While many people know that composite decking is a beautiful, long-lasting alternative to traditional wood decking, few people know how composite deck boards are made. As the name suggests "composite" decking is made up of more than one element. Where traditional timber decking is made purely of wood, composite decking is made using a combination of hardwood fibres, polymer resin. The resulting boards offer superior strength, water-resistance and durability! Let's look a little bit closer at the way our composite decking is manufactured here at DeckPlus...

Our eco-friendly manufacturing process

One of the biggest misconceptions about composite decking is that it's bad for the environment because it contains plastics. In reality, the opposite is true! As outlined on our Eco-Friendly Decking page, a large proportion of the raw materials that make DeckPlus composite decking are recycled.

The wood fibres that we use are made using cut-offs of wood that would've otherwise ended up in landfill, and the plastics we use come from post-industrial and post-consumer sources. All of our composite decking is made responsibly so that we can offer you an eco-friendly alternative to timber decking. 

You're probably thinking, how can timber decking be worse for the environment than composite - it's completely natural. Well, yes. Timber decking is completely natural, but herein lies the problem. In order for timber decking to be manufactured, thousands of trees are cut down each year, most of which are in tropical rainforests and other similar settings. Our composite decking doesn't contribute to deforestation and instead gives discarded wood a new lease of life!

How are composite deck boards made?

There are two different ways that composite deck boards can be made, by extrusion or by compression moulding.

Extrusion

The two main elements, wood fibres and polymer resin are combined with lubricants, foaming agents and colourant before being fed into an extrusion machine to create the desired shape. This method creates one long composite deck board on a conveyor belt that can be cut down to the required lengths later. 

Compression moulding

Compression moulding is slightly different. Instead of feeding the raw materials into an extrusion machine, manufacturers tip the materials into a wood grain mould and compress them under extreme heat and pressure. This heat and pressure creates a strong physical bond that gives the boards their shape.

Different kinds of composite decking

Composite decking doesn't just come in one shape or size, you will see from the variety of ranges we offer on our website that composite decking can be hollow, solid, capped or uncapped. Each of these board types has its own unique qualities that make it suitable for different designs and budgets. 

Hollow composite decking, like the boards in our EvoDek and FutureDek ranges, are perfect for homeowners that need a lightweight, budget-friendly option. Since these boards are made using less material, we can supply them at a lower price. The unique design of our hollow boards means that you're not compromising on structural integrity. 

Hollow Boards >

Capped composite decking benefits from an additional polymer sleeve on top of the durable composite boards. This helps to make the boards highly-resistant to moisture and also preserves the colour and wood-grain finish for longer.

Read More: What does capped composite decking mean?

Capped Boards >

Whichever DeckPlus composite decking you choose, you can rest assured that it's been made responsibly and will last you for years to come. Take a look at our full range of decking, or give us a call on 0800 028 8756 to find out more. 

At the beginning of 2020, no one could've predicted the year would pan out how it did. Swathes of the country have been (and still are) in and out of lockdowns to slow the spread of COVID-19, which means more people are spending time at home than ever before.

For a while during summer, gardens were the only place we could meet up with friends and family, so this year has really made people think about their outdoor spaces and how they can be improved. Unsurprisingly, there's a direct correlation between the number of people at home and the number of people adding decking to their gardens! Many of these people didn't have the time to consider a full-scale garden renovation, but now they have plenty of time to design and install the deck of their dreams.

But is this the only reason that so many people have added decking to their garden this year?

Hottest summer on record

While lockdowns have inspired people to turn their attention towards their gardens, they're not the only reason that decking installations have rocketed this year. The three months between June and August were recorded as "the hottest meteorological summer on record, surpassing both 2019 and 2016 which were previously tied for hottest" - National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration.

We already know that hot weather gets people out in their gardens, so it's no surprise that this heatwave led to more decking purchases. Our composite decking is a great investment for summer because it doesn't get too hot underfoot.

Timber decking has a tendency to get unbearably hot when the sun's out, with composite decking you won't have to worry about popping out barefoot even on the hottest days. Even your furry friends will enjoy laying out on it to sunbathe...

Read More: Composite Decking That Stays Cool

Will decking still be popular in 2021?

We're all hopeful that a vaccine will help us get out lockdown during 2021, but it's definitely possible that our gardens will be used as safe spaces to meet up with the vulnerable for a little while at least! Our gardens have seen all kinds of family gatherings, including weddings, which has helped people realise how important their outdoor spaces can be during a time of crisis. 

On top of this, people are still unsure whether they'll be able to go abroad over the next year and are instead thinking about making improvements at home. Not having a vacation doesn't feel so bad when your staycation is just as good!

For these reasons, we expect garden renovations (including decking installations) to stay on the rise for a little while longer as we move into 2021.

Have you been thinking about improving your garden over the last year? We offer a wide range of composite decking to suit different designs and budgets. Give your garden a little pick-me-up and shop our composite decking now!

Shop DeckPlus Composite Decking >

Composite decking has been an outdoor living favourite for over 20 years, but despite its popularity, there are still lots of myths floating around the internet which completely put people off from buying it. In this blog, we take a look at some of the most common misconceptions about composite deking to show you why composite decking is a great choice for any home. 

1. Composite decking requires a lot of maintenance

This is something that people often think, but it simply isn't true. It's easy to understand why someone who's only ever experienced timber decking would believe that any kind of deck would be high maintenance, but that's where composite and timber decks differ. 

Natural timber decks require a lot of work if you want to maintain their structure and colour. Left without a stain or sealant treatment, timber boards can suffer from water ingress, start to fade and eventually crack and split. This creates an unsightly (and quite often dangerous) surface that would undoubtedly put anyone off having a deck installed again. To keep a timber deck looking its best, an annual sand, stain and seal treatment is required. 

In comparison, composite decking requires a fraction of the work to keep it looking pristine. Designed with a durable polymer coating, the colour and texture of composite decking is preserved without demanding a rigorous maintenance routine. For that reason, composite decking is actually a great upgrade if you want to move away from high-maintenance timber decking. 

2. Composite decking has an unnatural, plastic finish?

If you've never seen composite decking up close, then you might believe the myth that composite decking looks unnatural. Before we explain how composite decking is manufactured to look just like real wood, we want to give you the opportunity to see our beautifully wood-like composite decking for yourself.

Order a sample here >

When composite decking first hit the market 20 years ago, it did gain a bit of a reputation for having a 'plastic' or 'unnatural' look. Nowadays, we use more advanced manufacturing processes to create composite decking boards with a realistic wood effect. Now you can choose from a huge selection of wood grains and colours that look just as natural as real wood. 

3. Composite decking is not eco-friendly

When people find out that composite decking is made using a combination of wood and plastic, they instantly assume that it's not an eco-friendly option, but here at DeckPlus, we are dedicated to making our decking in a sustainable way.

Some decking companies may use newly-manufactured materials to create their composite decking, but we use reclaimed materials from other production sites to create composite decking that's environmentally friendly. Most of the plastic and wood fibres that go into DeckPlus composite decking are waste materials from other industries, that would otherwise have been sent to landfills. 

We work to strict regulations and guidelines that monitor the emissions we produce, and we even recycle the water that's used to cool the deck boards as they travel down the production line so that every part of the manufacturing process is as sustainable as possible. 

Read More: Our Eco-Friendly Composite Decking

So now you know the truth about these composite decking myths, we hope you can make a more informed decision about your decking purchase! If you have any further questions about our composite decking, our experienced sales team are happy to help you. Call us on 0800 028 8756. 

There are homeowners up and down the country with old wooden decks in their gardens, begging to be replaced! Over time, moisture creeps into wooden boards, causing them to crack, rot and warp. Left untreated, your old wooden deck can become a real hazard to you and others in your home. 

Compared to composite decking, wooden decks have a relatively short lifespan, so it's unsurprising that homeowners often opt for a more durable replacement. One of the things that puts people off installing a new deck is the prospect of ripping up the old one. Not only does this take time, but it also leaves you with a huge pile of (potentially rotting) wood that you'll need to get rid of. 

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When browsing our range of composite decking you've probably noticed that we offer 'capped' and 'uncapped' options. When coming across these decking variations for the first time, you may not know what the difference is. Today we're going to take a closer look at capped composite decking to find out what it is, what it means and how it compares to uncapped decking options. 

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