Why NeoTimber® Is The Best Composite Decking For Schools

Since 2008, NeoTimber® have supplied educational institutions, including schools, colleges, nurseries and universities with commercial composite decking. We are experienced at working with the stringent demands of the public sector and at supplying decking products which exceed those requirements.

Due to the high footfall in such establishments, it is critical to specify a low-maintenance decking in a highly robust material to deal with the constant, sustained use that a deck would receive. Therefore, we work closely with project managers, coordinators, architects, designers and budget holders to ensure that we specify the correct product for your needs, delivered on time and within budget.

Due to the material makeup of composite, it is the ideal material to use decking for schools and places of learning. It is designed to be hard-wearing, require minimal maintenance, slip-resistant decking and safe in the long term. It is also designed to be fire rated (for low rise application) and to be a visual improvement through its crisp, aesthetic design.

Safety is key in education. ‘Don’t run!’, is one of the most heard phrases around schools and colleges. A slip resistant composite decking for the education sector is often therefore a must for many specifiers. Composite decking, whilst possessing plastic fibres is designed to be of a textured finish, giving increased grip for footwear, reducing the risk of slippage.

Engineered to be installed with expansion gaps, these also aid with drainage meaning less risk of standing water. Whether your deck is to be an extension of a dining area for warmer months or a concourse between buildings, a slip-resistant surface is by far the safest option.

One of the primary costs attributed to running the business of an educational institution is the ongoing maintenance. Minimising the cost of your maintenance is key to running a tight ship. Composite decking does not require any sealant, stain, varnish or paint and so reduces the amount of physical maintenance required to keep it functioning and safe.

Composite decking is made from a combination of timber fibres and plastic, blended to create a strong, flexible, moisture impervious material. NeoTimber® decking is supplied with a 10-year commercial warranty.

In addition to painting, stripping and varnishing, the other maintenance requirements usually associated with wooden decking are the ongoing repairs to boards which have become warped, split cracked or broken. Broken boards can take time to repair and, in the time taken to (a) discover the damage and (b) repair the damage, an accident could occur.

Composite decking is sufficiently flexible to expand and contract naturally with temperature changes, without being warped. The construction of the composite comes from the way that the wood fibres are fused together with the plastic to form a single solid piece which cannot splinter. This means that accidents are prevented and that the boards remain safe for students.

The added benefit of composite decking is that it is fire-rated for use on low-rise buildings, for ground-floor, balcony decking and on roof terraces. NeoTimber® composite decking should not be specified for high rise buildings. All of our composite materials undergo strict fire rating tests to ensure that they meet industry-wide building regulations and safety standards in this regard.

NeoTimber® decking is also available with specially designed joists and pedestals for easily installing decking on a flat roof, meaning there is no damage to the membrane, ensuring a watertight seal for flat roofs.