Here’s some handy tips to installing low cost composite decking to renovate your garden, and to keep you DIY project on budget.
We all like to cut down expenses where we can, and building low cost composite decking into your outdoor space is a fantastic way to make the most out of a limited budget. Without proper planning and prior research, the costs of your garden project installations can slowly start to add up. From choosing the products you use, the layout of your build, selecting the material of your subframe to even constructing your project yourself, there are plenty of tips and techniques to ensure your composite decking project remains low cost. In this article, we will explore each of these in detail, to help you stretch your spending. Let’s take a look…
Choose The Right Decking Product
At NeoTimber®, we have a range of different decking boards that are designed to be suitable for different projects. For example, our hollow deck boards, including our Essential and Advanced decking, are cheaper than our solid alternatives, but are still as long lasting, offering the same 25-year residential warranty. Additionally, even our hollower decking boards are far stronger than when compared to alternative suppliers, especially if you choose our Advanced option, which has a capped surface.
The hollow boards are best suited for decking projects that are not as load bearing, so you would still be best to use our more solid options, such as our Classic and Deluxe ranges, if say you are installing a hot tub on any other particularly heavy appliance on top of the surface of your decking. Be smart with your purchasing; if your decking project has a much lower footfall, then it will be far more cost effective to choose our hollow boards.
Consider Your Decking Design
There are smart, savvy design ideas that can result in less wastage, making sure you are getting more for your decking investment. All of our composite decking boards are 3.6m in length, so you could plan your decking area accordingly to avoid cutting down the material. However, if you cannot avoid cutting the boards, you can still use the off cuts to good effect to border the edge of your decking.
Whilst there are many alternative laying patterns for your decking projects, including diagonal runs, more straightforward, linear installation will mean you have result in less cutting down of your boards, meaning less wastage as a result.
Use A Timber Subframe
Even though our NeoTimber® decking system is ideally built on top of composite joists to ensure its maximum longevity, you can still fix our deck boards on top of a pressure-treated timber subframe instead as a way to save costs.
Unlike with the composite joists, you will have to treat your timber with preservatives or cover it in joist tape to prevent rot or damage from weathering. Once your timber is properly treated, using wood can be enough to construct a long-lasting and effective decking subframe.
Pick Up The Tools & DIY!
At NeoTimber®, we have an approved installer programme designed to make the building of your project easier with landscaping companies that we trust. However, should you choose to, all of our decking boards can be fitted by yourself as a DIY project, with our easy to follow, step-by-step installation guide.
If you are unsure where to start with a DIY build, on top of our installation guide, we have a series of how-to information videos and helpful advice sections on our website to help you. We have even included video content relating to specific building obstacles, to give you a clear visual frame of reference.
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.