Decking
Decking comes in two main forms which is pressure treated wood and composite decking, both types last a long time if they are properly looked after.
The main and most obvious difference is the cost, composite is around 4 times the cost of wooden decking as the boards are much more expensive and the supports are metal. Both can be slippery in the wet.
Possibly the best point about composite decking is the fact you don't have to paint it every year. That said if you have balustrade around the decking, that is normally wooden and will need painted every year. If you have loads of cash go composite and put in glass balustrade then it is a wash a couple of times a year.
Installing a raised decking after the ground works have been completed is as follows:
- Install support posts approximately 1.8m apart in all directions.
- Build a frame from joists which should be set no more than 0.4m apart and dwangs should be inserted as this stops the deck from springing.
- Set the boards 4mm apart for an expansion joint. and always start the next row with the offcut providing it is at least 1.2m long. (no short pieces)
- The deck should be laid back to front to avoid infill pieces where possible and decks should be picture framed.
- Wooden decking should be washed and painted every year in the spring that way algae will not grow on it and make it slippery. What if your tin says this coating will last 5 years, my advice would be paint it every year that way it will last a long time.