Composite decking has become a massively popular option for outdoor spaces in recent years, and it's easy to see why. Composite decking is famously durable and low maintenance; unlike traditional wood decking, it's resistant to rot, damp, warping, and can be cleaned with a simple warm jet wash. Furthermore, it doesn't need to be treated with harsh chemicals, and it's more environmentally friendly than both traditional wood and PVC plastic decking.
For all of these reasons, composite decking is in great demand these days. Choosing deck boards for your garden can be pretty exciting, but actually installing your decking can be a challenging process, especially if you don't have a lot of hands-on experience.
Many homeowners hire a contractor to handle the construction of their new deck, but if you've decided to DIY it, you may have a few questions about how to install composite decking. Here at DeckPlus, we want to help in any way we can - so we're here today to talk about deck installation and the correct way to install composite decking boards.
Composite Decking: Which Side Up?
Deck boards typically come with one smooth side and one ridged side.
When installing hardwood decking, the ridges go face down. Contrary to what some people believe, these ridges do not add extra grip; instead, they are included to allow for airflow and circulation, as traditional wood decking often suffers from issues such as damp and rot.
Composite decking comes in several different configurations. Typically, there will be one side of the board with grooves or dips (and as with wood decking, this side should be installed facing downwards). The other side of the board will usually have a design for aesthetic purposes, be it standard vertical lines or a wood grain pattern.
However, not all composite decking planks have grooves or ridges on one side. If your composite deck boards don't have ridges that clearly mark which side is the reverse, the aesthetic design can also be used to determine which way up the board should lie. If the decking only has an aesthetic pattern on one side of the plank, this will be the side that should be laid face up.
Two-Sided Composite Decking
One key benefit of composite decking is its incredible versatility, and no product shines brighter in that regard than the ReversaDek range from DeckPlus. An outstanding and revolutionary product, our ReversaDek composite deck boards feature two different designs - one on each side - and they can be installed with either side up.
Pictured: ReversaDek Mocha / Caramel Composite Decking
If you're looking to add accent tones to your deck, or just straight up want a dual-tone aesthetic, the ReversaDek range is perfect! And we're so confident that you'll love the results and that the composite decking will stand the test of time that we offer a 20-year warranty on all ReversaDek boards.
A further benefit of composite decking is that it's relatively easy to install. I you're interested in installing decking yourself, check out the self-assembly decking kits from DeckPlus that'll make the installation process that much easier.
Self-Assembly Decking Kits
If you're interested in installing composite decking but want to see our products for yourself first, why not order a free sample?
