Ready when summer is

You know when summer's arrived: bare feet on the deck, the barbecue going, evenings that stretch out a little longer than they used to. Wellington summers don't hang around for long, so it pays to get your outdoor living space ready before it properly kicks in - sort it too late and you can lose weeks of it to a deck or outdoor space that isn't quite there yet.

A little bit of prep now, before the first big weekend of the season, means you spend summer actually enjoying your outdoor space rather than wishing you'd sorted it back in September.

Decks made for barefoot evenings

Your deck carries more of summer than almost anything else in the yard - the barbecue, the kids' bikes, wet togs, late-night conversations that run on past when anyone meant to go inside. If yours has seen better days, now's the time to sort it, while there's still a run of weekends before the good weather properly kicks in.

We don't keep decking timber sitting on the shelf - we order it in to match what you need, or machine it ourselves, so it's ready when your project is. Where we really come into our own is repairs: replacing the rotten or worn boards so the rest of a perfectly good deck doesn't have to go too. Kwila remains the old favourite, and we can also get you garapa, vitex or purpleheart - all proven outdoor performers that'll take whatever a Wellington summer throws at them.

Furniture, bar leaners, and the bits in between

Summer is made for being outside longer than you planned to - one more coffee at the outdoor table, one more drink leaning on the bar while the barbecue finishes up. A good bar leaner has a way of becoming the spot everyone ends up gathered around, and a solid outdoor table or bench turns a backyard into somewhere people actually want to stay.

If you've got something specific in mind - a bar leaner sized for that awkward corner by the fence, a bench to match your deck, a table built to the exact dimensions of your outdoor space - we can machine timber to size and profile to suit. No need to squeeze a standard piece into a space it wasn't built for; we'll cut it to fit yours.

Timber that's built for the outdoors

Not every timber is cut out for a Kiwi summer of sun, rain and everything in between, so it's worth starting with the right one. Kwila is a long-time favourite for decking and outdoor furniture - tough, naturally durable, and happy to weather to a silvery grey if left untreated. Iroko is a great alternative with similar durability and a warmer tone. Cedar brings a lighter, softer look and suits fencing, screens and furniture alike. And if you're after something a little different for a feature piece or a bar leaner, oak and rosewood both bring real character and hold up well outdoors.

Not sure which is right for your project? Bring in your plans, or just come and have a chat - we can help you pick a timber that suits both the job and the look you're after.

Keep it looking good with less effort

The best kind of summer maintenance is the kind you don't have to think about twice. That's where Osmo UV Protection Oil comes in - it's easy to apply, soaks into the timber rather than sitting on top, and helps protect your deck or furniture from the sun without leaving a heavy, plasticky finish behind.

A coat applied now, before the sun really gets going, goes a long way toward keeping your timber looking the way it did the day it went down - so you can spend your time out there enjoying it, not sanding and refinishing it.

Let's get your summer sorted

Whether it's a deck that needs a few new boards, a custom bar leaner for the get-togethers ahead, or simply the right oil to protect what you've already got, the team at City Timber is here to help you get it sorted before the good weather arrives.

Pop into the shop, give us a call, or drop us an email - bring your ideas, your measurements, or just a rough sketch on the back of an envelope, and we'll help you turn it into an outdoor space you'll actually want to spend summer in.

Get your outdoor on!