Composite Decking Questions Answered...
Decking FAQs
We have compiled a comprehensive list of FAQs and summarised many of the key points from our installation guide, we hope these details clear up any queries you may have, however if you do have any questions please do not hesitate to contact us.
General FAQ
Innodek Wood Plastic Composite deck boards are manufactured from a mix of hard wood fibre, recycled polyethylene, bonding agent, additives, and tint and is a long-lasting, hardwearing, low maintenance alternative to traditional timber deck boards.
YES, Innodek composite deck boards are manufactured using recycled materials that would otherwise go to landfill. When laid correctly they won’t splinter or warp the way wood does, so they reduce the wasteful cycle of repair and replacement. They also eliminate the need for frequent application of environmentally harmful paint, sealers, and stains.
One obvious reason for using WPC composite decking is to help preserve the environment. Environmental pressures increase daily and there is a clear need to extend the life of our traditional building materials such as wood and WPC’s efficient re-use of raw materials that are currently seen as waste supports the concept of sustainable development. Being made of almost 100% recycled materials and being 100% recyclable WPC’s impact on our precious forest resources is negligible, reducing the carbon foot print. There is negligible production waste and any that is produced can be reused and WPC contains no toxins or volatile organic compounds. WPC decking is 100% recyclable and can be reground and reused after it’s service life and because it is considered as non-hazardous waste it can be disposed of by standard methods.
We offer a limited 15 year residential and 5 year commercial warranty against manufacturing defects for our uncapped range and a limited 25 year residential and 10 commercial warranty against manufacturing defects for our capped ranges. We anticipate that when looked after well composite decking can last in excess of this time period.
Innodek composite deck boards are competitively priced against solid hard wood timber alternatives available on the market however the fact that they require very little maintenance means that your time can be spent enjoying rather than maintaining.
Only you can really picture that as you know the space better than anyone but we do have a visualiser and gallery on our website which may assist you in imagining what it could look like. Our ECOBOARD Smoke White colour deck board is variegated so the deking will exhibit different colours and irregular patches and streaks and no 2 boards are designed to be the same.
Innodek uncapped WPC decking boards will lighten in colour as they naturally weather over the first 2-3 months of outdoor exposure before stabilising. The board lightening is caused by rain washing out naturally occurring dark wood oils (called tannins) and UV exposure and the colour change whilst most noticeable in the lighter colour boards should not be too dramatic.
Innodek capped boards can also lighten as they are exposed to UV but to a lesser degree than our uncapped boards. All Innodek deck boards have been tested for resistance to colour fade as a result of UV exposure and the results for each range can be found in the Technical documents section of our website.
Innodek deck boards are designed to absorb very little water (<1%). which is much lower than timber, therefore it heavily reduces the likelihood of wet rot over a long period of time.
YES! you can cut, nail, drill, screw, and rout Innodek deck boards using standard woodworking tools, however the density of our deck boards is greater than timber so we recommend using carbide tipped blades and bits and please always take care to use the appropriate PPE.
WPC products offer superior durability and performance that you can't get from wood and when laid WPC decking won't rot, warp, or splinter and never require staining or painting to maintain great looks.
Polyethylene is non-toxic and is used for applications such as milk jugs, water jugs and grocery sacks. When burned completely, it will convert to carbon dioxide and water vapor.
Naturally our solid composite deck boards have more strength than the hollow version which makes them more suitable for commercial and high footfall settings as well as residential projects where particularly heavy items are being installed. Our round hollow boards are still very durable and alot stronger than the rectangular hole versions offered by many of our competitors where as much as 60% of the raw material could have been removed.
Our round hollow composite deck boards contain approx. 30% less material than our solid version which means they are more suited to low footfall, residential garden and balcony installations. The reduced raw material composition means that they cost less to manufacture allowing us to pass on savings to our customers without compromising on quality in any way.
Less material equals less weight and our round hollow boards weigh approx. 30% less than our solid version making them easier to transport, handle and install perfect for any single fitter installations.
Solid composite deck boards are better at absorbing sound when compared to hollow which could prove useful if you are looking to reduce noise when using your deck.
Due to the use of plastic in their composition both hollow and solid composite deck boards will suffer from heat retention so the reduced density of the hollow boards could make them a better option for hotter climate installations or with high expected sun exposure.
Technical FAQ
Innodek composite decking is available in a total of 9 different colours spread across 3 different ranges. Colour swatches can be found on our website along with a visualiser, however because colours can appear different depending on the hardware being used to view it we do offer free sample packs online.
Innodek composite deck boards are available in 3 ranges and the nominal width and thickness can be different from range to range so please refer to the product details for confirmation of the same. (please note that our website states the nominal width but the actual width can vary by +/-1.5mm).
Because Innodek composite deck boards are manufactured using an extrusion process a straightness tolerance of 1.5mm per linear metre is allowed. E.g. for a 3400mm length board the straightness from one end to the other could vary by up to 5.1mm and if required a board straightener can be used to assist fitting (*This exlcudes Solid Edge Boards).
YES. Innodek deck boards can be laid either side up at a customers discretion. Laying wood grain side up will give greater aesthetic appeal whereas laying groove side up will give better slip resistance in wet conditions.
Innodek composite decking boards are produced in batches and made from 60% recycled hardwood making this a natural product. For this reason slight colour variations may occur (most noticeable when purchasing uncapped boards in different lengths) so where possible we advise that customers purchase the correct amount on their initial order and in the same length to minimise the risk. Whilst we will always endeavour to combine all products from the same manufacturing batch this is not always possible when stocks are low or additional boards are added at a later date so on some occasions it may be necessary for us to combine deck boards from different manufacturing batches and in different lengths.
If you intend to store WPS composite decking prior to installation, it should be stored indoors in polythene wrap. If items are to be stored outside then they should be properly sheltered to prevent direct interference from sunlight, rain, moisture etc. The product must be close stacked in the shade, clear of the ground on levelled bearers (100mm), they should be stored on a level surface such as a concrete floor. Products need to be stored in a manner that prevents sagging and permits free air circulation.
Please refer to our decking installation guide.
The recommended maximum spacing between the decking support joists is 400mm but please refer to our installation guide for more details.
WPC decking is a pressed extruded composite wood product made from wood powder and recycled plastic and whilst not being the same it can be cut, drilled and processed like traditional wood. Cutting can generally be done by using standard woodworking tools and table, circular, and mitre saws are your best choice. We recommend you choose blades made of a hard alloy and be mindful not to let the blade overheat during cutting, otherwise, it will affect the cut finish quality. Whilst relatively straightforward to fit we do recommend that you should read our installation guide in advance to avoid any unnecessary mistakes. Although WPC decking is different to wood it does react to weather conditions so attention should be paid to the gapping recommendations detailed in our installation guide before cutting any boards to length.
Innodek composite decking composite will expand and contract along its length primarily due to changes in temperature, therefore adequate expansion spacing needs to be provided in order to preserve the integrity of your deck installation and spacing recommendations can be found in our installation guide.
Innodek deck boards have repeater grooves on one side that give the best slip-resistance however the wood grain side will also outperform timber. Regardless of what is laid down we would always recommend extra caution is taken when using your deck in wet or icy conditions.
After purchasing and installing Innodek decking, there may be some surplus lengths and off cuts leftover and whilst it can be disposed of using standard procedures it seems a pity to waste such a flexible product. Due to the fact Innodek decking is relatively simple to work with consumers could choose to turn the surplus lengths into a practical use such as making a weatherproof pathway, planter or seating area etc.
Using a standard household washing up liquid will be effective when cleaning Innodek deck boards and unless designed specifically for use with composite decking we do not recommend you use any cleaning products stronger than this especially if they contain a bleaching agent. If you choose to use a power washer to clean your deck please make sure you keep the nozzle at least 25cm away from the surface of the deck boards.
Design Tool FAQ
Our design tool is intended to visually design your project for the purpose of quotation. Enter your dimensions, options and colour preferences. Preview your design using our 3D visual. Submit your details and our system will automatically generate your quotation within minutes.
Our design tool will calculate the number of whole deck boards required to ensure full project coverage. Providing a fully itemised specification and accurate drawing plans showing how to cut and lay your boards.
Our design tool requires the length and width dimensions of your project area as well as the approxmate height. For measuring the area our design tool supports the following three shapes: Rectangle, Left Handed Corner and Right-Handed Corner.
Most calculation tools are only intended to provide a rough indication of the costs involved without taking into account the cutting or installation process. Our Design Tool actually builds your deck in CAD to provide a more realistic and itemised quotation.
For uniquely complex projects you can subdivide a drawing into smaller areas for calculation and then logically lay these areas out to optimize aesthetic and material usage. Our expert team are at hand all they need is a good drawing and dimensions to get started!
Your choice of shape defines which measurements are required to create your design and calculate your requirement. There are three choices including:
Rectangle: Calculated as one geometric area from two inputted dimensions
Left Handed Corner: Calculated as two geometric areas from four inputted directions.
Right Handed Corner: Calculated as two geometric areas from four inputted directions.
Our configurator requires dimensions to be entered in millimetres (mm) and the number of dimensions required to calculate your project area(s) is determined by the shape you selected at the previous step.
Based on your input dimensions and the selected board direction our configurator will calculate the number of whole deck boards required to ensure full project coverage. Please note that our configurator is designed to generate a result that we believe is the best balance between number of joins / cuts and generated waste as opposed to the lowest cost method.
The deck height input is required for the calculation of fascia boards which are an optional selection in a subsequent step and the dimension entered is assumed as being the height of the overall structure (i.e. floor to top of deck board). If fascia boards are selected for any sides of the deck then our configurator will calculate the quantity of whole boards required to ensure full coverage.
Choosing between Residential and Commercial will pre-select either our Round Hollow or Solid Boards. Our Round Hollow is intended primarily for residential usage whereas our Solid Boards are more suitable for commercial and high footfall settings.
Adequate spacing between our composite deck boards is required to ensure good airflow and drainage within and around the deck structure as this will inhibit the risk of water damage, structural rot and algae formation.
We offer hidden fixings which can provide either a 3mm or 6mm gap and because both are fit for purpose you have a choice to suit your aesthetic preference.
N.B. In the unlikely event that an individual board needs to be removed or replaced in any section of the deck then the hidden 6mm fixing clips will allow this to be done without the need to remove all of the surrounding boards, whereas because the 3mm clips are installed beneath the adjacent deck board all preceding deck boards will need to be removed to allow for the removal of an individual deck board."
Our design tool allows selection of our three core Innodek ranges: ECOBOARD, PROCAP and LUXECAP. It is then possible to select individual colours in these ranges for the primary deck, selected deck option and selected fascia sides allowing further customisation of your decking design.
To offer flexibility in your deck design our configurator allows you to select two option design elements as detailed below.
Solid Edge Boards – typically used as an exposed last board of a deck, for picture framing and stepped areas.
Picture Frame – typically adopted to separate deck areas or introduce a little design flair and contrasting colour to your design. Can be created using normal deck boards or Solid Edge boards.
Fascia Boards are typically used on raised decking projects to conceal any exposed underlying substructure to provide a more aesthetically pleasing finish to your deck.
Whilst not a design option with our configurator, for higher decking structures we also recommend using cut to length deck boards, installed vertically as opposed to installing our fascia boards horizontally.