|
|
|
|
| What to look for when buying Composite garden decking |
| |
| 10 Jul 2019 |  | Composite decking is becoming very popular here in the UK however not all composite deck boards are the same. The general public may not understand the differences in quality and price so here we try to give you an insight into the best buys for your budget.
There are capped varieties which have got a polymer coating to give a wood effect pattern, this is a premium board so demands a premium price, there are other cheaper mono boards that have a wood pattern added to the board after manufacture but be careful as with very little wear the wood pattern can be lost leaving you with a plain board that does not resemble the original boards that you bought.
The most common boards are mono boards with reversible grooves but be careful when purchasing as the cheaper boards can be very thin for example 21mm and can be subject to damage by stiletto heels especially when they get warm in the summer. 21mm in a solid board may actually be fine but beware with hollow boards as they can also have small wall thickness which can be weaker and crack, remember the old adage you get what you pay for and it is no different in composite decking. Here at Plastideck we recommend and stock only good quality 25mm thick boards with reversible grooves and provided they are installed correctly will last you many years.
The other query people have is the length of the boards, many decking installers want longer boards so that they can be laid quicker, however the longer the board the bigger the expansion gaps have to be so sometimes this can ruin the overall effect of the decking. Our boards are less than 3m long and look stunning when laid, they are easily handled and are easier to transport cutting down on delivery costs.
So now you know what you are looking for remember that installing composite decking is a skill in itself so follow the fitting instructions carefully, we have seen installation projects done incorrectly with perfectly good decking boards getting damaged and typically they do not follow the number one rule with composite and it is all about expansion hence the hidden fixings are designed to allow movement so you should never put nails into composite decking certainly not the brands we supply. Hidden fixings or starter clips must be used in the correct place and the relevant spacing between boards must be adhered to to allow the boards to expand through the lengths otherwise they will buckle or split as they will have nowhere to expand to, it is simple logic but time and time again this is the main failure of poor fitting. Also correct support is required under the boards typically 300 to 400mm spans, in wooden decking these are normally greater so this should be a consideration when looking at installing composite.
All our brands that we sell at the Decking Superstore have in depth fitting instructions so always follow them closely.
For any advice on Plastideck Composite Decking Plastideck boards can be dispatched nationwide within 24 hours of order.
| | |
|
|
|
XML FEEDS