What are composite deck boards?

If you’re looking for a durable, easy-to-maintain alternative to timber decking, we’ve got a fantastic range of composite decking for you to browse through. One of the most popular materials on the market for garden decking projects alongside traditional timber, composite deck boards offer a great value solution with several benefits and advantages for your customers.

Composite decking is a manufactured material consisting of wood fibres, such as sawdust, and recycled plastics, with added bonding agents to complete the composite. Also known as wood polymer composite (WPC) decking, composite deck boards are manufactured by heating the hardwood fibre and plastic mix and forming it into board lengths, before cooling. The result is a robust decking material that has the look of real wood but offers various benefits over wood alternatives.

What are the benefits of composite decking?

Composite decking is often considered a best-of-both-worlds solution between the authenticity of timber decking and the hard-wearing qualities of plastic composites. Plastic deck boards are highly durable, with excellent resistance to weathering, marks and scuffs, and moisture. Timber decking might be susceptible to rot, warping, splitting and damage from insects and mould, but composite decking eliminates these issues. They have a longer lifespan than wood decking, with an appearance and colour that won’t fade over time.

Its main advantage over standard wooden decking is that it requires much less maintenance, with the plastic providing a more durable build that protects against rot and damp. Composite deck boards also limit water absorption, making them ideal for use around pools and wet areas. There is no need to paint, stain, or seal composite deck boards – simply clean them regularly with soap and water to keep them looking fresh.

Artificial decking might have a higher initial cost when compared to wood decking but will prove more cost-effective in the long run. The longevity of the product (our composite deck boards come with a minimum 15-year guarantee), coupled with the durability and lack of maintenance, make it a highly desirable choice for customers that want an easy, effective, long-term solution.

What types of composite deck boards do we have available?

We have a great range of composite decking from top brands such as Habitat+ to browse through, including fittings and fixings to help with the installation. We stock a range of styles and colours, including decking that is designed to mimic the appearance of a natural wood grain.

Habitat+ decking features a HDPE capped coat, providing it with enhanced resistance to scratches and UV. Hollow composite decking, such as our Alchemy Habitat+ Composite Deck Board Rydal, offers better flexibility than solid composite decking, and might be more suitable for areas with less footfall. It's lightweight and very easy to install and is a great option for domestic/residential areas and balcony projects. There’s less material used in hollow deck boards, so they’re slightly more affordable, but the lack of a solid core doesn’t affect the structural integrity or the overall longevity and hardiness.

We’ve got a choice of light grey composite decking and dark grey composite decking – even brown, wood-effect composite decking for an ultra-authentic appearance.

Get your composite decking boards at exclusive trade prices

You can have your composite decking, along with other decking supplies, delivered straight to site with our free Click & Deliver, or pick up at a time that suits you with Click & Collect from your local branch.