Composite decking solutions ruling the roost

Decks have always been seen as a display of luxe and style. They provide a comfortable space to enjoy the warmth and relaxation of spring, summer and winter. There have been many designs available for decorating the decks but the ultimate decision depends upon the usage of materials for putting up he decks. Premium products like composite decking offer an attractive, low maintenance finish, but come with limitations and disadvantages that may surprise the house owners.

Composite decking has evolved quite a bit providing a range of options to the home owners now a days. These preferred materials are demanded more than their wooden counterparts and have become highly popular. People generally who want to save on the initial installation costs go for the wood while those who want to go for cheaper after works and less maintenance choose composite decking solutions which have become quite rage.

In recent years some sharp entrepreneurs, recognising that many home-owners might appreciate a lower-maintenance option, came up with some alternatives. In addition to vinyl and aluminium, there's even plastic decking available now. But the segment of the decking industry that's seen the biggest change is what's called composite decking.

Composite decking is typically made from a combination of different materials (namely, wood and plastic), which are processed to give the appearance of wood. Both the wood (which consists of lumber industry by-products like sawdust, chips and wood fibre) and the plastic can be made from virgin or recycled material.

Materials used in composite Decking solutions:

There are two main types of plastic used in WPC decking in Australia – high density polyethylene (HDPE) and polyvinyl chloride (PVC).

In general terms HDPE is a softer, more flexible substance, and is the most common plastic used in Australian WPC decking. It can be sourced from recycled materials like milk bottles or pure polymer, both of which have positives and negatives.

Recycled materials, while environmentally friendly, are not chemically designed for exterior use and poor quality recycled HDPE may result in quicker deterioration of the product. Polymer is made from virgin material, i.e. petroleum or oil, so although stronger it fails under sustainability measures.

HDPE is also less fire resistant to timber and suppliers have had to combat this by including fire retardant additives in their manufacturing processes.

PVC is harder, fire resistant and UV resistant, making it the most commonly used exterior plastic; think gutters, down pipes etc. However, its hard surface lends itself to installation difficulties and an underfoot feeling that is dissimilar to real timber.

Australia based New Bridge Services is a licensed manufacturer and direct supplier of a wide range of industrial and construction- support products. These include skip bins, hook lift bins, and scaffolding equipment.