What is composite decking?

Composite decking is a combination of recycled wood fibres, plastics and binding agents to create a timber lookalike product that is stronger and lasts longer than timber alone. Most modern composite timber brands offer long life and low to no maintenance decking options.

NewTechWood is one such popular brand.

What are some considerations for choosing the perfect composite decking?

A shortcut to establish which decking brands might be more viable is to visit each brand’s website and look up their warranty. That cheap brand you see in large, building material chain stores might look great on the shelf, but when you learn its warranty is only, say, 15 years, then suddenly it doesn’t seem like such a great deal for the thousands of dollars you outlay upfront.

If you are after entry level decking, do a comparison. You’ll be pleasantly surprised to know NewTechWood offers a 25-year warranty even on their entry level decking, but not all manufacturers are so generous.

How to choose the perfect composite decking?

If you are looking at a new deck to enhance your outdoor living, you will know how overwhelming this decision can be. And it isn’t just about money… it’s about the value for money, durability, longevity and appropriateness for your home’s particular circumstances. For instance, if you live in a mansion, you won’t be going to your local hardware chain store for something cheap, and if you live in a humble shack, you won’t be going to a premium deck dealer to buy their top range.

Whatever your circumstances, you deserve quality for your money, regardless of other important factors like eco friendliness, styling, colours, fire and slip ratings.

So – the first thing you must do, is your homework.

This can save you years of potential hard work and money down the track. Check the reviews and warranties of the products that interest you. Contact the manufacturers and ask the hard questions if you have to.

Buyer beware

Beware of unsubstantiated claims and be wary of companies who attempt to make their product appear superior by badmouthing their competition. A good product stands on its own merit. Sure, not all products are equal, and some sellers are not averse to exaggeration. They are trying to sell you their product after all. Check out the online reviews, but also keep in mind that people rarely take the effort to make a review of something they are happy with… but when things go wrong, they want to share it with the world. An absence of amazing reviews may not mean a lot, but it can be revealing.

Instead, you should be looking for the type of complaints being shared. This will tell you something about the product and the company behind it. If products have failed, how, and why have they failed? And how often? And how was the customer service and follow up? These are important issues. Explore customer testimonials if available, as these are also useful guidelines.

Product history

How long has the product been on the market? The longer a product has been around, the more chance they’ve had to work through any issues with new technologies and may be more reliable than a new kid on the block. Bit like life experience! (Just one of the reasons NewTechWood composite decking is so popular!)

NewTechWood has been at the forefront of the design and manufacture of wood plastic composite (WPC) products since 2004.

Quality – warranty

The old adage ‘you get what you pay for’ is applicable with decking. Beware of cheap brands that promise the world at a fraction of the price. As previously stated, one way to be sure they can put their money where their mouth is, is to check their warranty. Like decking, warranties are not equal. That great looking deck that resembles an expensive brand but costs peanuts in comparison may only offer a mere 10-to-15-year warranty. Is it a wise investment to spend thousands of dollars for something that might only last you such a short amount of time? Or would you rather have something that guarantees it can stand the test of time for 25+ years?

NewTechWood offers a minimum residential warranty of 25+ years across all their residential decking profiles, so if anything happens to it within that timeframe, your warranty is effective. Some composite brands only offer 10-15 years’ residential warranty, and some only show their top range product warranty on their website, leaving customers unaware that the entry level boards are not covered by the same guarantee.

Protective capping

A lot of cheaper brands fade over time. Well, let’s be fair, if you live in Australia, you know everything fades over time. The thing is, some things fade faster than others, and some things hardly appear to fade at all.

NewTechWood’s patented Ultrashield capping falls into the latter category, with superior technology giving the boards great ultra-violet resistance. For example, with residential decking, when installed and cared for appropriately, NewTechWood warrants that the boards are resistant to colour change from light and weathering exposure as measured by colour change in excess of 5 Delta E (Hunter) units, which is the accepted industry standard. In basic terms, you’ll hardly notice any colour change with NewTechWood in 25 years’ time, compared to cheaper brands that will show obvious fading within 8-15 years.

Take note also of how the boards are capped. Some brands only cap the top. Some cap the top and sides but not the bottom. Some, like NewTechWood, cap all four sides for ultimate protection against fading, insects, moisture, warping, cracking and splitting.

Some brands brag about the thickness of their capping, but the thickness has nothing to do with the quality of the capping material technology. Again, the warranty offered speaks volumes about the product (e.g., 8-15 years compared to 25+ years). Don’t be fooled by clever marketing spin. Look for facts.

Testing of product and compliance with local standards

If a brand does not readily offer this information on their website, don’t hesitate to ask them. NewTechWood undergoes continual testing and stringent quality control. Wherever you live in Australia – be it the tropics, snowfields, or desert – and whether you need something to meet specific slip or BAL standards, you know you can trust our environmentally responsible products to meet your needs and official standards.

NewTechWood also offers decking profiles that cater for 300, 350 and 450 joist spacings and offers the option of the regular 5.5mm deck spacing or the 1.5mm deck spacing, which can all be fixed to either timber or steel substructures, and all meet Australian standards.

Support when you need it

Whether you are a builder, installer or homeowner, you need to ensure your manufacturer has representatives in your state who will pay attention to your after sales needs. Not all do. You may find yourself having to deal with an overseas entity who is not in a position to meet your immediate needs in an acceptable timeframe. With NewTechWood, we have all States covered, and whether you need assistance with general enquiries, installation questions, or after sales care, we have people on the ground for you. Our representatives can attend to your needs in person, or via phone.

Recommended installers

Does the decking brand offer the services of qualified installers who have been vetted to ensure they follow the manufacturer’s stringent installation guidelines and are experts in the product they are installing? Sadly, not all do. Some may just offer any installer’s business card they have on hand, but they have no idea of their workmanship.

With NewTechWood, when you approach one of our recommended installers, you can rest assured they know what they are doing and are not likely to cut corners and do anything that might void your warranty.

So, in a nutshell, knowing your budget and future life expenses is crucial (e.g., Are you planning a family? School expenses? Cars coming up to replacement age? Elderly parents to help? Health issues?). What can you afford? Can you afford to replace a new deck in just 15 years’ time? Do you want to? Or do you want at least 25+ years’ breathing space?

Over the lifetime of a natural timber deck, you will have ongoing costly and time-consuming maintenance, which you won’t have with a composite deck. But even with composite decks, as you now know, it can be the difference between apples and oranges. If you must replace your cheap deck in just 10-15 years’ time, it’s not just a new deck you have to pay for, but also the installation costs, and with the rising cost of living, it will likely put a larger dent in your wallet in the future than it will today.

Interested to know more?

Architects, builders and installers can contact our friendly team for more in-depth information; our resellers and recommended installers are also well-versed in the product and can help guide you through the maze of composite decking options, and in particular, NewTechWood.

Originally published on NewTechWood.

Architecture & Design Team

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