The seamless integration of a captivating fire pit with the timeless beauty of a hardwood deck is a sign of skillful outdoor room design. When planning your deck design to include a fire feature, selecting materials that not only exude beauty but also guarantee enduring safety and durability becomes a significant priority.
Designing a deck with a fire feature - a wood burning fire pit, fire table, or fireplace - gives you a warm and welcoming outdoor space. Perfect for cozy nights or entertaining friends.
We have wonderful design ideas to incorporate fire pits on your deck. And suggestions for the best wood decking materials for your new outdoor room.
But there are important considerations when designing a fire pit.
To meet the high standards for aesthetics, longevity, and safety, discerning deck designers and homeowners consistently turn to premium hardwood decking, and Mataverde offers unparalleled solutions.
Mataverde Hardwood decking is an excellent choice. It has a beautiful natural look, is extraordinarily strong, and the wood comes from responsibly managed forests. This makes it a smart choice for homeowners who want the best. These hardwoods are naturally strong and have a lovely, natural appearance.
The advantages of premium hardwoods are:
Extremely high fiber density.
Naturally high resistance to insects.
Naturally high resistance to rot and decay.
Harvested sustainably and can be safely recycled at the end of its long lifecycle.
Most have a Class A Fire Rating
Easy to care for – just apply an oil-based UV protectant when needed to maintain the rich natural colors.
Can naturally age to a stylish silver-gray color if you choose, which needs even less care, (unlike redwood and cedar softwoods that require more care when weathered).
Carries the Mataverde Limited 25-Year Warranty
Durability is key, but aesthetics is also important. Design a deck that’s your style and feels luxurious – (and maybe make the neighbors slightly envious). Mataverde Hardwood Decking is available in the following species:
When it comes to creating an outdoor living space that truly stands out, the choice of decking material is paramount. Mataverde offers an exclusive collection of premium hardwood decking options, each bringing unparalleled beauty, durability, and lasting value to high-end homes and sophisticated commercial projects.
Here's a closer look at our distinguished wood selections:
Considered the gold standard in hardwood decking, boasts a magnificent range of medium to dark brown hues. For decades, Ipe has been the benchmark for outdoor longevity, well known for its extraordinary resilience and ability to withstand the elements for decades. Its Class A Fire rating offers an exceptional level of safety. While it represents the highest upfront investment among our hardwood offerings, Ipe's unmatched durability and lifespan make it a wise and rewarding choice for those seeking the ultimate in performance and a high return on investment in durability and beauty.
RELATED: Ipe Wood Decking Project Photo Gallery
The dynamic Jatoba wood is an incredibly robust decking material known for its captivating colors. It begins with a beautiful light pink to medium rosy-brown tone, which deepens into a rich, rosy- to reddish-dark brown when exposed to sunlight. Jatoba's distinctive intricate grain patterns ensure that your deck isn't just a surface, but an integral and artistic part of your outdoor design. Like Ipe, it holds a Class A Fire rating, providing peace of mind.
RELATED: Jatoba Wood Decking Project Photo Gallery
Another gorgeous choice, Mataverde Machiche exudes classic luxury with its stunning range of medium-to-dark chocolate browns. What sets our Machiche apart is its certification by the Forest Stewardship Council® (FSC®). This assures you that the wood has been harvested using responsible and sustainable practices, making it an excellent selection for environmentally conscious homeowners and essential for commercial LEED certified projects.
(We can also provide Ipe and other Mataverde wood decking with FSC® certification on request.)
RELATED: Machiche Wood Decking Project Photo Gallery
FSC Machiche backyard deck is a perfect place to add a propane fire table for ambience
The striking showstopper, Cumaru decking is celebrated for its fascinating figuring patterns and a rich spectrum of brown wood tones. Its unique visual appeal grabs attention, making it a star in any outdoor setting. For those who appreciate distinctive aesthetics that leave a lasting impression, Cumaru is an inspired choice.
RELATED: Cumaru Wood Decking Project Photo Gallery
The luminous appeal of Garapa stands out with its distinctive light to medium range of golden-blonde tones that impart a luminous quality to any decking project. Its brighter palette is often favored in modern architectural styles, offering a fresh and contemporary look. While providing exceptional beauty and durability, Garapa is also our most affordable premium hardwood, making it an attractive option for achieving a high-end aesthetic while meeting a strict project budget.
RELATED: Garapa Wood Decking Project Photo Gallery
A big advantage of Mataverde hardwood decks is that they aren’t high maintenance. First, be sure to clean them regularly with a deck cleaner made specifically for hardwoods.
To keep the colors like-new, apply an oil-based UV protective finish as needed to keep their natural colors bright. Prefer to go gray? Allow them to weather naturally by skipping the UV protectant and you will be rewarded with a soft, satiny silvery-grey patina over time. Unlike softwoods like Redwood or Cedar, when these hardwoods are weathered they need less maintenance not more – just clean regularly.
If you prefer the feel of wood-burning fire pits, here's a smart deck design idea: build a section of your deck with stone pavers specifically for the fire pit and extend the wood deck to the area. This creates a safe, non-flammable base for the fire pit, allowing you to enjoy the charm of an open flame without risking the safety of your beautiful wood deck.
Careful planning of where to put the fire pit is also key in deck designs with fire pits. Keep a safe distance between the fire pit and your wood deck, your house, and any other materials that can catch fire.
Propane fire tables are the best choice directly on a wood or other material deck, and should never be left unattended.
For decking contractors and homeowners in areas with a high risk of wildfires, where strict IWUI (International Wildland-Urban Interface Code) and WUI (Wildland-Urban Interface) approved wood decking materials are required, Mataverde SaferWood decking is an excellent solution.
This innovative wood is pressure treated at the cellular level of the wood with Thermex-FR fire retardant, which meets or exceeds building codes in most wildfire-prone areas.
The benefits of using Mataverde SaferWood go beyond just following the rules. The term "ignition resistant" means the material is less likely to catch fire from flying embers, a common cause of fire damage to homes. Mataverde SaferWood decking is treated with Thermex-FR, which stands out from the rest.
Mataverde Saferwood is unique for deck designs with fire pits because it's the only fire-retardant-treated wood that has passed California's tough 10-year outdoor weathering test. This shows that it stays strong and fire-resistant even after being exposed to the weather for a long time. This gives you confidence that the safety benefits will last for the entire life of your deck.
By thoughtfully combining fire features with premium decking materials like Mataverde Hardwood and using the advanced fire resistance of Mataverde SaferWood in high-risk areas, you can create stunning outdoor spaces with deck designs with fire pits that perfectly blend beauty, functionality, and essential safety.