Composite decking - yes or no

greencode

michaeldavies1 wrote: »

I bought Ash coloured composite decking boards here https://www.dinodecking.co.uk/category/composite-decking-boards/. I couldn't be happier with my purchase.

The decking has been down for a full year and still looks brand new here in the UK. We've had a hot summer and it is now -3 degrees (snowing) but my deck still looks pristine!

Pros:
- Weather proof
- Will last a life time
- Looks far better than wood (wood rots and looks uneven after 1 year)
- Safe for children and pets - no splinters!

Cons:
- Slighty more expensive than timber. HOWEVER, I worked out the amount i would spend on staining each year and composite pays for itself over time! Also there's a lot of expensive composite decking retailers, however, I found Dino Decking the lowest priced by far!

Hi. Not sure if you’re still around as I notice your last post was in Feb but how’s your Dino decking holding up? I’m considering purchasing from them. The two main things are whether it scratches easily and how much it fades. Also thinking of Ash. Thanks.

Asker

greencode wrote: »

Hi. Not sure if you’re still around as I notice your last post was in Feb but how’s your Dino decking holding up? I’m considering purchasing from them. The two main things are whether it scratches easily and how much it fades. Also thinking of Ash. Thanks.

Well I've just received some samples from dinodecking and I started another thread on it because whilst it looks good it scratches SOOO easily with a knife. Little crumbly bits of wood/plastic just come off when you scratch it. I find it hard to believe it won't be a scratched up mess with kids playing on it and moving furniture across it but of course I've not installed it so in practice it may be fine, don't know.

I'm going to get some samples from elsewhere, see if that's any better.

I have researched that you can sort out scratches with a heat gun, so that may be an option.

This is why I'm now thinking wood might be a better option but I'm not sure. I'm going to call a few composite companies. I've come across American youtube videos and they talk about 4th and 5th generation composite which is covered with a plastic sort of coating that protects it more, with all sorts of scare stories of the wood elements within the composite going bad etc.

I'm pretty confused tbh.

greencode

Asker wrote: »

Well I've just received some samples from dinodecking and I started another thread on it because whilst it looks good it scratches SOOO easily with a knife. Little crumbly bits of wood/plastic just come off when you scratch it. I find it hard to believe it won't be a scratched up mess with kids playing on it and moving furniture across it but of course I've not installed it so in practice it may be fine, don't know.

I'm going to get some samples from elsewhere, see if that's any better.

I have researched that you can sort out scratches with a heat gun, so that may be an option.

This is why I'm now thinking wood might be a better option but I'm not sure. I'm going to call a few composite companies. I've come across American youtube videos and they talk about 4th and 5th generation composite which is covered with a plastic sort of coating that protects it more, with all sorts of scare stories of the wood elements within the composite going bad etc.

I'm pretty confused tbh.

Yeah, tricky one. I've got samples from Dino Decking and Envirobuild and they both appear to be the same. Running my finger nail over both samples and they do scratch but that is when viewing close up and catching the light so not sure what they would actually be like when at ground level. I also think darker colours would show scratches more than lighter colours.

The thing that probably concerns me most is the fading issue. Most companies say they can fade up to 30% after a few months. As my garden is East facing, half of my decking gets sun and half doesn't so does that then mean it's going to fade on half of it and end up looking a mess.

I suppose the alternative is to get wooden decking and then use some decking paint to help with the maintenance / slip issues that wooden decks seem to have. My father recently painted his with Ronseal Decking Rescue Paint and that appears to be very good. Nice and grippy and easy to clean. He's only just done it though so no idea the longevity of it.

Decisions, decisions!!

Asker

greencode wrote: »

Yeah, tricky one. I've got samples from Dino Decking and Envirobuild and they both appear to be the same. Running my finger nail over both samples and they do scratch but that is when viewing close up and catching the light so not sure what they would actually be like when at ground level. I also think darker colours would show scratches more than lighter colours.

The thing that probably concerns me most is the fading issue. Most companies say they can fade up to 30% after a few months. As my garden is East facing, half of my decking gets sun and half doesn't so does that then mean it's going to fade on half of it and end up looking a mess.

I suppose the alternative is to get wooden decking and then use some decking paint to help with the maintenance / slip issues that wooden decks seem to have. My father recently painted his with Ronseal Decking Rescue Paint and that appears to be very good. Nice and grippy and easy to clean. He's only just done it though so no idea the longevity of it.

Decisions, decisions!!

Thanks, let's try and keep each other posted with samples/thoughts if possible, this is really helpful (for me). I've just looked up antislip stuff that's an interestign option.

Interestingly I spoke to gripsure (wife doesn't like it though, says the boards look industrial and to be fair they do) who said it's a myth that composite doesn't get slippy or need maintenance. It will still need yearly washing/cleaning down to reduce slip. I guess it will need less than wood though. And of course he would have to tell me that, trying to sell gripsure!

I wonder if more expensive composite would be better for scratches and fading. I'm going to try and get some dearer samples.

greencode

Asker wrote: »

Thanks, let's try and keep each other posted with samples/thoughts if possible, this is really helpful (for me). I've just looked up antislip stuff that's an interestign option.

Interestingly I spoke to gripsure (wife doesn't like it though, says the boards look industrial and to be fair they do) who said it's a myth that composite doesn't get slippy or need maintenance. It will still need yearly washing/cleaning down to reduce slip. I guess it will need less than wood though. And of course he would have to tell me that, trying to sell gripsure!

I wonder if more expensive composite would be better for scratches and fading. I'm going to try and get some dearer samples.

Don't go for that gripsure stuff. Looks terrible. The public school here in Uppingham has it on their decking for the cricket pavilion and it's great for them as they don't want any kids to slip and it is incredibly grippy but for domestic applications it'd look pretty awful.

So far, price-wise we have:

Dino: £19.99 per 4m board
Envirobuild: £29.90 per 4m board
Cladco: £18.96 per 4m board.

As mentioned before, I couldn't see any difference between Dino and Envirobuild so can't see why that's 50% more! I'll see what the Cladco one is like and update you.

p.s. Let's try to keep to one thread, otherwise it'll get confusing updating this and the other one you set up.

Asker

greencode wrote: »

Don't go for that gripsure stuff. Looks terrible. The public school here in Uppingham has it on their decking for the cricket pavilion and it's great for them as they don't want any kids to slip and it is incredibly grippy but for domestic applications it'd look pretty awful.

So far, price-wise we have:

Dino: £19.99 per 4m board
Envirobuild: £29.90 per 4m board
Cladco: £18.96 per 4m board.

As mentioned before, I couldn't see any difference between Dino and Envirobuild so can't see why that's 50% more! I'll see what the Cladco one is like and update you.

p.s. Let's try to keep to one thread, otherwise it'll get confusing updating this and the other one you set up.

Agreed, thanks mate, will keep it on this thread. I'll update you any concersations I have or samples I get.

One thing by the way that I think can help with the cost is that with composite you don't haev to use those expensive clips and plastic feet etc but you apparently can just use tanalised joists, like you would with wood. That's what my builder says, and the chap at gripsure said. That *may* make things a lot quicker and cheaper.

DCFC79

greencode wrote: »

Hi. Not sure if you’re still around as I notice your last post was in Feb but how’s your Dino decking holding up? I’m considering purchasing from them. The two main things are whether it scratches easily and how much it fades. Also thinking of Ash. Thanks.

Unfortunately the poster hasn't been back since they made the post.

greencode

Asker wrote: »

Agreed, thanks mate, will keep it on this thread. I'll update you any concersations I have or samples I get.

One thing by the way that I think can help with the cost is that with composite you don't haev to use those expensive clips and plastic feet etc but you apparently can just use tanalised joists, like you would with wood. That's what my builder says, and the chap at gripsure said. That *may* make things a lot quicker and cheaper.

Yeah, I've already ordered and got my joists ready to make the subframe (uk-timber.co.uk) and I'm just going to use wood offcuts for risers (remembering to treat sawn edges so they don't rot)

Asker

greencode wrote: »

Yeah, I've already ordered and got my joists ready to make the subframe (uk-timber.co.uk) and I'm just going to use wood offcuts for risers (remembering to treat sawn edges so they don't rot)

Interesting. Am I right in guessing this works out cheaper than buying all the plastic legs and composite joists?

And are you then planning to screw into the decking boards as you would do with wood? Or will you be using the clip thingies?

I suspect screwed in will be cheaper

greencode

Asker wrote: »

Interesting. Am I right in guessing this works out cheaper than buying all the plastic legs and composite joists?

And are you then planning to screw into the decking boards as you would do with wood? Or will you be using the clip thingies?

I suspect screwed in will be cheaper

Definitely cheaper using wooden joists rather than composite joists and pedestals. I'll still be buying the hidden fasteners and starter clips to keep things nice and neat.