matters most is natural resistance, dimensional stability, and good performance when exposed to changing moisture levels.

That is precisely why Pitch Pine remains a wood for the interior for us – and not for the terrace.

Which decking woods are more suitable

For terraces, we recommend wood species that are better suited to sun, rain, and fluctuating humidity. Which board is the right fit depends on the desired appearance and your expectations regarding durability and maintenance.

Ipé: when durability is the priority

Anyone planning a highly resistant wood terrace is well-advised to choose Ipé decking boards. Ipé is dense, hard, and is among the most durable terrace woods in our range. The Ipê Prime KD grooved decking board 21 × 145 mm is particularly suitable for high-end outdoor areas where high natural durability is more important than the initial price.

Garapa: if you want a lighter-looking terrace

Not every terrace needs to be dark. Garapa Prime KD smooth 25 × 145 mm is a light hardwood board with a honey-yellow to warm-brown look. It suits modern terraces that are intended to look friendly and natural.

Thermo-Pine: if a softwood is intentionally desired

Those who specifically seek a softwood look should choose Thermo-Pine KD smooth 26 × 138 mm instead of Pitch Pine. It remains visually closer to softwood, but thanks to the thermal treatment, it is better prepared for outdoor use than untreated pine.

Conclusion

For us, Pitch Pine is not a decking wood. Not because it is a poor wood, but because its strengths lie elsewhere.

Indoors, Pitch Pine shines: as a vibrant, warm, and characterful solid wood floor. Outdoors, however, we recommend woods that are better suited to sun, rain, and moisture fluctuations – for example, Ipé, Garapa, or Thermo-Pine.

You can find a detailed comparison of decking woods in our article Hardwood decking boards in comparison.