Composite Versus An Exterior Wooden Balustrade

If you are looking to create a border for a balcony or raised decking space, it’s a smart idea to specify composite material over an exterior wooden balustrade. Though an external wooden balustrade can look impressive in the short term, the decking balustrade wood can rapidly start to deteriorate when left to the elements. In contrast, NeoTimber’s composite balustrades are specially designed to be a long-lasting, modular alternative, that can give your outdoor project a classic, traditional feel. In this article, we will compare the advantages of composite material to an external wooden balustrade in detail, to help you decide which product is right for your build. Let’s take a look…

Unlike with an exterior wooden balustrade, NeoTimber’s composite balustrades are supported by both the strength of the composite material itself, and the metal framework underneath. Composite material is impervious to the effects of moisture damage, which can cause a weaker timber alternative to break down and decompose. A garden wooden balustrade snapping or splintering is obviously not ideal, as it invalidates the safety and security that an external barrier should provide. Imagine either the railing, posts, or spindles snapping when a visitor to your space is using your balustrade as a support. It could cause someone to lose their footing and become seriously injured.

In contrast, with NeoTimber’s composite balustrades, the post, railing, and spindles are all made from a metal substructure, giving your border far greater stability than traditional wooden balustrade decking banisters, so you can rest easy knowing your outdoor build is as safe as possible. Please note that our composite balustrades cannot be used for high-rise developments, such as rooftop terraces. Find out more reading our balustrade installation resources.

When choosing a material for outdoor balustrades, its important to choose something that will withstand the tests of time. Though an exterior wooden balustrade may be cheaper than a composite alternative in the short term, you should view choosing composite as a long-term investment. Because our composite balustrades are so long-lasting, they are unlikely to need replacing further down the line. In contrast, a decking wooden balustrade may need to be replaced entirely should enough moisture damage take hold.

Alongside our pre-existing decking, cladding, and fencing ranges, all of our balustrades are supported by a 25-year residential warranty, or a 10-year warranty for commercial projects, proving that we have every confidence that our products are built to last. With good upkeep, it is likely that your composite materials will last for even longer! To keep composite material at its best, all it will need is an occasional clean, either with a hose or a lint-free cloth. Compare this to the time-consuming maintenance tasks involved with keeping an exterior wooden balustrade in top condition, such as painting or staining with preservatives.

With over a decade of experience creating premium outdoor landscaping products, we understand better than most that every outdoor project is different, and that a “one size fits all” approach is not necessarily the best way forward. Because of this, we have designed our balustrades so they can be purchased as individual components. These all come together to create one modular, adaptable system, which can be fitted onto both straight and stair applications, making a far more customisable option than a traditional exterior wooden balustrade.

At NeoTimber®, we even offer more opportunities for customisation, with a range of 5 high-quality colours to choose from, all of which are colour-matched to our decking, cladding, and fencing ranges. Choose from the soft, subtle antique, the earthy teak, the modern, neutral grey, or the dark, luxurious charcoal and chocolate. Should you so choose, you can even mix and match different contrasting colours by buying the individual components, to create a truly unique design. Alternatively, you can use our kit builder, to buy all of the necessary components in one bundle.