Composite Decking

Mudball

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Our current patio is all crumbling and falling away from the house. The garden slopes away from the house. There is about 4 step from the patio door down to the patio. Was picking the brains of my friendly archietect. His suggestion was to raise the patio using steel posts & subframe. Then use composite decking to cover it all up. This is like Milboard, Trex etc. It is a much better idea than trying to rise the patio with a retaining wall and filling it.

Never considered decking before because the Mrs does not want wood. Therefore, havent really looked at composite decking. Any experiences in composites?

(outside chance) anyone gone down the route of steel subframes instead of wooden posts?
 

Lord Tyrion

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One point to consider. Amongst other items, my company specialises in anti static items. We are getting an increasing number of calls from people having this installed and then getting shocks. The composite is insulative and in dry and hot spells it can become a problem as it exacerbates the issue.

Now, how likely is this to happen to you? It depends where you are in the UK, how hot and how dry it gets with you. It wouldn't be an issue in the north of the country but at the very bottom of the country, possibly so. It's more likely abroad but I'm just throwing it out there.

There is no real answer to the problem incidentally, not without coating the composite and ruining the look of it.
 

Old Colner

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I installed some on a solid wooden frame will be 4 years ago, it does have some advantages over the wood we had prior in that it does not get slippy and does not need oiling but it does have some draw backs, it needs cleaning quiet often and despite manufacturers claims I have a couple of planks that have split.

Not had any issues with static or anybody getting a shock.
 

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The beauty you have with steel is it won't rot where as timber posts have a service life of anything from 2 to 30 years depending on what you buy. The one thing I will say on composite decking, regardless of who's you buy is make sure your decking is supported on joists of recommended spacing and clipped appropriately. The amount of complaints I've seen by joiners who say they know better but have decks with installation issues is climbing by the week.

Millboard is amongst the best out there but you'll pay for the pleasure. For what my opinion may be worth, look at Eva Last I Series which is a semi solid plastic and bamboo composite. Very well priced and a great product. I've had it down 2 years with no issues at all.
 

Old Colner

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The beauty you have with steel is it won't rot where as timber posts have a service life of anything from 2 to 30 years depending on what you buy. The one thing I will say on composite decking, regardless of who's you buy is make sure your decking is supported on joists of recommended spacing and clipped appropriately. The amount of complaints I've seen by joiners who say they know better but have decks with installation issues is climbing by the week.

What type of steel is it you are suggesting that will not rot? I presume you mean galvanised.

A well planned subframe that lets the water through, not having any spots where water can linger helps prolong the life span of the frame whatever material is used.
 

Mudball

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What type of steel is it you are suggesting that will not rot? I presume you mean galvanised.

A well planned subframe that lets the water through, not having any spots where water can linger helps prolong the life span of the frame whatever material is used.

my architect was recommending zinc coated.. . but i think price is going to be prohibitive.

The patio runs the full length of the house + garage (abut 15m) and about 5m. At the lowest point, it will be about 1.8m off the ground. the other end of it will touch the ground. The ground slopes away from the house + left to right.
 
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BiMGuy

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my architect was recommending zinc coated.. though my view was galvanised. but i think price is going to be prohibitive.

The patio runs the full length of the house + garage (abut 15m) and about 5m. At the lowest point, it will be about 1.8m off the ground. the other end of it will touch the ground. The ground slopes away from the house + left to right.

Isn’t zinc the material used to galvanise steel?
 

Val

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What type of steel is it you are suggesting that will not rot? I presume you mean galvanised.

A well planned subframe that lets the water through, not having any spots where water can linger helps prolong the life span of the frame whatever material is used.

Not with timber it won't, ground contact timber could rot easily in 2 years if it's wrong. Too many people buy as cheap as they get, hence your issues.
 

Old Colner

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I used galvanised steel ground screws with a treated timber frame built on top so the wood has no contact with the ground.
 

larmen

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Not with timber it won't, ground contact timber could rot easily in 2 years if it's wrong. Too many people buy as cheap as they get, hence your issues.
We are just getting our decking removed, after 6 (?) years. Probably 2 years too late. Previous owner build it cheap to sell the house, we tried to maintain it but it wasn’t to be rescued.

Getting a patio laid this/next week. But we are on flat ground.
 

Mudball

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We are still debating this... one of the biggest advantage of decking is that we can put it flush against the door and not worry about the DPM layer, My other alternative is to build the patio by levelling the ground next to the house, and have steps that go down to that level. May 3-4 or 5 steps. However, someone mentioned that we cant have the steps (made of stone slab or bricks) flush with the door and they have to be 2 bricks below the DPM.
 

rulefan

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We are still debating this... one of the biggest advantage of decking is that we can put it flush against the door and not worry about the DPM layer, My other alternative is to build the patio by levelling the ground next to the house, and have steps that go down to that level. May 3-4 or 5 steps. However, someone mentioned that we cant have the steps (made of stone slab or bricks) flush with the door and they have to be 2 bricks below the DPM.
The steps would not need to touch the house above the dpm. Just leave 1cm airspace.
 

Mudball

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The steps would not need to touch the house above the dpm. Just leave 1cm airspace.

hmm.. i will need to ask my builder and/or landscaper if they can do it. when you have a flat ground, how do people make it flush where they have indoor flooring going outdoor? Looks good in advertising for bifold doors but how do they manage the DPC
 
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yandabrown

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Our current patio is all crumbling and falling away from the house. The garden slopes away from the house. There is about 4 step from the patio door down to the patio. Was picking the brains of my friendly archietect. His suggestion was to raise the patio using steel posts & subframe. Then use composite decking to cover it all up. This is like Milboard, Trex etc. It is a much better idea than trying to rise the patio with a retaining wall and filling it.

Never considered decking before because the Mrs does not want wood. Therefore, havent really looked at composite decking. Any experiences in composites?

(outside chance) anyone gone down the route of steel subframes instead of wooden posts?
Having started a new thread on this and then kindly pointed in this direction by BiM, can I ask a few questions please?

1) Did you go with Composite boards?
2) If so, which did you go with an why?
3) If not, what was the alternative?

I've been doing some reading up and the Eva-Last doesn't seem to do the bamboo version anymore and the others appear to expect a monthly clean! I'm looking at composite because I know that I am lazy and won't do that (and don't want to do the annual cleaning/oiling of hardwood either). I can't see any recommendation for the cleaning requirements for Millboard stuff. Trex seem to get some very bad reviews.
 

Val

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Having started a new thread on this and then kindly pointed in this direction by BiM, can I ask a few questions please?

1) Did you go with Composite boards?
2) If so, which did you go with an why?
3) If not, what was the alternative?

I've been doing some reading up and the Eva-Last doesn't seem to do the bamboo version anymore and the others appear to expect a monthly clean! I'm looking at composite because I know that I am lazy and won't do that (and don't want to do the annual cleaning/oiling of hardwood either). I can't see any recommendation for the cleaning requirements for Millboard stuff. Trex seem to get some very bad reviews.

I can assure you the bamboo Eva Last I Series is most definitely still produced and in abundance here in the UK. If you tell.me where you are I'll point you to a stockist. I work for their UK distributor.
 

yandabrown

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I can assure you the bamboo Eva Last I Series is most definitely still produced and in abundance here in the UK. If you tell.me where you are I'll point you to a stockist. I work for their UK distributor.
Thanks, I had a quick browse of their website and missed all the references to bamboo - having looked again they are quite clear - doh!. I'm in Berkshire. Can you comment on the amount of maintenance that they need?
 

Val

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Thanks, I had a quick browse of their website and missed all the references to bamboo - having looked again they are quite clear - doh!. I'm in Berkshire. Can you comment on the amount of maintenance that they need?

Installed it in my own garden 2 years ago and it's had nothing but a power wash.

Stockist wise, Sydenhams in Reading I think will be your nearest stockist.

Website wise, make sure you are viewing the Eva Last UK version and not the South African one.
 
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