Landscape & Urban Design Issue 50 2021 | Page 52

DECKING

SUSTAINABLE COMPOSITE DECKING

Composite decking is the fastestgrowing timber decking alternative currently available on the market . Although traditional timber decking has been the preferred choice of many for years , it ’ s a high maintenance product which requires annual painting and staining . Composite decking however is a simple , sustainable , no fuss alternative due to its unique formula , which makes it low maintenance and more durable than traditional products .
Manufactured using the latest technology to provide the look and feel of traditional timber decking without the health and safety concerns , composite decking is created using a combination of recycled plastics and 100 % FSC Certified wood flour - a waste product of hardwood production .
The wooden fibres and plastic shavings are combined with colour pigments before being heated and extruded . The plastic content gives the boards a long lifespan without the need to treat or seal the decking , whilst the wood content enables the product to retain its natural look and feel . The finished product is 3D embossed with wood grain or contemporary linear grooves to meet the requirements of DIY enthusiasts , landscapers and garden designers alike .
Making sustainable choices when it comes to developing and designing gardens is crucial to combat the growing crisis around waste products . Composite decking has a number of environmental benefits and as a result , consumers are choosing to switch to composite materials as they provide a much more sustainable and genuine alternative to timber .
In the last six years of operation , composite decking brand , Composite Prime has saved the equivalent of 151 million plastic milk bottles from landfill . As well as this , each square metre of its composite decking contains the equivalent of more than 3,000 plastic bottle caps or 280 plastic bottles .
Encouraged by the COVID-19 pandemic , consumers are now spending an increasing amount of time at home and have invested in
their outdoor spaces as an extension of their home . Composite decking is an ideal product to shape outdoor living spaces ; its versatility in colour and texture allows people to create completely unique designs to create a design flow between indoor and outdoor areas .
Carefully laid decking can create zones in the garden , adding separate spaces for dining and relaxing . Split levels in a sloping garden also create the illusion of more space . The chosen material is essential for creating a personal design that remains in harmony with the rest of the furnishings and the interior of the home .
As well as becoming more ethicallyminded , consumers are also concerned with the colour of their outdoor decking and annual sales statistics from Composite Prime demonstrate that more than 90 % of its decking products sold in 2020 were in various shades of grey .
As a result , Composite Prime has brought to market new colour pairings which allow for bespoke patterns and contrasting colours .
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