Can you help me install your composite boards?
Sun Decking is a composite decking supplier and importer but not registered builders. For deck installations, we can help in several ways. We are proud to supply many specialist deck installation companies whom we know provide a high quality of service and expertise when installing our products. We can recommend them to you but the choice is yours.
Having worked with many quality builders we have a broad understanding of what works and will happily give you our experience and suggestions as to how you might best install your decking most effectively. Give us a call to talk about your project – we are happy to help!
How do you fix the boards down?
We only recommend fixing any quality composite decking boards with a clip system. Composite decking expands and contracts more than timber and clip systems allow the expansion and contraction to occur easily and without long term damage to the boards. There are added advantages in that hidden clips make the deck look elegant and clean with no screw holes or nails to protrude and much safer for bare feet.
What sort of hidden clips do you use for the boards?
We supply both plastic and stainless 304 clips with screws to fix our quality composite decking – screws are 304 stainless. With plastic clips, a board gap of 5mm is ‘normal’ and allows for screws to be extracted even when the boards are in place.
Our Elite™ product range can also utilise stainless clips that are designed to fix a deck with 3mm between boards. This is a personal choice and allows for a different look when the composite deck is laid. For clarification on the range of clips available please visit our Fixings page.
What is the joist width for fitting the boards?
Composite deck products are not considered structural therefore it is good to understand that they will bend easily when not supported properly. They need adequate support under them with recommended 450mm maximum joist centres and if the area is for heavier use it can be advisable to make the joists closer. In heavyweight situations or commercial use then the joist can be moved down to 400mm or closer.
What is the board gap when the composite boards are laid?
The gap between boards using plastic clips is 5mm, this is typical and necessary to enable a screw fixing to go between the boards. We also have stock of stainless steel clips designed to create a board gap of 3mm. This is predominantly an aesthetic issue.
Do the composite boards expand in the heat?
Yes. Most products expand and contract with temperature changes and composite does more so than timber. It is linear thermal expansion and most products have a coefficient rating tested to understand how they expand when installed. This is why any installer will leave a small gap between ends of the composite decking boards to allow for any heat expansion/contraction. The expansion can be calculated accurately and there is some advantage in understanding the likely temperature variations on the installation, compared with the temperature at the point of cutting so that the least amount of expansion gap can be left.
Our boards are tested with a coefficient of 0.000042 per ℃ change, which is quite typical of composite boards. This means a full 5400mm board would expand 0.22mm per ℃ of change
What size are your composite decking boards?
The boards are 5400mm long to minimise cuts on the installation. We stock boards that are 23mm thick and a nominal 140mm wide as the thickness provides a good secure board to both fixing and daily use.
This means each board covers approximately .75M2 which can be useful for estimating the likely boards needed on an installation.
Is there a front board as a fascia?
With the Classic™ boards, there is a square edge fascia that is 130mm by 10mm thick, this acts as a fascia and is used for composite screening As our Classic™ decking is a solid core product it is possible to rip the rebate off the board to suit your design. We can provide a board ripping service.
The Elite™ laminated range has a matching fascia board that is 10mm thick and can be used for decorative finishes as well as a matching low level composite screening. In addition we stock a profiled deck board that has a square edge and can be used for framing decks and step downs.
Free to call us on 0444545156 or contact us to discuss your project needs.