James Hardie Brings TimberTech Decking to Australia

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

James Hardie has started selling TimberTech decking in Australia, putting one of North America’s best known decking brands within reach of local builders and deck installers in time for summer.

The range went on sale through distribution partners on 2 November. It gives builders a board with the look of timber, without the oiling, sanding and sealing that comes with it.

In a market where James Hardie says most deck work is replacement work, that pitch is aimed squarely at the jobs our community does every week.

TimberTech joins a growing James Hardie exterior range

TimberTech came into the James Hardie family through its acquisition of The AZEK Company, completed on 1 July 2025 in a cash and stock deal the company put at an implied value of US$8.4 billion.

The Australian launch means James Hardie now offers two decking products here. Hardie Deck is its fibre cement board, supplied ready to paint. TimberTech adds a timber look option, with the colour and grain built into the board.

In the launch announcement, APAC President John Arneil said homeowners are increasingly looking for the appearance of timber with much less ongoing maintenance, and that the company wanted a product that gives confidence in finish, performance and longevity.

He described TimberTech as complementing Hardie fibre cement cladding and the Hardie Gravis AAC panel, carrying the same quality from a home’s exterior into its outdoor space.

For builders already specifying Hardie products on the walls, the deck can now come from the same supplier.

Most deck jobs are replacements, and TimberTech is built for them

James Hardie says consumer research it ran ahead of the launch found 68 per cent of deck projects in Australia are replacements of an existing deck.

That puts renovation trades and specialist deck builders at the centre of the opportunity, alongside builders specifying decks on new homes.

It also explains the focus on maintenance. James Hardie says TimberTech needs only an occasional scrub and rinse, with no sanding, staining or sealing. The boards are designed to resist moisture damage, rot, termites, splintering and fading.

For a client replacing a deck that has needed oiling every summer, that is an easy conversation to have.

The launch range is one collection in four colours

TimberTech arrives in the Vintage Collection, in four colours. Coastline is a light, cool grey inspired by driftwood and suited to Hamptons and coastal homes. Weathered Teak is a soft, sun washed timber tone. English Walnut is a deep, earthy brown, and Mahogany a rich, deep brown inspired by classic hardwoods.

Boards are 140mm wide and 25mm thick. Square edge boards come in 4,877mm and 6,096mm lengths, and grooved boards in 4,877mm.

James Hardie describes the material as advanced PVC with a protective cap, finished with colour blending and woodgrain texture to replicate quality timber. The company says the boards contain an average of 55 per cent recycled material.

The Vintage Collection is rated P5 for slip resistance, the top class of the wet pendulum test used to classify pedestrian surfaces in Australia. That suits decks, alfresco areas and pool surrounds.

The boards can be heat bent for curved and custom designs, and James Hardie says they release heat quickly once out of direct sunlight. As with any decking, the company notes surface temperature varies with colour, weather and site.

Two profiles, with the square edge board specified for bushfire areas

TimberTech comes in two profiles, each with its own fixing system.

Square edge boards are face fixed with Cortex screws and colour matched plugs, which conceal the fixing point and leave a clean exposed edge. James Hardie describes this profile as ideal for detailed areas and for bushfire prone areas up to BAL 29.

Grooved boards use CONCEALoc hidden clips and screws. James Hardie says they allow efficient installation with consistent board spacing and fewer visible screw heads.

For builders already specifying Hardie products on the walls, the deck can now come from the same supplier.

For builders on bushfire prone blocks, the square edge board is the one James Hardie points to for BAL 29 work. The company notes that suitability depends on the site, the application and the required Bushfire Attack Level, and points builders to their certifier and its technical documentation.

A published CodeMark certificate gives certifiers something to work from

Under the National Construction Code’s evidence of suitability rules, a product has to be shown to be fit for its intended use.

Part A5 of the NCC lists a current CodeMark Certificate of Conformity as one form of that evidence, and the Australian Building Codes Board describes CodeMark as one of several recognised options.

What is a CodeMark Certificate of Conformity?

A CodeMark Certificate of Conformity is issued under a voluntary third party scheme overseen by the Australian Building Codes Board. An accredited certification body assesses a building product against nominated Performance Requirements of the National Construction Code. The certificate names the product, its intended use and any conditions or limitations, and it is one of the forms of evidence of suitability the NCC accepts.

James Hardie links its TimberTech product page directly to certificate CM40486 on the register of CMI Certification, a CodeMark certification body.

Having the certificate a click away makes it straightforward for builders and certifiers to confirm the scope for a particular job before the deck is quoted.

That is useful in a period when the rules are moving. The adoption of NCC 2025 is split by state, with Queensland and New South Wales deferring to 1 May 2027.

Separately, a revision of AS 3959, the standard for building in bushfire prone areas, is in the final stages of development, according to Standards Australia.

A 30 year residential warranty, backed by the installation guide

TimberTech carries a 30 year residential and 15 year commercial product warranty.

As with most building product warranties, it applies when the boards are installed and maintained in accordance with James Hardie’s technical literature current at the time of purchase, so the installation guide is the document installers work to. Fade coverage is set out in the warranty itself.

For coastal jobs, James Hardie lists Cortex 316 stainless steel screws for higher corrosion resistance.

The Good Builder Take

It is good to see a name Australian builders have known for more than a century bring an established decking brand to the local market, with the paperwork to match.

A low maintenance, timber look board that suits the replacement work most deck builders do, comes in a profile specified for BAL 29 areas and has a published CodeMark certificate gives builders a straightforward option to put in front of clients.

And for builders already using Hardie products on the walls, the whole exterior can now come from one supplier, right out to the edge of the deck.

For more on new products and what they mean on site, follow our coverage and listen to The Good Builder Podcast.

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