Composite decking ideas to add style and structure to your outdoor space

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As the times develop hotter and longer, we begin to spend an increasing number of time in our gardens. There are a myriad of the way to make your outside area give you the results you want, and composite decking concepts must be some of the versatile.

Decking concepts add a lot flexibility to your backyard. They work equally nicely built-in into lawns or as standalone terraces and patios. Subsequently, whether or not you’re seeking to create a brand new eating space, entertaining area or sensible pathway, decking steps as much as the problem. Plus, some strategically positioned boards can add worth, in addition to model, to your private home. All the time a welcome bonus.

Decking of any type is a good selection when it comes to backyard concepts, however composite decking concepts, particularly, are value exploring. ‘It’s a super selection for householders with a busy life-style, because it requires little or no upkeep,’ says Nick Whiley, Challenge Director, Trekker Decking. ‘With its clear, straight strains wooden composite planks provide a timeless look and can improve pure magnificence throughout each modern and traditional exteriors.’

It’s first nicely value understanding precisely what we imply after we speak about composite boards. ‘Composite decking, additionally generally known as WPC decking, is made up of a mix of plastic and wooden fibres that, when mixed, create robust and sturdy decking boards,’ explains Lee Cavalier, Decking Product Supervisor, Dura Composites.

‘Good high quality composite decking combines recycled wooden and plastic parts for a extra sustainable selection, and leads to a powerful, sturdy and genuine trying various to conventional wooden that’s a lot decrease upkeep and simpler to take care of.’

Composite decking concepts

‘Decking is a good way to take advantage of your outside area,’ says Tony Kersey, Shopping for Supervisor Builders, {Hardware} & Fixings, Homebase. ‘Laying and taking care of decking isn’t as tough as you’d suppose, though there are some things to contemplate earlier than starting your backyard makeover, like how sturdy you’d like your decking to be and the way you’re planning on utilizing it.’

So, no matter outside area you’ve obtained, it’s time to discover what composite decking concepts may give you the results you want.

1. Use two colors for model and security

One of many many advantages of composite decking is the huge array of colors and finishes accessible. Profit from this flexibility through the use of a couple of shade in your outside area. A technique of doing that is to make use of a lighter color of the borders and edges of steps.

In addition to including curiosity, this neatly zones areas. By way of the steps this type of composite decking concepts additionally makes issues safer come evenings as the degrees might be extra seen.

2. Paint your pergola to match the boards

Create an out of doors room primarily based round your composite decking. Use outside paint to co-ordinate your pergola or trellis with the flooring beneath. It will delineate the world, making it really feel enclosed and cohesive. Whereas you’ll need to repaint your pergola over time, this received’t be the case with the flooring.

‘Composite decking is extremely low upkeep, they won’t rot, break up, swell, twist or fade like a timber deck,’ factors out Karl Harrison, landscaper and Trex Composite Decking professional. ‘They don’t require annual portray, staining or stealing and received’t splinter simply both. They even have the pure look of timber and all that is doable with out having to fell a single tree, making them a extremely sustainable decking choice.’

3 Use two types for curiosity

Profit from the range accessible with composite decking concepts through the use of a couple of model in an space. Select a thinner board design to create a sublime boarder to your terrace or pathway.

No matter model or design you select, relaxation simple realizing the nice appears will final. ‘Composite decking requires little or no upkeep other than fundamental cleansing,’ advises Nick Whiley, Challenge Director, Trekker International. ‘Composite boards look, really feel and are put in in the identical approach as pure wooden, however they won’t rot, splinter, warp or host algae development. They’re additionally extraordinarily fade and stain resistant, making them primarily upkeep free, requiring no sanding, staining or portray.’

4. Create degree outside area

It’s pretty frequent to have a garden and a home which don’t precisely match up on ranges, so use composite decking concepts to repair this drawback. You may even lay these over current paving to modernise the world and degree issues even additional.

‘Including decking to your backyard may be a good way to create the right outside area for summer season eating,’ says Chris Moorhouse, Class Director for Timber, Constructing, Decor and Backyard, Wickes. ‘On the entire, laying decking over outdated patios is totally high-quality, nonetheless the floor must be flat so in case your slabs are in actually dangerous form we might advise relaying these first to cut back the danger of your new decking sinking over time.’

5. Combine a retro dialog pit

Look to the Seventies for a unusual addition to your outside area. If you happen to’re contemplating working in a firepit, then why not go one step additional and construct in a full blown dialog pit? You’ll have seating and heating collectively on this cool zone.

‘Like many different outside surfaces, resembling concrete, asphalt, seaside sand, timber decking, composite decking can get scorching resulting from climate and solar publicity,’ notes Karl Harrison. ‘On such days, care must be taken to verify pores and skin doesn’t have prolonged contact with the floor of the deck, particularly with younger kids and people with particular wants. Please be aware additionally that the darker the color, the warmer the deck will really feel. For warmer climates, customers ought to think about selecting a lighter color.’

6. Go for a tile impact

‘Composite tiles are one other various to conventional boards,’ advises Lee from Dura Composites. ‘These easy-to-lay interlocking tiles may be put in with none specialist instruments or abilities, and are perfect for smaller gardens, in addition to balconies and terraces.’ Simply just be sure you know the right approach to lay decking boards earlier than beginning.

‘Decking tiles are additionally helpful for renters as they’ll simply be moved or eliminated when the time comes to maneuver on.’

7. Select a contrasting colourway

Make a press release together with your decking. Choose a color with contrasts dramatically with different backyard parts. If in case you have a reasonably traditional area, maybe with stone steps or path, inexperienced lawns and pure picket backyard fence concepts, then darkish boards will add affect and curiosity.

8. Utilise squares of composite woods

Composite decking concepts may be stripped again to their parts for the utmost flexibility. Particular person squares of decking make for excellent stepping stones to create a brand new relaxed pathway over grass or gravel areas.

9. Create zones with ranges

Backyard zones are a preferred and simple approach of taking advantage of your area. Use decking so as to add a couple of tiers of entertaining or seating areas. It will add curiosity to the backyard, in addition to creating particular person areas for various conditions or teams of individuals to collect.

10. Add an elongating pathway

Select the longest boards on provide to created a pathway which appears to stretch on endlessly. Your eye might be lead alongside the boards, tricking the attention and making your backyard appear for much longer than it really is.

11. Design a platform for a backyard bar

Composite decking concepts are nice for entertaining areas lie outside kitchens and – prime of our wishlist – bars. Simply be sure to deal with it proper.

‘Regulate any gathering puddles or standing water as these will rapidly trigger mould and mildew throughout the floor,’ advises Chris from Wickes. ‘When putting in, attempt to preserve at the very least 6 inches of area between the patio and decking so there’s sufficient airflow (this will even scale back mould development). If you happen to’d wish to put down any rugs or doormats, be sure you go along with one thing woven as it will breathe higher and never trigger injury to the composite.’

‘Lastly, with the incoming summer season backyard drinks makes certain if there are any spillages they’re cleaned up immediately to stop stains and sticky patches.’

12. Alternate with stones for texture

Particular person boards of decking make for cool, deconstructed pathways. Alternate the boards with fairly pebbles, stones or gravel for curiosity and color.

Is composite decking actually value it?

As with all addition or change to your private home and backyard, whether or not it’s value it or not is essentially primarily based in your private preferences. That mentioned, if decking fits your wants and aesthetics, then composite is more likely to be a sensible choice.

‘When selecting your decking, you’ll need to contemplate the way it will aesthetically match together with your current exterior,’ agrees Nick Whiley, Challenge Director, Trekker International. ‘Additionally, you will want to contemplate how a lot time you suppose you may allocate in taking care of and sustaining your decking. If in case you have much less time for the care and upkeep of decking, then composite decking is the correct choice for you.’

Certainly, composite decking is more likely to make your life simpler than timber in the long term. ‘Many deck homeowners don’t thoughts the occasional upkeep, some which have timber decking quickly want they’d made composite their first selection,’ notes Karl Harrison, landscaper and Trex Composite Decking professional. ‘Changing your timber decking with composite does make sense in the event you add the time and value of upkeep of timber. If you happen to do change your decking for composite it is best to look ahead too a few years of comparatively upkeep free use.’

What are the issues with composite decking?

‘There are only a few disadvantages to composite decking,’ says Karl. ‘One of many solely downsides is that it may come at a a lot increased value, nonetheless they’ve extra longevity and considerably fewer upkeep prices.’

‘The one actual space that composites don’t examine favourably with timber, is within the preliminary buy value,’ agrees Lee from Dura Composites. ‘Composite decking is usually dearer, as a result of it’s extremely engineered, nonetheless when the lengthy lifespan is taken into consideration, alongside the various different advantages, many really feel it’s definitely worth the funding. After all, it’s a person selection and all of it depends upon your funds and priorities. Good high quality composite decking boards will value within the area of £50 to £90 per sq. metre and are a sound long run funding in the event you select the correct model. Nevertheless, in addition to the decking boards, you must also account for the muse, subframe, railings, and any further decking equipment.

‘A small to medium-sized deck can take anyplace as much as 2 days to put in and requires solely fundamental DIY instruments,’ provides Lee. ‘So, in the event you want, it can save you on labour prices and construct your deck your self, following your chosen producer’s DIY set up guides.’

Does composite decking get scorching to stroll on?

‘One criticism generally levelled towards composite decking is that it will get scorching,’ notes Lee from Dura Composites. ‘In fact, all surfaces which might be uncovered to direct daylight all day might be heat to stroll on with naked ft, however the quantity of warmth retained may be drastically affected by the color. Darker colors will retain extra warmth than lighter colors, so in the event you’ve obtained a south going through backyard and stay someplace with lengthy, scorching summers, then it’s possible you’ll need to issue this in when choosing your color.’

‘All decking will fade somewhat bit initially as its UV inhibitors work to stabilise the deck color, however in the event you like the color of the pattern you selected, you’ll need to be certain any fading is stored to a minimal,’ continues Lee. ‘The consequences of daylight are far more forgiving on composite decking than a wooden deck – which is able to all the time fade to a silvery boring gray over as a result of one in all its major elements, cellulose, robotically oxidises in daylight, resulting in floor bleaching.’

Is composite decking slippery when moist?

‘Main manufacturers of composite decking have slip take a look at knowledge accessible on their web sites. to not say that moist decking is slippery when moist, most surfaces are slippery when moist when in comparison with a dry floor,’ advises landscaper Karl Harrison.

‘Grooved decking performs worse within the moist, that is because of the lowered floor space. This supplies much less traction and due to this fact its efficiency is lowered when in comparison with a composite floor. One of the best tip to cut back the slippery floor is to maintain leaves off the floor and sometimes wash with a hose and a squeegee.’

‘Composite decking is much less prone to algae development and may be extra slip resistant than timber when moist,’ provides Caroline Birdsall, Advertising and marketing Director, Millboard. ‘For that reason it’s typically a preferred selection in public areas the place there’s heavy footfall and larger danger of slips and journeys. Nevertheless, composite decking varies enormously from producer to producer. If slip resistance is necessary to you, ask the producer for info on their slip ranking.’