Take a look at the article below on things to consider when planning your composite decking project
Design
The function of your deck is an important factor to consider when thinking about laying a deck.
When it comes to decking you will need to plan out your area. Sketch a design out on paper so you can clearly see where you are proposing to put your decking. Consider which direction your garden is facing. A South facing garden will receive a lot more sun throughout the day, so it will be less important then a north facing garden as the garden will be shaded during part of the day. If your garden is a north facing garden any seating area will be best put at the back of the garden to maximise the amount sun that can be enjoyed on it.
Decide on the colour palette for your decking and how you want the decking to look. There are lots of variations you can consider when designing you deck area. We stock a wide range of composite boards with a choice of sizes and colours, it really is down to preferences. Composite boards can be laid straight, horizontal or diagonally. Take a look at the decking designs below to give you some ideas.
Whats the deck's function
The function of your deck is an important factor to consider when designing. Decide what you want the area to be for, whether its for dining, a lounge or hot tub etc.
Before you lay the boards you need to consider whether you will need any water or power connections. If you do then these need to be established before the decking boards goes down.
You need to make sure that if you are creating a dining area that the furniture will fit on the deck correctly. Consider the size and design of your deck based on the type of furniture you would like and not the other way round.
Size
The size of your decking area will vary depending on the location and space available. Also consider what lengths and widths of boards that are available and which way the boards will run to help determine your finished sizes.
We have various board lengths available and widths can vary on different boards sizes. Our Co-Extruded boards are usually 140mm width and our Woodgrain Composite Boards are 148mm width. When calculating the size also take into account the clips being used as our plastic clips set a 5mm gap between boards whereas our metal clips set a 3mm gap between the boards.
On a larger scale poject of 100 boards even the 3mm clips would add upto the width of 2 boards. It is important to use the correct clips as some aftermarket clips do not set any gap between the boards which does not allow for the expansion and contraction of the composite and results in tears everytime.
Finally consider the finished edge of the deck, our composite trims are usually 45mm on the internal and can be used to cover slight imperfections in the overall measurements of the frame. Step edges also have a different measurement on the under side and require and exact measurement to get the perfect finish.
Planning and building regulations
While most decking projects won’t need planning permission its always best to check before you start. Maybe check to see if your neighbours have any objections, if you think it imposes on their privacy. Objections from neighbours is the main reason building plans get refused.
You may need to consider tree protection if you have any in your garden. You can get information from you local council regarding tree protection. If you want to keep existing trees you can work the decking around them making it a nice feature.
Which decking structure should i choose?
Here are some ideas for laying your decking
Ground level deck with pergola roof
This is a simple deck that is ground level, sometimes coming straight out from your patio to extend your living area.
Raised deck with balustrade and steps
This combination is used when your deck area is higher than your garden.
Ground level deck with balustrade kits
Ground level composite decking area with balustrade helps the area to be more defined or enclosed. This example is slightly elevated by 2 decking lengths with an added step
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