The best composite decking offers you a new stop-you-in-your-tracks deck that’s more cor and less chore. Feast your eyes on these stylish shades of composite decking that are wiping the floor with hues of yore! Combined with some carefully chosen garden accessories, decking can quickly upgrade your outside space.
We’ve been savvy to the benefits of composite decking for some time now, and big fans of how smart and easy it is to fit. It’s also easy to clean – just brush and go – and whatever the weather, these hero boards won’t split, splinter or buckle. Antibacterial and moisture repellent, mould and algae don’t get a look in either.
Best composite decking at a glance:
• Best for tool-free fitting: CLICK-DECK Composite Decking Tiles - View on Amazon UK
• Best for driftwood looks: Millboard Decking Embered Weathered Oak - View on Bradfords
• Best eco-friendly: Eva-Tech I-Series Composite Deck Board - View on Wickes
Genius handiwork has given the boards all the ooh-la-la of real wood decking complete with authentic graining and variations in tone. But it’s the latest colour choices that have got us dancing in the decking aisles. In every shade of grey plus black and rich tropical wood tones, taking our indoor styles outdoors and making our decks an extension of our living areas has never been easier, or more satisfying. It’s no wonder more and more of us are getting on board!
The best composite decking in stylish colours
Best for tool-free fitting
Click-Deck/AmazonA simple solution ideal for anyone who's not confident in the DIY department, these CLICK-DECK composite decking tiles literally click together for uber-easy installation. These are supplied in a six-pack of 30cm by 30cm tiles. These tiles are made from wood fibres and recycled plastic and can be washed down with soapy water. These composite decking tiles come in a range of colours including a variety of different grey choices and some wood effect options.
Customer review: "Love it! Super cute deck set, easy to install and durable."
Pros
- Click-together construction
- Available in a range of finishes
Cons
- Best suited to smaller areas
Best for driftwood looks
Bradfordswww.bradfords.co.uk
Go rugged! Fancy a deck with tons of character? Then a deep wood grain and dark good looks are for you. These moulded boards from Millboard look as though they have seen plenty of action and are the perfect foil for moving water and lush tropical planting. Board size: 3.6m x 200mm x 32mm
Pros
- Slip-resistant
- Contains mineral stone
Cons
- Only available in one colour
Best eco-friendly
Wickeswww.wickes.co.uk
This decking is sleek and strong. Made from eco-friendly bamboo and recycled plastic, these matt-finished boards are designed for extra strength over a wider span. Thanks to the uniquely shaped supports, fewer hidden fasteners are needed, reducing cost and installation time without reducing performance. Board Size: 2.2m x 137mm x 23mm.
Pros
- Self-draining
- Mould-resistant
Cons
- Must use Hulk screws for the guarantee to be valid
Best designer
B&Qwww.diy.com
These deck tiles will instantly create an eye-catching focal point in your outside space. These are available in charcoal grey and brick red and feature a striking white crazy paving-style design. These composite tiles feature a secure interlocking mechanism, so they just click together with no need for tools. These are supplied as a pack of six tiles, with each tile measuring in at 28cm by 28cm by 1.5cm.
Pros
- Interlocking design
- Eye-catching pattern
Cons
- Only six tiles in a pack
Best for larger areas
Tuda/AmazonThis Tuda option is another choice made from plastic resin, real wood, and real wood fibres for an eco-friendly, long-lasting, and durable result. You can choose between three different colours; brown, black, or grey. These boards measure in at 2.9 metres long, 15cm wide and have a depth of 2.5cm. This decking is supplied in packs of 10, 14, 20, 25, 30, and 35 square metres so be sure to get your tape measure out before you order.
Customer review: "Great composite decking and quick delivery, I contacted the company direct and they are a very efficient and customer focused, I would recommend this company."
Pros
- Samples available
- Fixing packs included
Cons
- Needs to be cut to size
Best reversible design
Jardi/B&Qwww.diy.com
This Jardi composite decking from B&Q has a reversible design. On one side you have wide grooves, and the other side has a more narrow groove design. This means as you lay it, you can mix and match the two different sides for more aesthetically interesting looks. These boards are crafted from a wood-plastic composite and have a non-slip finish. Each board measures 2.9 metres by 15cm and every pack comes with the fixings you need and a free colour-matching edge strip.
Pros
- Colour-matched edging strips included
- Protective UV-layer
Cons
- Only has a one-year guarantee
Best decking kit
Ecodek/The Rangewww.therange.co.uk
If you can't be fussed with measuring and dealing with the calculations of how many decking boards or tiles you need, consider a complete decking kit as a simple solution to create a decked area within your garden. Ecodek's kit-based option measures in at 2.4 metres by 2.4 metres, so is large enough for a garden table and chairs. This is made of a mix of wood and plastic and boasts wood effect looks with none of the boring maintenance.
Pros
- Complete kit
- Fade-resistant
Cons
- Weighs 259 kilograms
How we chose the best composite decking
All of these composite decking options have been hand-selected by our team of Modern Gardens shopping experts. We carefully considered style, material, and construction in our selection of the best. Our team has spent hours investigating and researching composite decking to make it easier for you to find the very best, and we'd never recommend a product we don't believe in.
Where possible, we also test and share the latest and best products you should know about. And with help from Modern Gardens Magazine, Garden News and Garden Answers, we share expert gardening knowledge to help you get the most from your product.
Why choose composite decking boards
As well as spoiling us with colour choices, those brilliant board boffins have treated us to many upgrades since composite decking was first developed some 20 years ago. Now it can withstand everything the British weather throws at it, protecting us from the tedious tasks of sanding, staining, treating or oiling, as with traditional timber decks. Compared to timber, composite is usually more expensive, but it’s less likely to fade, and although it will weather to some degree, you’ll barely notice any colour change, and this will only happen during the first three months of being in the sun. After that, it will stabilise for the rest of its days. This tends to be around 25 years, much longer than timber, which generally needs renewing after 8-12 years.
Planks are still the most popular option. Lay them parallel in a traditional fashion with staggered joins, diagonally or with inset panels running in an opposing direction.
Which composite decking is the best?
To get down to the nitty-gritty, composite decking is made from wood fibres, high-density polyethylene and bonding agents, and many of the ingredients are waste or recycled products, so it ticks the eco-friendly box too. Once mixed and heated, they’re pressed into a plank form and impressed with a wood grain. The surface of each board is then brushed, sanded and treated to create a specific finish. The quality of ingredients and the manufacturing process will determine how the boards perform over time and the retail price.
It’s worth knowing if the boards you’re buying are hollow, solid core or co-extrusion boards, which relates to how they’re made:
✽ Hollow boards have holes running through them, reducing the amount of material used, weight and, usually, the retail price too.
✽ Solid core boards are much denser and more rigid and the cost is higher for these.
✽ Co-extrusion boards, also known as capped or shielded, have an extra protective layer of plastic covering, which makes them super-strong. In a line-up with real timber planks, you’d be hard pushed to pick them out, thanks to their natural woodgrain, realistic varied colour and less ‘plasticky’ feel.
Composite decking accessories
Hugely versatile, the floor is not the limit when it comes to composite decking. With plenty of coordinating extras to be found, such as cladding, fascias, trims and railings, you can seamlessly extend the look to steps, multiple levels, fitted benches, tables and raised planters. For extra wow, why not use contrasting boards to outline different areas and create decorative borders, or a deck ‘rug’ as a focal point for an outdoor seating or dining area?
Composite tiles are also available and are often an affordable option and ideal for sprucing up small spaces such as balconies and terraces. Made with interlocking connections on all four sides they can simply be clicked in place as needed. Non-slip and mostly made from a bamboo and plastic blend, they are 100% recyclable.
Composite decking installation
Lifting and laying composite decking is a breeze compared to heavier timber alternatives. With tongue and groove edges, they can be fitted together using specialist hidden fixings that also act as spacers, so the boards run parallel, leaving your lovely deck screw-hole free and less likely to let moisture in.
Need to cut a composite board? No problem – all you need is a sharp specialist blade. Thin jigsaw blades are flexible enough to neatly do the job. Or, if you have lots of cutting to do, then a circular saw fitted with a 40-tooth alternate top bevel finish blade is a speedier option. Cut ends will never be as neat as uncut boards, so you may wish to cover them with a raised fascia board, vinyl stair-nosing cove or decking veneer for a super-smart finish.
How to clean composite decking
If you want to spend more time enjoying drinks on your deck and less time cleaning it, composite decking is for you. Unlike timber, the sealed surface doesn’t demand tiresome scrubbing, the yearly removal of green slime or the painstaking slog of applying sealant. Instead, you can enjoy a clean surface that is child and pet-friendly and safe to use whether wet or dry.
Your best bet is to use a pressure washer, but if that's not an option, simply go over it using a stiff, bristle brush – and don’t be shy with those grooves – before mopping it with hot soapy water. Any stubborn marks should simply wash off, but check the manufacturer’s guidelines before using any detergent or you may compromise the product’s guarantee.
You can relax in the knowledge that composite boards won’t warp and lift like natural wood, and your deck will stay nice and flat. There’s also no need to worry about wood knots, weeping sticky resin or gouges that can ruin the look and let water and rot set in.
All that’s left to do is plan what you’ll do with all the extra free time composite boards afford us. Daiquiri on the deck anyone?
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Jill Morgan is an interiors and property editor with over 20 years experience working for leading magazine titles and marketing companies. She's a regular contributor to Modern Gardens magazine, writing many of the Buyer's Guides and keeping readers in the know when it comes to all the latest and greatest garden products.