GENERAL
A composite balustrade is made from a manufactured mix of wood and plastic fibres to create a durable material which looks and behaves like wood but doesn’t rot.
There are many big benefits to choosing a composite balustrade. There are five stunning colours to choose from, you don’t need to treat or paint your balustrades and they come supplied with a competitive, industry-leading 25-year residential warranty and 10-year commercial warranty. What’s more, NeoTimber’s range of capped composite balustrades offer higher stain and fade resistance than most other balustrade solutions in the market.
Composite balustrades are supplied with a 25-year residential warranty and a 10-year commercial warranty. This warranty is based on full adherence to NeoTimber’s installation guidelines.
Because NeoTimber® composite balustrades are made for both commercial and residential applications, they are made to comply with building regulations for low-rise developments. They are therefore suitable for a wide range of applications including low-rise balconies, low-rise roof terraces and raised decking areas.
The main difference between the two solutions is the material make-up and long-term performance. While timber has its benefits, the material is subject to weathering and degradation in outdoor environments. Composite balustrades are constructed from a mix of recycled plastic and timber fibres, offering various advantages, including longevity, low maintenance and long-term strength.
Yes, our composite balustrades are made to exacting building regulation standards, meaning that they are suitable for specification in low-rise developments – both commercial and residential.
Most orders are delivered on a long wheel based van by a member of NeoTimber’s delivery team. Our logistics team always contact customers ahead of delivery to run through the in’s and out’s and we will never just turn up unannounced!
Yes, we design, manufacture and supply various composite building materials including composite decking, composite cladding, composite fencing and balustrades.
PRICING & PURCHASING
All NeoTimber® balustrade products can be purchased from our website. You can also order by phone or in person from our Loughborough-based showroom, by appointment only.
Composite balustrades are made of a combination of wood and plastic which have to be processed in order to mould the material. This processing is more expensive than felling and milling timber and therefore the price of the product is naturally higher.
Yes, our composite balustrade showroom is based in Loughborough, Leicestershire, UK. Customers are asked to pre-book and can visit from Monday-Friday, our opening times are between 09:00- 17:00. Call us on 01509 323 170 to arrange an appointment with our sales support team.
If you have your own vehicle or wish to employ a private logistics firm, you can collect your order from our warehouse. Your wish to do this must be stated at the time of placing the order. Our warehouse team will let you know when the product is available to collect and collections can only be made with at least 24-hours notice. Please note, our warehouse is located at a different premises to our showroom so please ensure that you have the correct address when placing your order.
We keep items in stock for our entire balustrade product range. Your lead time is governed by the delivery option you choose: Our ‘Express Delivery Service’ offers a 3 –5 working day window, or our ‘Economy Delivery Service’ works within a 7-10 working day window.
INSTALLATION
The balustrade system we provide is component-based, and can be fixed by anyone competent in DIY. It is fitted by fixing steel posts mounts first to joists or beams and then sliding composite sleeves over the top and securing the handrails in a similar manner. Read our full installation guide for more information.
Our installation guide gives full instructions on installing onto steps or stairs. The balustrade system is designed to be flexible to allow for stairs, with a fully adjustable bracket for fixing handrails at your required height and angle, and posts and mounts which can be cut to length, as required.
General woodworking tools will cut composite balustrades with relative ease. It is important to consider the type of blade you use to cut the material, however, we recommend carbide-tipped blades and if using circular saws, a blade with 40-50 teeth is best.
TECHNICAL
Composite wood is made from a combination of wood fibres and recycled plastic.
Unlike many composite balustrade solutions on the market, NeoTimber’s capped composite balustrades are designed to resist fading and weathering thanks to its external polymer capped layer which contains UV-inhibitors.
Yes, because of the textured outer layer, NeoTimber® balustrades remain good for grip even in wet conditions and so is a reliable handrail on stairs.
Yes – all NeoTimber® balustrades are made from capped composite, this means that the material is protected by a secondary, outer polymer sleeve, this locks out moisture meaning that staining cannot seep into the product.
The simple answer is yes. Like all materials, composite balustrades will expand and contract as temperatures fluctuate. The difference is that composite expands and contracts within known parameters. Because the balustrade system has a metal frame and a composite sleeve, the two materials expand and contract at different rates. Because of this, expansion gaps are built into all of our products to allow this thermal expansion to occur without putting undue stresses on them.
Working out how many kits you need is made easy thanks to our handy online balustrade calculator. Simply measure the linear length required and input your measurement into the calculator. The balustrade calculator will also ask the number of continuous runs of balustrades you require – this will impact the number of posts required for your project. The calculator will then give you an estimate as to how many handrails and balustrade posts you will need for your project. Note that none of NeoTimber’s material calculators account for wastage and we would advise an additional allowance of between 5-10%.
AFTER CARE
No, you should not paint or stain composite balustrades as the polymer outer layer will not adhere well to the solvents contained in the paint. The capped composite material the product is made-up of means that the product shall retain its full colour year-after-year.
Because our balustrades are capped, they are simple to maintain. You will just need some warm soapy water and a sponge to bring them up their shiny best. For more information, please see our balustrade cleaning and care guide.
A pressure washer can be used to clean your NeoTimber® composite balustrades. If you choose to do so, use a washer with no more than 3100psi and with a fan attachment for even spread of the spray. For more information, see our care guide.
You should never need to sand your balustrades as the product resists the effects of weathering and is guaranteed for 25 years.
Need Further Support or Advice?
If you’ve still got questions that have not been answered here, or you would like additional advice,
support or assistance then please give one of our friendly experts a call and we’ll be happy to help.
Just give us a call on 01509 323 170.