The Ultimate Decking for Your Outdoor Oasis
Bamboo redefines the standards for hardwood alternatives with its exceptional blend of durability and natural beauty.
Choosing bamboo combines aesthetic appeal with a commitment to sustainability and quality living.
When choosing the ideal decking for your outdoor space, consider the distinct qualities of Plantation Bamboo N-Durance and X-treme decking - the next generation in sustainable decking.
Both made from the robust giant bamboo species, Moso, these options offer durability and elegance, but with key differences:
- Proven performance in NZ. Been successfully installed all over New Zealand and performed well over the last 10+years, in extreme climates too. See Google reviews below.
- Colour. A darkish brown colour that will weather over time to a silver-grey, but can be oiled to a colour of choice if desired.
- Maintenance. Cleaning and oiling (if preferred)
- Thermal Treatment. Undergoes a unique thermal process for added stability and resistance to fungi, reducing the need for frequent maintenance.
- Newer to NZ market. After proven success and demand in Europe over the last four years.
- Colour. Exhibits a lighter, enduring caramel hue.
- Maintenance. Needs an annual clean and oil (with anti-fungal protection).
- Density & Durability. Slightly denser (1200kg/m³), enhancing its strength.
2 Years Later. The Beauty of Bamboo X-treme Decking
Wondering how well Plantation Bamboo X-treme decking holds up over time? This video captures its incredible transformation after 2 years of natural weathering, evolving into a striking silver patina while staying as strong and durable as the day it was installed.
If you’re looking for a decking solution that combines sustainability, longevity, and timeless style, Bamboo X-treme is the perfect choice. See the results for yourself!
Whether you desire the natural, low-maintenance beauty of X-treme or the warm, customisable charm of N-Durance, both options share the same size and profile, and can be coloured in the future with decking oil to match your preferred style.
Why Choose Bamboo Decking?
Bamboo is a symbol of eco-conscious living, offering unmatched advantages over traditional hardwoods.
Bamboo grows rapidly, being the fastest-growing plant on earth, reaching full maturity in just 4-5 years – a stark contrast to traditional hardwoods that take decades. By choosing bamboo, you’re embracing a solution that nurtures our planet.
Our Dutch supplier and partner is so happy with the proven performance of our decking around the world (in all sorts of climatic conditions) that they have increased the product warranty from 10 to 25 years! We all have great confidence in the stability, strength and longevity of our bamboo decking to provide such a long structural warranty. See Warranty Bamboo X-treme decking >
The hidden clips and screws provided eliminate the need for face screwing and plugging. Just 3mm space between boards using the clips, with a new “edge-clip” available for edge boards. As every board is the same size and isn’t inclined to warp/buckle like most timbers, there is no need to select boards out = less cutting and wastage.
Whether your style is modern or traditional, bamboo adapts, creating lovely outdoor environments. Select from flat/grooved reversible boards or easily colour the decking (with a pigmented oil) to a preferred colour, if desired.
Our bamboo decking options are exceptionally hard, dense and stable, and have been tested for durability (class 1 of EN350 standard – the best possible class available), ensuring maximum performance.
The stability of the product allows for the tongue-in-groove end-matching of the decking boards, giving a high quality, snug finish, which is not possible with less stable decking products.
Attains a very high Class Bfl-s1 in fire resistance, suitable for public projects without extra protection.
Rapid renewability and minimal environmental impact make bamboo a smart, sustainable choice. The decking is CO2 neutral.
FAQ's
We’ve addressed the most frequently asked questions about our bamboo products. Still have a question? Contact Us >
CALLING ALL KEEN DIY'RS
Install our Bamboo Decking yourself!
Watch an Installation in Action!
Both X-treme and N-Durance decking boards are 1850 mm long and 140mm wide (with the gap the clips provide). A 462mm joist-spacing ensures the boards end-match over a joist meaning less cutting and less wastage.
“Plantation Bamboo X-treme decking was a product I really enjoyed working with, it was really easy to put down and it looks great!” Caleb Pearson, Winner of the Block NZ 2013
It's not just us that LOVE Bamboo!
What our customers are saying...
"The product has been a joy to use. Result is straight clean lines and great finish. Would recommend this as the only decking to consider. Everyone from builders to friends have been impressed with the ease of install and the good looks of the finish."
+ Geoff, Tauranga
What our customers are saying...
“I’ve really enjoyed working with this material on our deck and been impressed with how simple it was to install once the deck structure was built.”
– Caleb Pearson, Winner of The Block NZ 2013
Decking Gallery
Choose the Future!
Plantation Bamboo Decking – Strong, Sustainable, Stylish.
Let us help you build your next project!
The Plantation Bamboo highly trained and professional team can help you find the right decking solution for your project.
Frequently Asked Questions
We answer the most popular questions asked about our Bamboo Decking. Still have a question? Contact Us >
General
Bamboo decking is made by compressing strands of bamboo (the giant bamboo species, called “Moso”) under extreme heat and pressure. The bamboo is first harvested, shredded into long, thin fibres, then combined with a resin binder and compressed into dense, durable planks. This process results in a strong, stable product that performs like hardwood decking.
This video show how the bamboo x-treme decking is made:
Yes. We have two bamboo decking available:
Bamboo X-treme decking – initially comes in brown to darkish brown colour when installed, which turns more to a caramel colour several weeks after installation, gradually changing to a silver-grey colour over time – and a lovely natural grain becomes more obvious.
If a darker (or different) colour is preferred, maintenance should be carried out with WOCA exterior oil (with preferred colour) or a comparable water-based oil/saturator with colour pigments – to bring the deck to a colour of your choice. This short video explains:
Bamboo N-Durance decking: is a caramel colour due to the WOCA teak-coloured oil finish applied at manufacture. This bamboo decking option hasn’t been thermally treated (like bamboo x-treme decking has), so requires a little more maintenance with re-oiling every 1-2 years to maintain the colour and protection against fungi etc.
Each decking board is 1850mm long, 137mm wide, and 20mm thick. With spacing clips, the effective width is 140mm. Each box of decking contains 5 boards, covering 1.267 square metres (9.25 linear metres). We supply 18 clips and screws per sqm of decking.
- Bamboo decking often only requires 3-5% wastage as all boards are straight and uniform in size – some other timber decking options can require 10-30% wastage due to warping of boards, knots in the wood, not being straight, etc.
- The “invisible” stainless steel clip and screw fixings provided – makes it much quicker, easier and cheaper to install than most decking boards (as you don’t need to screw through the decking
- The strength and size of boards (with tongue and groove end-matching) – means you can space the joists at 462mm and have less cutting and wastage (= less costly to install), as you only need to cut the boards at the end of a row
- Being bamboo, it’s an eco-friendly, sustainable decking option, made from rapidly renewable bamboo
- Our bamboo decking is very hard, dense and stable – made to last. Due to its stability, unsightly gaps are not likely to open up, nor will the boards warp or buckle (like many timbers tend to)
- The decking comes with a 25 year warranty
Composite decking is made from a mix of plastic and wood fibres, while bamboo decking is a natural product made from compressed bamboo. Bamboo offers a more natural aesthetic, is harder and denser, and generally has a smaller environmental footprint.
As bamboo decking naturally weathers, it has a more textured surface that provides reasonable grip. As with all outdoor surfaces, it may become more slippery when wet or so regular cleaning of dust/dirt etc, is recommended. We haven’t received much feedback to say that bamboo decking is slippery, or any more slippery than other types of decking.
Bamboo decking is not particularly hot to walk on in bare feet (compared to the likes of composite decking that tends to be quite “burny” on the feet) – and we have sold thousands of square metres of bamboo decking over the years all over New Zealand (with very little feedback on being too hot).
While it’s primarily designed for outdoor use, some people use bamboo decking for covered or semi-enclosed areas like sunrooms or enclosed patios. For fully indoor use, however, consider bamboo flooring options specifically manufactured for interior conditions.
Sustainability
Yes. Bamboo is one of the most sustainable resources on the planet—it regenerates quickly (only taking 4-6 years to grow to full maturity) and absorbs more carbon than most trees.
More information on bamboo and sustainability here.
The bamboo used in decking is typically grown in sustainably managed plantations in China. We source all of our bamboo products from MOSO Bamboo, a Dutch world-leader in bamboo innovation, who contract out the production of the decking to several factories in China – made to stringent specifications. MOSO have a large team of specialists in China carrying out Quality Assurance testing and production management.
The manufacturing process uses modern, eco-conscious techniques to ensure durability and minimal environmental impact.
Bamboo decking is a cost-effective choice over its lifespan. While initial costs may be comparable to hardwood or composite decking, its low maintenance, high durability, and long life make it an excellent long-term investment.
Due to the simple and fast installation process (with clip system), customers can often save up to 50% in installation costs
With the head side (end-matching) tongue-in-groove join there is a lot less cutting and wastage compared to other timber decking options – as you normally only need to cut the board at the end of a row.
Feedback from a customer:
“Just a short note to say we are delighted with the Bamboo x-treme decking. Our builder found it went down really well, and fast. With regards budgets, we noticed a saving of around $2-3K over the whole deck over other hardwoods we priced due to the speed it went down and the fact the fixings were included in the price.“
Chris – Red Beach (103sqm deck)
Leftover boards can be repurposed for various projects like planter boxes, raised garden beds, fascia boards, balustrades, benches, and more. The boards cut and finish cleanly, making them ideal for creative DIY uses.
Installation
Each board is 1850 x 137 x 20mm (140mm wide with the gap that the clips provide). A box contains 5 boards, covering 1.267m² (9.25 linear metres).
Bamboo decking is easy to install with the supplied stainless steel clip system, especially when joists are spaced at 462mm centres. Boards are uniform, straight, and free of knots, reducing cutting and waste. Many builders (and DIY’ers) find it much faster to install than traditional timber decking.
No. The high density of bamboo decking means nails won’t penetrate effectively (they would bend!). The preferred and most common method for installing bamboo decking is with the supplied powder-coated stainless steel clips and screws. Installation is quick and easy with a clip being screwed on each joist and the decking boards firmly secured in place (with the end-matching tongue in groove join being secured over a joist).
There isn’t a dedicated edge board, but many customers custom-cut decking planks to create step edges, fascia boards, balustrades, seats and other features. The boards cut cleanly and can be sanded or routed for a smooth finish.
Here is a short video showing a tip on how to finish deck edges:
Watch this video for an example: https://www.youtube.com/shorts/mGLId4SQHF0
It’s largely a matter of preference. Bamboo X-treme decking will naturally weather to a silver-grey over time. For those wanting to maintain the original colour or add protection, a high-quality penetrating oil (such as WOCA oil) is recommended every few years (depending on wear and tear etc).
Bamboo N-Durance decking requires cleaning and maintenance with an outdoor anti-fungal finish, such as a coloured WOCA Exterior Wood Oil (Teak colour) every 1-2 years, ensuring that the decking will stay protected and beautiful for many years.
Yes, but you’ll need to install a timber subframe on top of the concrete or old deck to create proper joist spacing (typically 462mm centres) and airflow. Sometimes customers have used adjustable pedestal feet to support the subframe. Direct installation on concrete is not recommended due to moisture concerns and lack of ventilation.
Our bamboo decking only comes in one length – 1850mm long, and one width 137mm (140mm wide with the gap the clip provides).
When the surface underneath the decking is not fast drying, there should be at least 100mm distance between the decking and the surface underneath.
No. Most customers don’t tend to apply the end-grain sealing wax, but our supplier MOSO Bamboo does recommend it being applied to the cut ends of boards. You can normally purchase end-grain sealing wax from large hardware stores like Mitre10 or Bunnings.
Durability
Yes, bamboo x-treme is a natural product, which can vary in colour, grain and appearance. The colour will change over time as the decking weathers (like any timber product will), depending on the maintenance schedule.
Some customers prefer the weathered look, where a natural bamboo grain is more obvious. Others prefer to oil the decking to a colour of choice.
See the Decking Installation and Care Instructions for further information.
This short video explains:
With bamboo N-Durance decking the caramel colour will last longer, but needs to be topped up/maintained with WOCA oil (or similar, that has anti-fungal protection) every 1-2 years or so. Oiling in this way will ensure the decking is well protected and looks great for many years.
See the Decking Installation and Care Instructions for further information.
Here is a short video of a two year old bamboo x-treme deck – left to naturally weather: See How Bamboo X-treme Decking Ages Beautifully Over 2 Years 🌿
Absolutely. Bamboo decking is thermally treated (or oil treated in bamboo N-Durance decking case) and is incredibly hard, dense and highly stable, designed to endure New Zealand’s intense UV rays, rain, and seasonal temperature changes.
The manufacturing process makes the bamboo decking extremely dense and stable. Generally, bamboo decking won’t warp, buckle or crack to the extent that most other timber decking tends to. The decking boards are very uniform in size and nature, due to the production process.
Over time, some cracks on the surface and/or ends of the boards can arise from the different drying characteristics of the surface and cross-cut ends. This normal phenomena does not affect the stability or durability of the board. The surface of the boards will tend to get a little rougher over time and may form some splinters or cracks as a result of continuous water absorption and desorption due to dry and wet weather periods.
Dimensional change or cupping of the boards can occur after installation, but less so than most other decking products. The above phenomena are normal for most hardwood species and bamboo decking at times.
However, any rough patches or surface cracking can normally be quite-easily smoothed off with a light sanding or brushing – this is best done prior to oiling the decking too.
Yes, bamboo x-treme decking is commonly used around swimming pool areas.
As with any wooden product used outdoors, there is always a risk of formation of splinters. However, splinters from bamboo decking are normally smaller than (tropical) hard wood splinters. Any splintering can be sanded off for a smoother finish, if desired. A regular application of oil (more frequently around swimming pools) is recommended to reduce the formation of splinters.
The clips and screw fixings provided are made of strong stainless steel (304-grade) – with the clips having an additional powder-coated protection layer – so are highly resistant to corrosion, even in coastal/beach environments.
Provided the bamboo decking is well maintained and cleaned it will last a very long time. This decking is well proven around the world (in all sorts of extreme environments) as a high quality decking product. Our supplier recently increased the warranty from 10 years to 25 years – as they have great confidence in the durability and lifespan of bamboo decking in all sorts of climatic conditions.
Oiling is optional for bamboo x-treme decking, depending on the look you want – but is needed for bamboo N-Durance decking, to protect it and preserve the lovely caramel colour (every 1-2 years).
For the optimum finish, it is recommended that bamboo x-treme decking is oiled with a high quality penetrating oil (like WOCA water-based oils – which come in a range of colours). Oiling may be required every 3 years or so, depending on use, conditions etc.
See the Decking Installation and Care Instructions for further information.
Yes, it is naturally resistant due to its high density and thermal treatment. However, like all exterior surfaces, regular cleaning to remove dirt/dust, etc is important—especially in shaded or damp areas—to prevent surface build-up of organic material.
Bamboo N-Durance decking needs more regular oil protection every 1-2 years (as it isn’t thermally treated in the same way bamboo X-treme decking is), to prevent mould/mildew issues.
Yes. Bamboo decking can be lightly sanded if needed to refresh the surface or remove superficial cracking, splintering or damage. After sanding and cleaning, you can re-oil the decking to make it look like new again.
