If you're thinking of adding a deck to your outdoor space, there are a number of different materials for you to choose from - including hardwood, softwood and composite wood decking.

100% wood deck boards have a number of benefits. Timber decking suppliers frequently trumpet the virtues of their 'natural' and 'organic' products...but they're far less likely to mention the drawbacks of real wood decking.

If you want a simple life, composite decking (a low-maintenance alternative to traditional wood decking) may just be perfect for you. Read on to find out why wood-plastic deck boards are generally preferable to all-wood products.

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Life in the 21^st century can be a mile a minute and fitting everything into a 24-hour day is, at times, nigh on impossible.

For those lucky enough to have composite decking on their property, one hindrance you can remove from the list of time-sapping chores is deck maintenance.

No longer will you have to spend your summer Saturdays treating your deck boards with sealing products and coats of varnish, nor will you have to spend hours scrubbing them clean after a heavy build-up of groove-infiltrating dirt.

Read on for the complete low-down on the time and labour-saving properties of our low-maintenance decking and see for yourself.

Decking Maintenance

When it comes to low-maintenance decking, composite decking has no peers.

Softwood decking is prone to water absorption and can be a real slip hazard, as well as a magnet for mildew and mould. They are also likely to split and splinter in short turnaround and have a life-span that’s hardly worth the investment.

Meanwhile, while hardwood decking is a better option than its softer counterpart, this too can crack, split and splinter over time and requires a lot of TLC to keep in tip-top condition. They are also often sourced from tropical areas and are extremely detrimental to the environment.

With such drawbacks to the natural route, it’s no surprise that many opt for a synthetic alternative; however, even that route isn’t without its flaws. In fact, traditional man-made options can have their own set of issues altogether.

Plastic decking lacks the organic appearance of wood, while the structural integrity of PVC boards can become seriously compromised with the expansion/contraction of the boards. These structural changes in varying temperatures can lead to very noticeable bows and cracks in no time.

Low-Maintenance Composite Decking

Luckily for deck enthusiasts nationwide, DeckPlus is here to banish the boredom of plank preservation and wearying wood work.

All the products available at DeckPlus are extremely low-maintenance – so much so that it’s one of our primary selling points. Minimal maintenance is a headline perk of our products, providing aesthetic awesomeness year-round, year after year after year.

Whether you choose our hollow composite decking products, uncapped composite deck boards or capped composite decking options, you can rest assured that your weekends will be free to enjoy them and not be taken up treating, staining or cleaning them.

So confident are we that your deck will last, all of our decking ranges come with a generous warranty period. These range from the five and ten year guarantees of our EvoDek and WeatherDek ranges, all the way up to the generation-spanning 25 and 30-year warranties of our TimberTech products.

Composite Decking Maintenance

When it comes to keeping your composite decking boards looking as good as new, all that’s required is an annual jet-wash to revive their “just laid” look.

For more information on the low-maintenance properties and perks of our composite decking boards, why not check out our blog dedicated to composite decking FAQs for the full lowdown.

If you have any additional queries relating to our low-maintenance decking options, feel free to get in touch today! Drop us a line on 0800 028 8756 or get in touch online using the link below.

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Embarking on an outdoor project can be a daunting task from the outset, particularly if you have no prior experience, existing knowledge or professional expertise in the area.

Shopping for the best decking material for an outdoor revamp can be a detailed task. But, to help you get the best decking material for your project, we’ve outlined our DeckPlus products so you know exactly what to expect when your decking is unveiled on delivery day.

What is the Best Decking Material?

The best decking material is, without a doubt, composite decking. It has many monetary benefits alongside its unbeatable durability and low maintenance.

Here at DeckPlus, we offer three primary options for those looking to revive their outdoor space with the best decking material.

Capped Composite Decking

Encased in an additional protective polymer sleeve that’s exclusive to our capped composite deck products, these capped boards are the undisputed king of the composite decking world.

Built with low-maintenance durability at its core, each capped composite decking board features an undetectable shielding cover that gifts it with impressively low porosity. This translates to extreme slip-resistance that’s simply unrivalled.

In the event of a spill, simply wipe-clean and your deck will be good as new, showing no lasting ill-effects, whether you spill wine, juice or oil. The best decking material for outdoor living, this surface is made for social gatherings.

Uncapped Composite Decking

While missing the protective polymer sleeve of our capped composite decking, uncapped composite decking from DeckPlus provides your outdoor space with an extremely durable, long-lasting decking solution that won’t let you down.

Stain and slip resistant, each board is built to the highest specification to ensure your deck area retains its beauty year after year. What’s more, it’s also fundamentally engineered to perform efficiently in a variety of weather conditions!

Better still, these boards are extremely low-maintenance and will never require staining or sealing, nor will they ever splinter, split or crack.

Hollow Composite Decking

If the budget is tight and the cost is a concern, don’t throw in the towel on your outdoor project just yet. Hollow composite decking from DeckPlus is the ultimate way to achieve your decking dreams economically.

This composite decking is the best decking material for people on a budget. Our WeatherDek range is a budget-friendly decking solution that provides composite decking performance at a price that won’t bleed your bank account dry.

With a tough, hard-wearing exterior, these hollow boards provide an attractive wood-look aesthetic with modern composite materials. The hollow centre gives a lightweight finish that is still just as reliable as its solid siblings, yet far more environmentally friendly.

What is the Best Decking Material for Me?

Naturally, it would be easy to say that capped composite decking is the obvious choice for anyone looking to make a grand investment in their outdoor space.

Whilst this may be true, it’s also unrealistic and budget can and often does play a hand in the choices we make. If your budget will allow, capped composite decking arguably provides the best decking material overall, providing enhanced durability and protection with its polymer coating, ensuring it maintains its design and looks.

Conversely, hollow decking is a true life-saver and the best decking material for anyone looking to revive their outdoor space without the luxury of a big budget, providing style and substance without breaking the bank.

For a middle-ground solution, uncapped composite decking is perhaps the best of both worlds. Competitively priced yet robustly reliable and low-maintenance, it offers a great design solution that incorporates long-lasting aesthetics and performance with a more appealing price.

Whichever decking option you ultimately opt for, you won’t be disappointed with DeckPlus! We hope that we have answered your question of what is the best decking material! For more information on any of these product ranges, why not get in touch with a member of the DeckPlus team? 

If you'd like to see our best decking products in person, you can also order a FREE sample by clicking below!

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[Source: Unsplash]

In an ideal world, British weather would be dominated by beautiful sunshine, cool breezy air and cloudless skies.

Sadly, barring any dramatic change in global warming across the British Isles, this picturesque ideal is an unlikely scenario.

Instead, UK residents are probably going to have to get used to grey skies, wet weather and cold winds for the foreseeable future.

While dreary weather is unavoidable, slipping on your decking is with slip-resistant decking from DeckPlus.

Why Choose Composite Decking?

Standard wooden decking boards feature deep, natural grooves that are prone to capture and collect dirt and debris.

In the case of water, this can linger and even freeze in cold conditions, leaving you with an unwanted ice rink where your deck is supposed to be. These kinds of slippery surfaces are an accident waiting to happen! Although traditional wood decking can be very slippery in certain conditions, you may be wondering is composite decking slippery?

No it's not; unlike traditional wood decking, composite decking from DeckPlus offers a wide variety of slip-resistant qualities that make it the perfect safe-guarding alternative, particularly in wet conditions.

Slip-Resistant Composite Decking

Here at DeckPlus, we pride ourselves on offering the highest standard of slip-resistant decking possible. Our anti-slip decking helps greatly reduce slipping hazards, and creates a safe environment for all. 

Deliberately textured with a wood-look finish, each board is intricately made for the safest, most durable performance as well as aesthetic allure.

With less than 1.2% moisture intake, our composite deck boards are not only less likely to freeze over, they are also far less susceptible to developing slippery mould or algae.

Capped Composite Decking

Each composite deck board offers superior underfoot stability in a variety of conditions, painstakingly engineered to maintain traction in slippery conditions.

That being said, our capped composite decking range takes these high-grip capabilities to an even higher plateau, with their additional layer of moisture protection.

Encased in invisible, protective polymer, this inconspicuous membrane provides extreme water-resistance that makes capped composite decking boards virtually impermeable.

Slip-Resistant Safety

Our composite decking products have achieved the highest slip-resistance ratings both domestically in Britain as well as in Europe, providing a truly reliable surface that performs in all conditions.

Composite decking from DeckPlus is also designed to be extremely quick-drying to minimise the risk of slipping as much as possible.

After a downpour, your deck can be dry within just 30 minutes, making it the perfect surface for slip-safety, even in wet weather or in areas where water exposure is high (e.g. pools and hot tubs).

For more information on composite decking slip-resistance, why not drop us a line to hear more? Call now on 0800 028 8756 or click the link below to get in touch online.

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If you're lucky enough to have a pool on your property, it's important to choose the right material for your pool surround.

Choosing wrong could make the area around your pool hazardously slippery - plus inferior products may have to be replaced very soon after they're installed!

Avoid the pitfalls of improper pool decking and deck out your poolside in style with composite decking from DeckPlus.

Benefits of composite decking around pools

When it comes to poolside surfaces, they don't come much better or much more reliable than composite decking. A combination of natural wood and synthetic materials, composite decking provides all the beauty of natural wood decking with all the durability of a man-made product.

While this is useful in any outdoor setting, the benefits in a poolside environment can be huge. Composite decking has an absorption rate of less than 1.2%, making it ideal for withstanding the inevitable splashes.

What's more, unlike its all-natural wood brethren, composite decking won't warp, rot or crack (common problems associated with traditional decking when wet). Better still, composite deck boards will never need to be sealed or treated for water-protection, making them the perfect pool decking choice.

Is composite decking slippery?

Perhaps the most useful benefit to composite decking when it comes to decking around a pool is its extreme slip resistance. While no decking material can claim to be 100% slip-proof, composite decking from DeckPlus stands firm as a reliable surface underfoot even when wet.

Each composite deck board comes complete with a textured finish for additional traction and grip; however, for the ultimate firm footing, our capped composite decking is perhaps the ultimate solution to your poolside decking needs.

Coated in a polymer sleeve, each capped composite deck board boasts unrivalled moisture protection. Any big splashes and spills can simply be wiped away without worry of absorption, while the boards themselves will often dry completely within just 30 minutes of water exposure.

Why choose composite decking for a pool?

With its peerless slip resistance, extremely low porosity and immunity to warps, rots and cracks, composite decking boasts all the functionality you could possibly want from your pool decking.

Best of all, our comprehensive collection of colours, designs and finishes provides you with unparalleled creative freedom in terms of outdoor aesthetics, ensuring you get the right surface for the job that looks as good as it performs.

To find out more about our composite decking products - ideal for swimming pool surrounds - call DeckPlus today on 0800 028 8756. If you're ready to order your composite decking and start your pool project, browse our composite decking & order directly through our website!

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