Frequently Asked Questions

Composite decking is a type of decking material that is made from a combination of recycled wood fibers, plastic, and other additives. It is often referred to as wood-plastic composite (WPC) decking. Composite decking is designed to be more durable and low-maintenance than traditional wood decking.

Our composite decking is made of the following:
55% Recycled Wood fibers: These provide the strength and stiffness of the decking material.
35%  Recycled High-Density Polyethylene (Plastic): This provides the water resistance and durability of the decking material.
10% Additives: These are added to improve the performance of the decking material, such as UV stabilizers to prevent fading and colorants to provide the desired colour

Material
Composite: Composite is made from a combination of wood fibers, plastic, and other additives.
Wood: Wood decking, fencing and cladding is made from natural wood, such as cedar, redwood, or tropical hardwoods.

Durability
Composite: Composite is very durable and can withstand the elements. It is resistant to rot, mold, mildew, insects, and fading.
Wood: Wood is less durable than composite and can be susceptible to rot, mold, mildew, insects, and fading.

Maintenance
Composite: Composite is virtually maintenance-free. You do not need to stain, seal, or paint it, which can save you a lot of time and money.
Wood: Wood requires regular maintenance, such as staining, sealing, or painting. This can be time-consuming and expensive.

Appearance
Composite: Composite can look very similar to natural wood. We offer a range of styles to suit your taste. Composite decking fades slightly in the first 8 – 12 weeks, but will not fade any more after that.
Wood: Wood has a natural, rustic appearance that many people find appealing. However, the appearance of wood decking can change over time as it weathers.

Environmental impact
Composite: Composite is made from recycled materials, making it a more sustainable choice than traditional wood products.
Wood: Wood is a natural product, but it can have a negative impact on the environment if it is not harvested sustainably.

Overall
Composite products and wood products are both good options for decking, fencing and cladding but they have different advantages and disadvantages. Composite decking is more durable and low-maintenance than wood decking, but it is also more expensive. Wood decking is less expensive than composite decking, but it requires more maintenance. If you are still unsure as to why you should use composite products, get in touch

Yes, this is the beauty of composite products over traditional timber. There is no need to seal or stain the decking, cladding or fencing. They are easy to clean with warm soapy water and a soft bristled brush. If you prefer, you can use a jet washer, with the max pressure set to 1500psi.

Composite products are relatively colour stable, however, there will be some initial lightening of the product during the first 8-10 weeks.

Composite products are very hardy, but are not scratch proof. They are scratch resistant, meaning that under normal wear and circumstances they will not scratch. When cleaning use a soft bristles brush and warm soapy water. When moving garden furniture on the decking, be sure to lift not drag it.

Our classic and premium ranges are made of the same composite, however the premium decking features a embossed 3d woodgrain effect on one side. Classic decking has a straightline grooved finish, one side has narrower grooves, meaning you can choose the finish to suit your style.
Classic composite decking comes in two colours, charcoal and grey, premium cladding comes in five colours, grey, teak, brown, natural and charcoal.
Both types of decking are slip resistant and splinter-free.

Your composite decking will need to sit on a substructure, made up of joists and pedestals or battens. It is vital that the subframe allows for drainage, airflow and is durable.
Ensure you have joists supporting your deck spaced no more than 30cm apart, and that you have doubled up joists for butt joints across the deck.

We recommend using Tongue and Groove countersunk stainless steel screws size 3.5mm x 45mm (supplied by us) as these screws are specifically designed for tongue and groove products

Yes, It is important to leave gaps between boards when installing your composite decking. There needs to be space big enough for adequate drainage and board expansion in the heat, and the gaps are exactly the same size to give a uniform finish.
We supply easy-to-install hidden fasteners that act as spacers, making it easier to achieve perfectly even spacing. Our 6mm hidden fasteners are durable and cost-effective.
Gaps of 5mm are recommended where a board touches a wall.
We don’t recommend installing on a really hot day due to the expansion of the boards. On hot days boards will be expanded already so the gaps needed will be minimal, on cold days the boards will be contracted so larger gaps will be needed.

A starter clip needs to be fixed to the end of the joists before laying your first board. We recommend pre-drilling holes to prevent joists from cracking.
Slide the first decking board up to the starter clips, and secure with standard clips to each joist on the other side of the board. If butting boards together, make sure each board has its own standard clip to hold it into place.
To prevent creeping of the boards, fix each board halfway along the length of the board with a single screw, angled at 45’ degrees through the bottom lip of the board into the joist.
Fit the next board by sliding it into the standard clips, making sure to fix into every joist. Repeat this process until the penultimate board.
Fix starter clips to the ends of joists, allowing room for the two final boards and the standard clips. Add the end board
Add the final board (second to end board), slide standard clips between boards and fix into each joist.
As applicable add skirting boards and corner trims to finish the deck.

We sell edge trims in matching colours to our decking these create a flawless finish. You can find these edge trims in our trims and accessories section

Our hidden fastenings T clip deck fastenings are installed into the groove section between the deck boards. Fastening them to the joists means no visible screw heads on the walking surface for a seamless finish.
Hidden fastening system gives 6-7mm distance gap between Composite Deck boards.

No, they must be installed onto a suitable substructure. We advise using high grade treated timber battens in sizes 38mm x 25mm or 50mm x 25mm or use composite battens (supplied by us)

We recommend tongue and groove countersink stainless steel screws size 3.5m x 45mm

We offer a 10 year warranty on our cladding products, if they are installed as per our installation guide. The life of the cladding is 25 years

We offer a 10 year warranty on all decking, as long as it it installed as per our installation guide. The product itself will last at least 25 years

Both our classic and premium decking boards are reversible, so you can choose which side and style suits you best.
Our premium composite decking is 3d embossed with a woodgrain effect on one side and grooved on the other, where as our classic range has narrow grooves one side and thicker grooves the other. The choice is yours!

Composite decking has a moderate slip rating, however it is important to keep your decking free of debris like leaves and moss. Use a soft bristle brush to remove any debris from on the board and in between them

If you discover black marks from mould on your composite decking remove it as soon as possible with warm soapy water and a soft bristled brush. Hose  down after you have finished. To prevent mould in the future, be sure to clear all debris from your decking

In most cases no, planning permission is not required for a garden room, providing they are single story with a maximum height of 2.5m and occupy less than 30 square meter footprint. We always recommend checking with your local authority as to their specific planning regulations

We recommend a concert base for our steel framed garden rooms. Alternatively you could use a timber frame or ground screws

No! That’s the beauty of steel framed garden rooms, they are fully fabricated offsite the steel frames simply need to be assembled on site. They are lightweight and can be assembled in a matter of hours

We supply:
Galvanised Steel Framework for roofs and roof
Breather membrane & battens
Composite cladding in your choice of colour
OSB for roof
Guttering and downpipe
We can also supply a door of you choice for an additional cost

You will need to supply:
Insulation
Plasterboard
Electrics
Lighting
Flooring
Internal finishes

We aim to deliver all orders within 20 working days to UK Mainland. If you are local (PO Postcodes and surrounding areas, please get in touch as we may be able to offer FREE delivery (min order value £500)

Delivery is FREE on orders over £1000 – £125 (inc VAT) on orders below £1000
For small parcels delivery with Hermes is £10.00

Yes.
If you wish to collect your order should report to Reception of our Warehouse located at 42A Aston Road, Waterlooville PO7 7XG and park in the respective car park.
Please report to reception where your order will be picked in the Warehouse and brought to your vehicle.
Please note the following conditions:
It is the responsibility of the customer to load their vehicle and to ensure the goods are secure.
It is the responsibility of the customer to ensure vehicle and passenger safety when entering and leaving the premises.
Please bring appropriate strapping materials to ensure safety of the goods, vehicle and driver/passengers.
We will be happy to assist you load your vehicle where possible but is entirely at the customer’s risk. CompDeckUK cannot accept any responsibility for damage to either the goods or your vehicle in this instance.
All damage should be reported within 24 hours, either via telephone on 02392 268800 or by email on info@compdeckuk.co.uk

Products no longer required can be returned to us providing they meet the standard of our Returns Policy (below). They must be returned to our Warehouse address. We may be able to collect stock no longer required for a 25% restocking fee. Please contact us if you have any further queries. 
We sometimes experience slight discrepancies in batch colour. This means that your decking may be marginally variable to the colour sample you have seen/received. We will be unable to refund or return products on this basis. 

Returns Policy
We are happy to re-stock unused products and refund our customers for the original price paid, providing the following conditions are met:
– The products MUST be in a fully re-sellable condition. This means that they must be stored correctly and come back to us in the same condition they were sold at (i.e. inside or suitably covered/protected).
– The products MUST NOT have been altered in any way – for example reduced in length, cut in any way, scratched or sanded etc.
– You are liable to return the products yourself to our Warehouse (42A Aston Road, Waterlooville PO7 7XG). If you are not able to return the products yourself, we may be able to collect the items for a restocking fee of 25% of the full sale price.
– All refunds will be made onto a credit or debit card either over the phone or in store. We are not able to refund in cash.
Damage to any products MUST be reported within 24 hours of delivery or collection to be considered eligible for a refund.
CompDeckUK will not accept responsbility for costs covering installation if a damaged or defective product is laid.
Damaged products will either be replaced free of charge or offered at a discounted rate.
All damaged products that are to be refunded in full MUST be returned to us.
If you think you have any products that are damaged or defective, please call 02392 268800 immediately, or email info@compdeckuk.co.uk where we will attempt to resolve the issue as soon as possible.