DECKING
First and foremost , it looks the part . In fact , unless you knew better , you would assume it was natural wood . It has the same fine grain as real wood , because it is made in moulds created from carefully selected oak timbers , with all the characteristic detail that oak possesses . Whether it ’ s the deeper textured ‘ Weathered Oak ’ or the smoother ‘ Enhanced Grain ’ style , the authentic wood look is amazing . Used in many public spaces across the UK , from Kew Gardens to stately homes and fancy restaurants , you may well have walked on Millboard decking and never even realised that it wasn ’ t wood !
But , while it looks exactly like wood , it doesn ’ t rot , split or warp . Millboard is made of a combination of natural minerals and polymers that provide an incredibly strong , durable material . It takes a minimum of fuss to look after , too . It doesn ’ t rot , and there ’ s nothing for insects or algae to live on .
There ’ s no need to paint or apply preservatives – all that is needed to clean a Millboard deck is a quick going over with soapy water . This is thanks to each board having a unique Lastane impermeable layer . If you spill some wine , it doesn ’ t sink in , so you can just wipe it away and no harm done .
As well as being easy-clean , the Lastane surface has another property which may be the only way you ’ ll be able to tell Millboard and wood decking apart – it is highly slip-resistant . In the wet , wood can be horribly slippery , but Millboard decking is anything but . ( This is one of the reasons it has been so popular in public areas with high footfall – no health and safety issues to worry about !)
One final trick up the Lastane layer ’ s sleeve is its self-sealing property . This means that when installed using Millboard recommended fittings , all screw heads are covered by the surface resealing itself over them for a wonderfully professional ‘ lost-head ’ finish .
Installation generally is straightforward – Millboard decking can be sawn and cut just like wood , so no special tools are required . Alongside the decking boards themselves , Millboard offers a complete system including sub-frame systems and edging . It ’ s perfectly possible for competent DIY-ers to install the system themselves , but most choose to use installers approved by Millboard themselves .
Millboard has managed to provide a solution to the problem of beautiful decking without the
hassle and without compromising the environment . Sustainability has always been part of Millboard ’ s ethos , and they were the first premium decking company to obtain UKAS-certified approval to the global environmental standard ISO 14064 . Produced entirely in the UK , no tropical hardwood forests are depleted and transportation costs and environmental impacts are far lower than for imported products . Much of the material used in manufacture is derived from the waste of other processes , and Millboard decking itself can be recycled into polyutherane filler to be used in other manufacturing .
Millboard provides a useful calculator on their website for professional designers , architects or self-builders to work out what amount of decking and other materials will be required for any given project . Samples of the different styles and colours available can also be ordered online .
As a practical , all-weather base for spending more time outdoors without leaving home , Millboard decking is hard to beat . It ’ s the perfect solution for those wanting to – as the company ’ s slogan puts it – ‘ Live . Life . Outside .’
www . millboard . co . uk
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