Is Composite Decking Hot To Walk On?

Type Of Decking Used

Water and ice accumulation can make any deck surface a potential slip hazard though. While traditional wooden timber decks have an average lifespan of 10 to 15 years, as composite decking is weather, insect and rot resistant, it can last anywhere between 25 and 30 years, if not longer. The cheapest poorest performing composite boards tend to have thin walled products that have a rectangular hollow. To overcome this a compromise between wall strength and expansion needs to be achieved. The best design on the market are boards with round hollows in them. Like an arch of a bridge, the round holes allow for the event distribution of loads, creating a stronger board, like stronger bridges. The holes will also allow for the reduction in expansion and contraction, taking any expansion within its own voids.

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• Any gaps close and if they close too much the boards lift, warp and twist.
• If board are installed when warm, gaps increase in the cold making the deck look badly fitted.
• As with the other Composite prime products these boards use a hidden-clip system for a sleek installation and a hollow construction, meaning it’s lightweight with greater heat absorption.
• If the deck is installed in the cold, hot weather will make the boards expand and go longer.

Composite Prime

While most of the raw materials used in making Trex are recycled, these materials are carefully processed to ensure the highest level of quality and performance. The end result is decking that performs better than timber, lowering your cost over time through lesser maintenance. If you're looking for decking that stays cool in warm weather, DeckPlus composite decking is a great choice. Fortunately, we at DeckPlus are conscious of these problems, and our composite deckingis designed to resist heat and stay cool even during the hottest times of year. Capped composite decking provides your deck boards with a protective polymer sleeve used to minimise the amount of water absorbed by your deck boards, but it also minimises the amount of heat your boards absorb. Therefore, capped composite decking may, in fact, absorb and retain less heat than uncapped boards.

Composite deck options also do not present splinters or raised grain. Millboard decking would need to be fixed to a structural frame, either made of timber or ‘Plas-pro’ recycled plastic. In instances where there is burning wood or coal they will need to sit the fire bowl / brazier onto a porcelain or cement tile / slab.

I laid strips of black DPC used for bricks along the joists, to a deflect any water away from the joists and to avoid seeing wood colour through the grey decking. We often find the discussions around composite decking to be similar, its still a new innovative product that’s now easily available in the UK, the problem is… what is it? A lot of people are still unsure exactly what composite decking is, where they can get it, how to install it and so on.

A metal shovel can possibly chip the decking surface and void the warranty. Trex products should not be ripped to reduce thickness, but can be ripped to reduce width. As long as the board can still be installed per the installation instructions, the warranty will be valid. Please use care when fastening ripped boards, as pre-drilling may be necessary. More conveniently, Trex decking is also available in pre-grooved profiles, ready to install with our Trex Hideaway® Hidden Fastening System.

In quality composite manufactures additional UV stabilisers are added to help keep the boards colour and mailing a long lifespan. With 95% recycled wood fibres and plastic in each decking board, plus an industry leading warranty, they are a great choice for those who don’t have time to focus on its upkeep.

Composite decking nowadays comes in a myriad of compositions, and they vary from one manufacturer to another. These variations in composition can result in slight differences in the degree of expansion and contraction, so never assume certain recommendations apply to a different composite decking product. Whether doing the installation yourself or hiring a professional, these instructions should be followed. There is no clear-cut answer to who makes the best composite decking. Read our latest decking material reviews for help choosing your next decking project’s material.

As the boards are a moulded product we use a release agent in the manufacturing process so when the boards are first delivered this release agent is still on the surface. This may result in the boards looking like they have a shiny or waxed surface or have small particles of dirt and water puddling which could cause slip issues. This release agent will come off the surface within 6-8 weeks due to natural weathering. This process can be accelerated by cleaning the boards with warm soapy water and stiff brush after installation. If I was installing decking, then composite boards would probably be the first thing I'd consider.