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How To Choose Composite Decking

Are you considering investing in composite decking to upgrade your outdoor living space? If this is the case, selecting the appropriate composite decking for your home is essential.

The market offers various options, which can be quite overwhelming, especially if you are new to the market. On the other hand, narrowing down your choices does not have to be a daunting task.

In this article, we will discuss a few pointers to guide you in the right direction. 

Tips to Choose Composite Decking

Here are some great tips to help you choose the best composite decking:

1 Composite Decking Brand

One of the key factors when choosing your composite decking is researching different brands and companies.

Looking for well-established brands with positive reviews and a good reputation is a necessary part of the due diligence required to find the best product for you.

We advise looking at companies that have been on the market for some time, as this often indicates reliability.

2 How Much is Your Budget

The initial cost of composite decking is not cheap. Because of this, you may want to consider your budget when choosing the one you’ll buy.

The installation process, colour and grain patterns, design, textures, and plastic-to-wood percentage are some factors that can affect the price of the boards. You’ll want to find a healthy balance between affordability, design, and ease of installation. You can also wait for promotions and discounts to save on costs.

3 Colour and Design

Other than the ease of maintenance, people choose composite decking due to its wood-like aesthetic appearance.

Many homeowners strive to build a deck that replicates natural timber without the drawbacks of prolonged maintenance procedures; this is where composite decking is presented as an option. Manufacturers achieve this appearance by creating a grain within the surface. Composites are also available in a massive range of colours and are a much more durable alternative to timber.

4 Decking Installation

When it comes to installation, composites come in two types: ungrooved and grooved boards.

Grooved boards have spaces in the edges that make it possible to insert decking clips. These decking clips make it possible to put together the decking boards without any visible screw heads. Ungrooved boards that do not have this design to allow the insertion of clips in the side of the decking board are screwed directly into the frame instead. You will often see solid, ungrooved decking boards with screw heads visible on the surface.

This is something to keep in mind when looking at the different types of composite available

5 Decking Accessories

Homeowners should consider the various decking accessories that can play a crucial role in enhancing the aesthetics, functionality, and overall appearance of their composite decking project.

When considering different options for your composite decking boards, you must make sure that your desired accessories are compatible with your decking boards. For example, some companies that supply composite decking do not offer matching balustrades.

This can be a problem if you want both your balustrades and decking boards to be coherent in colour. Therefore, you must do your research regarding the availability of your desired accessories and check that you can match them with your chosen decking board. 

6 Slip Resistance

Choosing a slip-resistant composite decking board is important for several reasons. The obvious factor is, of course, health and safety. Slip-resistant properties on the surface of the board are crucial for preventing accidents and injuries on your deck.

If your deck surrounds a pool or water feature, selecting a composite decking board with good slip test results becomes much more important. If this is you, we recommend asking your supplier for a recommendation.

Most companies have different ranges of composite decking that boast different benefits and different performances in wet conditions; therefore, it’s always best to speak with a knowledgeable professional over the phone.

7 Temperature

It’s also important to be mindful of the temperature of your decking during hot weather. If your geographical location has a lot of intense sunlight and you are concerned about your deck becoming too hot, one solution is build a pergola, shelter of add an umbrella.

Another solution is to opt for a composite decking board with a lighter colour that absorbs less heat or as mentioned build a shaded area for the decking to avoid prolonged periods of UV exposure.

On the other hand, if you are someone who doesn’t mind wearing footwear on your decking in the warmer months or you experience less sunlight, this may not be a critical factor when making a decision.

8 Building Regulations

One of the most crucial things to consider before buying composite decking materials is your local building regulations. Depending on where you live, there might be restrictions or regulations on materials used for decking. For this, you will need to check with your local council on what types of decking boards you can use.

Conclusion

If you are planning a composite decking project, selecting the right type of decking board is crucial. You can start by researching brands, considering your budget, factoring in installation costs and considering design preferences. These considerations will point you in the right direction and help you achieve a functional and aesthetically pleasing composite deck.

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