Like every other job, good preparation is the key to a successful outcome and in this short article, Greater Cambridge Construction Limited would like to guide you through the process of choosing your decking using either composite decking or traditional timber decking and consider the merits of each option.

 

SHIVER ME TIMBERS!​

More often than not, when we are asked to quote for decking work, we are replacing an existing timber deck. The customer sometimes asks if it is possible just to replace the underlying frame, as this is always the part of the deck which breaks first, or is simply well past its sell-by-date. When we take off the top decking boards, sometimes the underlying frame is absolutely rotten and will crumble in your hands. What is strange is that sometimes, this totally rotten wood is still capable of carrying some load, which shows what a wonderful materials timber actually is.

Typical Grey Colour of Deteriorated Timber Decking Panels

 

 

You’ve been framed!

So we can conclude that the main reason for failure of your decking, is not the decking boards themselves, it is the frame which holds it all in place.

The reasons for this are easy to understand, the old frame is often in contact with the ground and in wet weather it literally gets saturated and since it does not get direct sunlight, it does not get the opportunity to fully dry out. Contractors use treated carcassing timber, such as C24 timber, and this can last up to 15 or 20 years, but it is a natural material and will eventually give up.

The other cause for accelerated deterioration of the decking frame is surprising – some contractors lay pebbles underneath the decking boards, between the supporting joists. Far from helping the deck, these pebbles retain moisture and accelerate the deterioration of the frame by many years, often needing replacement after as little as five years!

Is it Set in Stone?​

The correct way to fit a decking frame is to support it above the level of the soil on posts. The 100mm fencing posts are set into the ground and fixed in place with postcrete (which is a type of concrete designed to fix fence posts in place). 

Once fitted, the fence posts provide a solid structure for the deck to be secured to, and be lifted above the hostile soil and insects that live in the soil and aims to prevent the frame from rotting from the bottom upwards and prolonging its life considerably.

We have a Cunning Plan

But “Fence posts rot” I hear you say. This is true, and these timber posts will fail eventually, just like the posts which hold up your garden fence. But unlike your garden fence, they are not subject to the bending and stretching caused by the wind on the fence, the only force on decking posts is downwards. So they last a lot longer than the posts holding up your fence. But at Greater Cambridge Construction Limited, we have a cunning plan, which extends the life of your decking frame even further.

We use Composite Posts

Before we even begin talking about the choice of your decking and whether you choose timber decking, composite decking or even aluminium decking, there are two options which you can use to prolong the life of your underlying decking frame almost indefinitely:

Composite Joists/Plastic Timber

At Greater Cambridge Construction we can build your decking frame from composite materials or so called “Plastic lumber”. This does not rot or disintegrate and will form a permanent frame for your decking and can probably be re-used when your top decking eventually needs renewing. These are literally beams of composite materials with the same dimensions as typical carcassing timber. Although this sounds like a perfect solution to the problem, composite joists are more expensive compared with timber and push up the cost of your decking significantly.

Composite Decking Frame Waiting For Envirobuild Frontier Decking

 

This is where the cunning plan comes in…..

Greater Cambridge Construction therefore designed a hybrid system where we install a standard timber decking frame held in place by composite posts.

In short, instead of using timber fencing posts set in concrete holding up the frame, we use 100mm x 100mm composite fencing posts which are then set in concrete and will not rot or erode with the elements like timber. We then bolt a standard timber frame to the composite posts lifting it safely above the soil and leaving only the composite posts exposed to the earth. We have used this hybrid system with excellent results.

NeoTimber Composite Post and Plastic Lumber Joist

 

 

Also when you fit decking onto a concrete surface you have to use composite joists anyway, particularly if it is on a balcony which cannot be drilled into.

We are also environmentally conscious and always aim to use composite posts made from recycled materials.

Timber decking looks great when new

There is no doubt that a new timber deck looks beautiful with natural yellow timber glistening in the sunshine. Exotic timber looks even better!

Although we do fit timber decking on request, after a couple of winters it looks ten years old, it loses its colour and turns a dull grey colour. Unless it is pressure washed, dried and re-oiled every year it just looks past its best in a very short time. Everyone says they will clean and re-oil their timber decking every year, but it so rarely happens.

 

Answering the Call

The answer to this problem is to fit composite decking boards. The high-quality manufacturers offer a 20-25 year guarantee and their products look great for many years and certainly don’t deteriorate like timber decking.

Composite decking continues to get better and better, such as NeoTimber antique decking.  We recently fitted NeoTimber antique decking in a townhouse in Cambridge, and it looks so good it is often mistaken for exotic timber.  We also work with other manufacturers including Envirobuild Frontier decking, which is also very good quality.

 

Made from recycled materials in part and/or plasticised bamboo, this materials will create a durable deck that requires absolutely no maintenance.

Each decking board comes with a groove on both sides and is held in place with decking clips which screw into the frame and hold the boards in place invisibly using small claws which nearly fit into the groove. There are no screw heads visible in the boards themselves.

Composite Decking boards come in a variety of colours, such as a very popular graphite grey, teak or multi-coloured effects like Antique.

 

The beauty of composite decking is that it can be laid in different directions to give a patterned effect.  Some are also double-sided.  So you can create a centrepiece by laying the boards diagonally, possibly framed by a different coloured board. The effect also works by laying some boards with their wood fx side up, and the grooved side facing up at the edges or for steps.

A good example of this was a large decking Trumpington you can see below with the boards laid in different directions and also the use of graphite boards to create distinctive areas.

Walk the Plank!

Your decking boards are going to be with you for a long time, so it’s worth thinking about the best colour combination for you, that looks great with your house or lawn.

When we arrive to give you a quotation we bring samples of boards which you can place next to your brickwork, doors, bifold door frames etc to choose the design which works best with your house. At Greater Cambridge Construction we have many samples and also large sections of boards we can leave with you to decide which works best for you.

We have also used decking for staircases as well as creating planters and other features. Similarly we can use different colours and designs of decking to create borders or highlighted features in your decking. Most of all, we want you to be happy with the result.

 

We have fitted composite (and timber) decking throughout Cambridge and surrounding towns and villages and have an extensive library of photographs of completed decks you can browse on our website.

Great Cambridge Construction is also a recommended fitter of NeoTimber Boards and also works with Envirobuild as well as several other manufacturers.

Greater Cambridge Construction offers a free, no obligation quotation service where we come to your home, measure the space, discuss options and provide samples of decking.