The market for alternative decking materials has exploded over the past few years, and there are a multitude of different products available, at a wide range of price points.
Most timber decking alternatives are known as ‘composite’ decking, and are a wood-plastic hybrid. These include brand names such as ModWood, Trex (pictured above), CleverDeck and Ekodeck. Other alternatives are fibre-cement decking boards, and timber that’s been chemically modified to resist weathering and decay.
While it’s great to have this kind of choice, it can be difficult to know which product will best suit your needs, so let’s look at how the different types of alternative decking boards perform.
Composite decking (eg. Modwood & TREX)
An environmentally friendly decking option, composite decking is made from recycled wood pulp, fibre or sawdust, mixed with plastic and machine-extruded into long, uniform boards, (often more than five metres in length). The actual composition varies between brands – some products use rice husks or bamboo rather than wood, and some use recycled plastics.
Composite boards are designed to look and feel similar to timber decking, but are virtually maintenance-free: they won’t warp or rot, and never require resealing or painting.
While early-generation composites were susceptible to scratching and fading, manufacturing methodologies have changed and the new-generation composites use harder plastics, a lower wood-plastic ratio, and are ‘capped’ with an integrated protective plastic coating, all of which helps overcome these issues.
Compressed-fibre cement (eg. HardieDeck)
Compressed-fibre cement is the latest kid to arrive on the alternative decking block. Made from a mixture of cement, sand and cellulose fibre machined to a smooth finish, it offers all the benefits of splinter- and warp-free durability and weather-resistance, albeit with a higher price tag than some of the other composite decking products.
Unlike the plastic-wood composites, fibre-cement decking does need to be sealed with either a good-quality water-based paving paint or a penetrating sealer. Finished with a clear sealer, it will look like polished concrete.
TAG have a number of suppliers who stock composite and fibre cement decking!
Trex, Modwood & HardieDeck
Tim: 0414 564 618
Office: 07 3265 7933
Email: [email protected]
Website: www.versacetimbers.com.au
Modwood Decking & HardieDeck
Tony: 0438 145 350
Office: 07 3386 0595
Email: [email protected]
Website: www.5startimbers.com.au
Trex Decking
Don: 0423 609 240
Office: 07 388 52007
Email: [email protected]
Website: www.justbalustrading.com.au
When contacting any of the above suppliers, don’t forget to mention that you’re a member of TAG!
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