Wood Effect Composite Decking

There are many reasons to opt for woodgrain composite decking boards instead of natural timber decking boards, and we will explain them below:

Visually appealing

In the past, wood was one of the most popular decking materials due to its great natural look; however, as mentioned previously, these great natural looks come at the cost of a few drawbacks. Wood tends to warp, rot, split and splinter if not properly maintained.

Woodgrain composite decking, on the other hand, often looks very similar to wood but will not splinter or crack and will often not have many imperfections like some wooden decking boards do.

Composite decking boards can basically be any colour that you would like them to be, but here at Ecoscape, we have six different colour choices in the Forma range: Midnight, Argent, Flint, Havana, Silver Birch and Spiced Oak. We also have two colours in the extra wide wood grain composite decking board: Chateau and Dovetail.

These colour choices will likely not limit you all that much, as nearly all of our colours are very similar to natural wood, which is likely what you’ll want if you are looking for woodgrain composite decking boards.

The colour of wooden decking boards will vary depending on the type of wood that you choose, although you will be able to stain it whatever colour you like. The only problem with this is that the stain needs to be laid on quite thick if you want it to mask the colour of the wood underneath.

Otherwise, the two colours could mix with one another and produce an effect that you weren’t expecting.

Sustainability

One of the best reasons to choose wood effect composite decking boards over wooden decking boards is the fact that composite decking boards are much more sustainable.

The demand of our growing population means that it is unsustainable to cut down trees in natural forests, which means that timber needs to be grown in manmade forests that will normally only house one type of tree and no other vegetation at all.

These manmade forests don’t only destroy the environment by taking up lots of space that would normally be occupied by natural forests, but also discourages any wildlife from occupying the area, as these trees can sometimes be alien to them.

This timber also needs to be transported to its final destination, which can be quite far away as these manmade forests aren’t usually close to the rest of civilisation. This means a lot of fossil fuels need to be burned to get them to where they need to be as well.

Composite decking boards with a natural woodgrain finish, on the other hand, can often look just like timber, but the fact that they are made from reclaimed wood fibres and recycled plastic makes them a very sustainable type of decking board.

This wood and plastic waste used to make composite products would normally end up in a landfill, but instead, it is being used to make a visually appealing, durable building material.

Durability

Composite decking boards are significantly more durable than wooden decking boards, owing to the inclusion of plastic during the manufacturing process.

Wooden decking might look great, but it comes with a lot of hassle if you want it to last long and look good. Wooden decking will also not last as long as composite decking, regardless of the treatment that it is subjected to.

This is, once again, thanks to the inclusion of plastic in composite decking boards. Plastic prevents composite decking from rotting, warping, and insect infestation, while wooden decking needs to be treated a few times a year if you want to achieve the same results.

This is one of the reasons why wooden decking boards last between 15-25 years, depending on the conditions that they are kept in, while composite decking boards can last almost double that if they are looked after properly and installed correctly.

Low maintenance

One of the main reasons that composite decking has become so popular in the UK in recent years is due to how low maintenance it is.

While wooden decking boards need to be oiled, painted, stained, or varnished a few times a year in order to prevent them from rotting, warping, cracking, or becoming infested with insects, this is not the case for composite decking boards.

This timber treatment won’t only be time-consuming but can also become costly over time, as you will need to purchase these treatment products, and you will need to pay for labour if you hire someone to do the job for you.

The only maintenance that woodgrain composite decking needs is a good clean every so often. This can easily be done with a pressure washer if you have one, but it would be best to set the pressure to low so as to not damage the finish on your composite boards.

Alternatively, if you don’t have a pressure washer, you can also use a soft-bristled brush and some warm soapy water to get the job done just as well.

If the idea of wood effect composite decking interests you, then you should take a look at some of the composite decking board options that we have here at Ecoscape. While we have many different ranges of composite decking boards, only two of them features a woodgrain finish, as the Clarity range  offers a choice between narrow grooves and wide grooves.

Forma composite decking range

If you’re looking for composite decking boards with a woodgrain finish, then the Ecoscape Forma range will be perfect for you.

The Forma range consists of capped composite decking boards, which means that they have an extra layer of HDPE. This will protect your deck boards from the elements, staining and scratching better than uncapped boards, which can make them last even longer than most other composite decking boards.

You’ll also be able to choose from six different colours, which are Midnight, Argent, Flint, Silver Birch, Spiced Oak, and Havana. All of these colours have the look of natural wood, so you’ll need to decide what type of wood you’d like to replicate most.

Most importantly, the Forma range is reversible, so you’ll be able to choose between a natural woodgrain finish or a wide grooved pattern.

Grande composite decking range

Our Grande extra wide composite decking boards are available in two colours. The boards are 225mm wide and 3600mm in length.

Composite decking offers much better durability and far less maintenance than wood, but it generally does cost a little more. You will, however, be able to save money over time by not needing to pay for treatment products and the labour to apply them.

Wood effect composite decking is a great alternative to wood that can save you time and money in the long run and should definitely be considered.

While some people prefer the look and feel of wood, composite decking has many more advantages, and you’ll almost be able to get the best of both worlds by going with a natural woodgrain finish. Composite decking normally lasts between 25 and 30 years, but if it is looked after properly and installed correctly, it can last even longer than this.

Here at Ecoscape, we offer a 20+ year warranty on our composite decking, so if you run into any problems in that span, we’ll be able to help you with them.