Are you new to the term composite decking?
Do you like the thought of low-maintenance decking?
Are you overwhelmed or confused by the products available?
Let’s cut through the ‘he said, she said’ and break down the Composite Decking confusion.
Composite Decking is an alternative to traditional timber decking. It is constructed from fibre, plastics, and binding agents. Most composite decking is made out of waste wood and recycled plastic, making them environmentally friendly and efficient use of resources.
It has gained popularity due to its low maintenance and efficient use of waste and recycled products.
There is no need to stain, sand, or paint the material; it comes as a finished product, ready to be installed. Composites are considered hard-wearing and more stain, scratch, and mould-resistant than timber.
Each company that produces composite decking has a different combination and selection of waste fibres, recycled plastics, and binders, resulting in various finished looks and prices.
What is a composite deck made of?
The word composite suggests something made up of more than one thing. Therefore, composite decking refers to a material made up of multiple products like fibre, plastics, and binding agents. Most composite decking boards are made of waste wood and recycled plastics, making it an environmentally friendly and sustainable decking solution. Each brand is made of a different composition, offering pros and cons. For more information, speak with our team or visit their websites directly.
Why is composite decking so popular?
Low maintenance
One of the biggest benefits of composite decking materials is their extremely low maintenance. There is no need to stain, sand or paint composite decking boards – they are a finished product that can be used straight after the installation. It requires very little time and money to keep them looking sharp. In most cases, simply wash over with warm, soapy water and rinse with a residential pressure cleaner once a year. Less time maintaining leaves more time for enjoying your deck.
Durability
It is considered more hard-wearing than other traditional decking products. It is much more stain, scratch, and mould-resistant than timber. Due to its resistance to warping and moisture ingress, it can often be installed much closer to natural ground level than natural timber.
Variety
There is a vast array of brands on the market, most of which have a different aesthetic appeal. There are wide, narrow boards, from high-gloss finishes to matt tones. Colours range from pale whites and greys to deep browns and even blacks. We have a large selection of samples in our warehouse, available to show clients and help them make the right selection for their project.
Fasteners
Most composite decking brands have secret fixing systems, which are generally a clip and screw system fastened into a groove along the length of the board. This allows for fasteners to be hidden and removes unsightly top fixings. Secret clip systems also eliminate the chance of unsightly popped nails or stripped screw heads.
What are the different types of composite decking?
There are several different types of products available on the market. The main types that we offer on the Sunshine Coast are:
- WPC Composite Decking: WPC stands for wood plastic composite and is usually a mix of recycled wood, plastic and binding agents.
- Capped Composite Decking: This type has a blended composite core and a protective capping layer to increase its strength and visual appearance. This is the most common type of quality composite decking used.
- PVC Decking: PVC composite decking is made completely free from hard or soft wood.
- Bamboo Composite Decking: Like WPC, bamboo replaces the wood with a binding agent to create a bamboo decking option.
What’s the best brand to use?
No matter what each brand markets, there is no ‘one board fits all’ in the range of composite decking. Many variables need to be considered before making your selection. A few of these key questions are:
- What size is the deck in terms of length and width?
- How high is the deck from ground level?
- How far is the deck from the coastline?
- What is the proximity to a pool area?
- What colours are required, and what sheen level do you prefer?
- What fixing system can be used, and what is the subframe made from?
- What is the budget for the project, and what length of warranty are you looking for?
The best brand to use will depend on the individual project. An easy way to decide is to book a consultation with our team.
Here is a quick shout-out to some of our favourite brands that we love to work with
- Trex
- Millboard
- Duralife
- Outdure
- NexGen Decking
Length & Sizes of Various Composite Decking Brands
The market has a large selection of board widths, lengths, colours and finishes. Each brand has its unique selling points and advantages.
| Brand | Size of Board | Length of Board |
|---|---|---|
| Brite | 88mm x 23mm | 5.4mt |
| 150mm x 32mm | 5.8mt | |
| Decker | 25mm x 140mm | 3.6mt |
| 23.5mm x 140mm | 3.6mt | |
| 35mm x 140mm | 3.6mtr, 5.4mtr | |
| 50mm x 150mm | 3.6mtr, 5.4mtr | |
| Duralife | 23mm x 140mm | 3.65m, 4.87m, 6.10m |
| 23mm x 140mm | 3.65m, 4.87m, 6.10m | |
| EkoDeck | 88mm x 23mm | 5.4mt |
| 137mm x 23mm | 5.4mt | |
| Eko Deck + | 88mm x 23mm | 5.4mt |
| 23mm x 137mm | 5.4mt | |
| 23mm x 137mm | 2.25mt | |
| Ezy Wood | 140mm x 22mm | 5.4mt |
| Euradeck Composites | 140mm x 22mm | 5.4mt |
| OzTuff | 140mm x 22mm | 5.4mt |
| Future Wood | 23mm x 138mm | 5.4mt |
| 23mm x 86mm | 5.4mt | |
| Hybrideck | 19mm x 130mm | 5.85m |
| 25mm x 140mm | 5.85m | |
| Millboard | 32mm x 176mm | 3.6m |
| 32mm x 200mm | 3.2m | |
| Modwood | 88mm x 23mm | 5.4mt |
| 137mm x 23mm | 5.4mt | |
| NEXGEN | 20mm x 127mm | 3.66m |
| 24mm x 137mm | 3.66m, 4.90m | |
| Perma Timber | 22mm x 146mm | 5.4m |
| 30mm x 225mm | 5.4m | |
| 23mm x 295mm | 5.4mm | |
| Trex | 25 mm x 140 mm | 3.66 m, 4.88m, 6.1m |
| 25 mm x 140 mm | 3.66 m, 4.88m, 6.1m | |
| 33mm x 86mm | 3.66m, 4.88m, 6.1m | |
| 33mm x 140mm | 3.66m, 4.88m, 6.1m | |
| Ultim8 Deck | 23mm x 88mm | 5.4m |
| 23mm x 137mm | 5.4m | |
| Ultradeck | 23mm x 88mm | 5.4mt |
| 25mm x 140mm | 5.4mt |
How much do composite decks cost?
Composite decking prices vary between products. The most important thing to consider here is (in bold as we repeat this so often to clients),
DO NOT COMPARE THE SHELF PRICE OF COMPOSITE DECKING TO THE SHELF PRICE OF TIMBER.
The price you are interested in is the finished product. The job is done. Roll the deck chairs out, not the price of the product. You need to consider that composite decking installation is often half that of natural timber, and with expensive labour costs in Australia, this can be a huge saving. On top of that, once composite decking has been laid. There is no need to apply any additional coats of decking oil. It’s ready to use. When these costs are considered against laying natural timber decking, the overall price becomes very comparative. The advantage is that you walk away with a 10-25-year product warranty, whereas natural timber has ongoing maintenance.
How do I choose?
The best way to get the right product and type of composite decking is to talk to our team or book a free site inspection!
Our team is an expert on composite decking and can assess your project’s needs and provide you with a selection of the best options. Check out some of our completed projects.
Are you ready to talk and discover the best product for your next composite timber deck?
Let us help you choose an option that suits your project and budget.
