The world of composite decking can often be a confusing one! With different board types, different fixing methods and a range of prices how do you know what’s best?

There are two main types of composite deck board:

• Solid Composite Decking Boards
• Hollow Composite Decking Boards

Because hollow boards use less material to produce they are often cheaper to manufacture than solid deck boards, which means that hollow boards can be less expensive to buy, but are you really getting a better deal?

Consider these facts before you make a decision:

1. Hollow boards can hold moisture and water internally, which is very difficult to remove, and will increase the decomposition of the board compared to a solid alternative.

2. Hollow boards have unsightly ends which require the use of end caps; these end caps are made of a different material and will weather differently from the rest of the board.

3. Hollow boards are less resistant to impact damage due to their reduced wall thickness, so big parties on a hollow deck could result in a lot of damaged boards!

4. Solid boards are easier to screw into as they will not collapse as the screw drives in to the board. To get around this, hollow manufacturers will often resort to a much more expensive hidden clip system, which does not offer the same fastening strength as a stainless steel screw.

5. Solid composite boards offer better noise absorption properties than hollow decking, making it quieter to walk on. This makes solid composite boards the best choice for structures like balconies.