Is Composite Decking Expensive?

The Costs of Composite Decking

It seems fair to say that composite decking is something of a premium product, and although it isn’t the cheapest home improvement out there, you certainly get what you pay for. This is all down to an extensive manufacturing process which results in an incredibly high-quality product, which is not just attractive, but also stable, durable and requires minimal maintenance. It is also worth thinking about the cost of maintaining a traditional deck when considering the cost of a composite deck.

So what exactly is this process and what do you get when you opt for composite decking?

A Three-Step Journey

Composite decking isn’t simply made from wood, but rather a blended mix of both wood and recycled plastic. Why? Because it allows you to benefit from the best of both materials; the stunning visual appeal of wood with the easier maintenance of plastic.

However, in order to reap these benefits, the materials must be processed quite extensively. Generally, this is achieved using a three-step process. This involves the technical-sounding steps of granulating, extruding and surface finish.

• Granulating: This refers to the preparation stage, in which the wood and plastic and other materials such as additives which can help with preservation are mixed together.
• Extruding: The mix is then reduced into particles which can be extruded. The particles are then bound together and formed into the desired shape of the finished decking.
• Surface Finish: Finally, the decking must be made finished to a high quality and this is why the surface finish is a vital step. Composite decking can come with many finishes. It’s typically made to look more like conventional wood.

A Wealth of Benefits

This may sound like a complex process, but (at present) this is a necessary production process to produce the impressive qualities of composite decking. Unlike many other more traditional forms of decking, composite decking has superior resistance including rotting or warping, without the need for staining or painting.

Maintenance is drastically reduced, making it easier to enjoy your decking without stress. Although it should still be cleaned to avoid any staining or damage, the need for more extensive work is eradicated, making composite decking also cheap to maintain.

Savings on Maintenance

Composite materials are expensive on the outset, but the robust properties more than compensate for the initial outlay. To understand how composite decking saves you money compared to timber decking. We need to look at the cost of maintaining a timber deck. You will typically need to apply 2 to 3 coats of preservative treatment every year. Especially if you want your deck to stay in primary condition. Below are current prices of the cheapest treatment preservative:

• Typical decking oil:  £25 – £30 (5l)
• Typical decking stain: £37 (2.5l)
• Standard decking stripper: £36 (2.5l)

Including labour, even a modest assumption would average around £100 – £150 for a 30 sqm deck on maintenance per year. This works out to be £1000 – £1500 over 10 years .

Cost aside, the benefit of being able to enjoy your deck anytime you want is a great feature. There is no downtime for drying your deck on nice hot days; there’s no need for preservation and no worries of slipping when wet.

If you would like to find out more about our quality composite decking in the UK, please don’t hesitate to get in touch with us by calling 0116 2887719 to speak to a member of our friendly team.