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Why should you choose composite material over wooden decking balustrades? Let’s explore…

Timber is an incredibly popular building material for homeowners looking to revamp their garden. As a result, it’s often used for decking, balustrade, and cladding projects. Though it might look pretty to begin with, sometimes everything is not what it seems. In fact, there are many practical reasons for avoiding the installation of wooden decking balustrades. Rotting, warping, and splintering are just a few areas of concern, with each inviting in their own fair share of issues.

This is especially alarming in the case of wooden decking balustrades. Designed to be strong, safe, and dependable, balustrades should give your decking and balcony a protective perimeter. In this article, we’ll look at how wooden balustrades make this practically impossible. Better yet, we explore an alternative that’ll keep you safe come rain or shine.

wooden decking balustrade

Rotting

Timber, unless regularly stained with chemical preservatives, is incredibly vulnerable to the effects of sustained weathering. Wood is an absorbent material, meaning your balustrades are at risk of rotting if they take in too much moisture. An attractive wooden decking balustrade can rapidly deteriorate and decompose as a result, turning a once stunning garden build into a neglected, dilapidated structure that will need to be replaced.

This is why the core of our composite balustrade posts are made of steel, ensuring your composite balustrade railings won’t rot or break down following excessive rainfall. Composite material also doesn’t need to be treated to protect it from breaking down. Made up of recycled plastic and timber fibres, our products boast invaluable resistance against the elements. Gone are the days of re-treating your balustrades each year to increase their lifespan; composite mostly takes care of itself. 

Staining

The absorbency of timber not only makes it more likely to rot, but also makes it more susceptible to staining. Stains on a wooden surface are every homeowners’ nightmare. One spilled glass of wine or cup of juice will leave you with unsightly splotches that have to be painted over or sanded to remove. Even then, you’ll end up with discoloured balustrades that no longer match your decking. Not ideal, is it?

Thankfully, composite doesn’t suffer from this issue. Thanks to the timber fibres’ recycled plastic coating, composite resists moisture far better than wood. This makes it far easier to clean, and removes the risk of permeant staining. Most stains can be removed with an easy clean, but more stubborn ones can be tackled using composite cleaner and degreaser.

wooden decking balustrade
wooden decking balustrade

Easily Damaged Spindles

The wooden spindles of a timber decking balustrade railing are integral to both their design and structural safety. Unfortunately, that doesn’t change the fact that wooden spindles – just like regular wood- are prone to easy damage. After all, accidents happen. If met with too much force, your spindles can snap and splinter – say, for instance, during a particularly ruthless storm. Even the impact of an unruly pet or child could cause problems. Not exactly what you want when safety is your top priority.

In contrast, the spindles used for our composite balustrades are made from metal, offering significant support and strength when pitted against timber. A balustrade railing can look sparse and barren if spindles have become damaged or are missing. Thankfully, the spindles of our railing can easily be slotted back into place whenever you get the time.

Bleaching

The visual quality of timber is a huge reason people choose to use it for their balustrade projects. Sadly, this visual flair is fleeting. Over time, UV exposure will bleach the wood and leave it unevenly discoloured. Suddenly, your beautiful balustrades look nothing like they did when they were first installed, and there’s little you can do about it.

On the other hand, while composite balustrades aren’t fully impervious to the effects of sunlight, all fading plateaus mere months after installation. So, you can enjoy a consistency that’ll persevere for far longer than timber. We know how important making the perfect colour choice is, and we’ve designed our composite balustrades to support your vision every step of the way.

timber balustrades on stairs

Warranty

There’s no way to predict how long wooden decking balustrades will last. However, judging by the issues we’ve covered, it’s safe to say that they’re unlikely to live up to your expectations. You deserve balustrades that will earn their keep, and NeoTimber’s composite balustrades promise to be just this. In fact, we’re so confident in the strength of our composite balustrade railing, we offer an unbeatable 25-year warranty for residential builds, and a 10-year warranty for commercial applications.

antique composite balustrade

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