A Beginner’s Guide to Laying Composite Decking

 

Are you ready to give your garden the makeover it deserves? If so, composite decking is a great choice. 

Sleek, stylish, and contemporary, composite decking looks great on a patio. It elevates the area and creates the perfect space for lounging or outdoor dining. Plus, it’s affordable and easy to install once you get the hang of it!

To help you out, we’ve created a beginner’s guide to composite decking installation designed for those new to DIY or home upgrades. 

1. Planning Your Decking Project

Before you begin the process, it’s important to plan the type, colour, and finish of the decking you want to install. 

To help you make your choice, we’ve included three popular types of decking below:

  • Ecoboard: This decking offers long-lasting beauty and slip resistance, enhancing safety during wet weather conditions. This has a realistic 3D wood grain finish and is perfect for those on a budget.
  • Procap: If you’re looking for something more durable, Procap decking is a great choice. This tough material offers the natural beauty of the wood while offering resilience for high-traffic areas and protection against stains.
  • Luxecap: If you’re looking to take your decking to the next level, this is the perfect choice. Luxecap uses innovative elastic cap technology, offering excellent durability and stain, scratch, and wear resistance. It also offers a luxurious underfoot feel.

Once you’ve chosen your decking boards, plan out the layout and pattern of your decking, choosing from various styles such as horizontal, vertical, chevron, and breaker boards. We will be guiding you through a horizontal layout.

Then, measure the dimensions of your deck carefully with a measuring tape and level, considering any obstacles such as trees, drainage requirements, or uneven ground that may affect the layout.

To avoid any mistakes, create a detailed plan of your decking, sketching out the position of key elements like joists, subframe layout, and the direction of the boards. 

2. Preparing the area

When you go into the installation process prepared, laying composite decking is relatively quick and easy. 

Before preparing the area, ensure you have all the necessary tools and materials:

  • Measuring tape
  • Spirit level
  • Saw (hand or power)
  • Drill and screwdriver
  • Rubber mallet 
  • Shovel 
  • Tamper or plate compactor 
  • String line, stakes, and weed control fabric 
  • Composite boards
  • Joists
  • Decking screws
  • Starter clips and end caps
  • Fascia boards

Put on PPE, such as gloves, goggles, and safety boots, to protect against injury.

Then, start by measuring your old patio or the concrete base you’ll use to place your new decking. You can also use pressure-treated timber, plastic lumber, or aluminium as a foundation for your decking. 

If you’re placing the decking over a grassy area, mark out the area with a string line and stake according to how large you want the deck to be. Then, dig out the turf and soil with a shovel. Do this until you have a depth of 50mm. Create a slight slope in the ground, away from the home, to prevent water pooling. 

Once you have prepared the area, compact the soil down and place weed control fabric and a layer of gravel over it to prevent weeds from growing through the deck. You can now place down paving stones, timber, or aluminium to serve as the foundation for your decking area.

3. Installing the subframe

Once you have prepared the area, we recommend using treated timber or composite joists to form the subframe.

Begin by cutting them to the required lengths, then use heavy-duty screws (150mm timber screws) to form a rectangular or square outline for the foundation. Then, place the joists inside the perimeter frame, leaving an even distance between them (usually 300mm for commercial installations and 400mm for residential installations). 

To guarantee stability and even weight distribution, align the joists parallel to the direction in which the decking boards will be installed. Then, attach the joists to the perimeter frame with metal brackets, screws, or joist hangers. 

Attach each joist to the beams using metal joist hangers. Make sure the hangers fit snugly at both ends of the joist. To guarantee a stronger hold, drill pilot holes before putting screws in. To help stabilise the joists, install noggins between the joists at regular intervals, staggering them slightly to avoid weakening the structure. Secure them with screws. 

To allow for expansion, leave a tiny space of around 15 mm at the end of each joist to the timber frame. If you’re adding fascia boards, countersink the screws for a tidy appearance. 

4. Installing the Decking Boards

Now that you’ve prepared the ground and the subframe, it’s time to install the decking boards. Follow these simple steps below for a simple installation:

  1. Acclimatise the boards: Before installation, leave the boards to acclimatise outside for at least 24 hours. This minimises the risk of warping.
  2. Lay the first board: Start at one edge of the frame, attaching a starter clip to the subframe. Then, align and position the first board, ensuring its straight and securing it in place with the clip.
  3. Install hidden fasteners: Composite decking normally comes with hidden fastener systems to achieve a seamless look. Insert these fasteners into the grooves along the side of the board. Then, screw them into the subframe.
  4. Continue laying the boards: Lay the next board parallel to the first, securing them with fasteners or screws. Leave an expansion gap of 3–5 mm between each board and ensure they are properly aligned and spaced. 
  5. Cutting irregular boards: For corners or obstacles, cut the boards to fit the dimensions of the area using a fine tooth blade or circular saw.
  6. Secure the final board: Attach the final board to the row, using end clips or screws, fastening it to the subframe. You may need to trim it lengthwise to fit. 

Finishing Touches

Once the boards have been secured in place, attach fascia boards along the perimeter of the deck after measuring and cutting them to fit.

Secure them in place using screws or adhesive, ensuring to countersink the screws for a neat finish. To hide any cut edges, you can attach edging trims with screws or clips to the ends of the decking boards.

Then, apply a composite sealant to our decking for added durability and protection. Clean the decking first with a soft brush and a mix of warm water and detergent before applying the sealant. 

Choose WPS Handrails for Your Composite Decking

At WPS Handrails, we have the perfect composite decking solution to help you transform your garden. 

Say goodbye to plain, muddy grass and hello to a sleek, tidy, and modern decking area. Our high-quality decking is designed to last, so you can enjoy BBQs and late-night gatherings all year round!

Explore our range of composite decking boards today to bring your vision to life.

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