The Benefits of Anti-Slip Timber Decking Vs Composite

As we approach the Spring, households throughout the UK are considering upgrading their gardens to feature a decking area but often quickly come across the choice of timber vs composite.

While composite decking has grown in popularity, the environmental impact of composite decking is extremely damaging. Most composite decking manufacturers and suppliers will market the fact that the materials that are used to make the decking are made from recycled plastics. While this may be true, recycled plastics are still plastic and harmful to our environment. A great example would be, should timber decking fall into the ocean, it would decay over time, composite decking would stay at the bottom of the ocean for years and years.

Timber is a natural, sustainable material that is much more cost effective than composite decking. Another huge advantage to timber decking is its strength. Composite decking is mostly hollow which comes with downsides like lack of strength and a poor-quality assembly. Composite decking’s hollow structure must heavily rely on a timber frame joist layout underneath to allow it some stability and rigidity. 

Composite decking boards are also more prone to scratches and are much more difficult to install given their lack of structure. Timber decking boards give users a choice of species, giving you a natural aesthetic with a range of colours to meet your design needs be that for a garden or for a larger project. As well as species, timber has the flexibility to be manipulated to customer choices with a choice of groves and anti-slip profiles. Composite decking boards, especially darker colours, can often retain heat when exposed to the sun for long periods. This heat retention can cause issues when skin is exposed to direct contact with the boards.

Composite decking has significantly lower PTV (Pendulum Test Value) scores than timber anti-slip decking. As an example, composite decking has typically around a PTV score of 40, only just surpassing the minimum anti-slip benchmark of 35, whereas a timber grooved product like DeckWright, has a score of over 70. Where DeckWright timber decking boards really come into their own is when they’re exposed to wintery conditions like snow, ice and wet weather. While decking in more commonly used in the warmer weather, it doesn’t have to be exclusively used in warmer weather with DeckWright’s anti-slip technology. 

DeckWright anti-slip boards are PEFC certified meaning the timber has come from a sustainable source. We encourage anyone looking into timber decking to seek FSC or PEFC certified timber.

To find out more about DeckWright anti-slip decking boards, please get in touch with our sales team at info@deckwright.co.uk