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What is composite decking?
Composite decking is board made from plastic mixed with wood fibre or minerals, shaped into planks that look like timber and are fixed to a frame. Search results use several names for it: composite wood decking, composite timber decking, WPC decking, plastic decking, and artificial lumber, which is the American term. They overlap, but they aren’t identical. Plastic decking boards usually means all-plastic PVC with no wood fibre, while WPC contains wood fibre.
Most Australian ranges are co-extruded, which means a protective shell wraps the core. ModWood, Ekodeck, Futurewood, NewTechWood, Millboard and others all sell boards in the 5.4 m lengths Australian merchants favour, though NewTechWood’s Avenue is 4.88 m and Millboard’s are 3.6 m.
Does composite decking suit Australian conditions?
Mostly yes, with three things to check: heat, bushfire rating and the frame.
- Salt and termites: ModWood says its boards are unaffected by salt air, and its warranty covers termite structural damage. Futurewood says CleverDeck Xtreme is highly suitable for coastal areas and pool surrounds, and covers rot and termite damage in its warranty.
- Heat: dark boards get hot. The heat guide lays out what each maker says.
- Bushfire: only some ranges are rated, and the frame counts too. The table below lists what the makers publish.
| Board | Bushfire rating the maker states |
|---|---|
| ModWood Flame Shield | BAL-40, certified to AS 1530.8.1-2007. ModWood says only Flame Shield, not its other boards, may be used in BAL-rated zones |
| Ekodeck Flame Fighter | BAL-29 under AS 1530.8.1:2018 and AS 1530.4:2014, with CodeMark certificate CM40388. A banner on Ekodeck’s site also says Designer and Summit Series are BAL-29 |
| Futurewood CleverDeck Co-Ex | BAL-29, tested to AS 3959-2009. CleverDeck Original is rated for BAL-low and in some cases BAL-12.5 or 19 |
| NewTechWood Coastal | BAL-29 on its technical sheet. We haven’t checked the other ranges |
| Millboard | we found no BAL document |
ModWood adds that the sub-frame joists and bearers must be non-combustible or one of the bushfire-resisting timbers listed in AS 3959, and that boards must not overhang the joist. Confirm the current certificate for your exact board with the maker or your certifier before you rely on a rating.
What joist spacing does composite decking need?
Every maker sets its own, and the numbers aren’t interchangeable.
| Board | Maximum joist centres (residential) | Other |
|---|---|---|
| ModWood (88 and 137 mm boards) | 450 mm | 400 mm for commercial |
| Ekodeck Classic and Flame Fighter | 450 mm | 400 mm for commercial, stairs and landings |
| Futurewood CleverDeck | 450 mm at 90 degrees | 400 at 60, 350 at 45, 250 at 30 degrees |
| NewTechWood Avenue and Terrace | 450 mm | Coastal 400 mm |
| Millboard (UK-edition guide) | 400 mm | 300 mm commercial, 300 mm at 45 degrees |
Futurewood says closer spacing is stronger, and that 400 mm beats 450 mm. The ModWood figures come from older fixing sheets because the current PDFs weren’t available to read, so check the version on the maker’s site.
How much does composite decking cost in Australia?
We haven’t found a dated AUD price for any board. ModWood, Ekodeck, Futurewood and NewTechWood sell through stockists or quotes, and Bunnings prices weren’t readable. Ekodeck’s own comparison tool asks you to type in your own per-metre prices including GST. The same goes for our cost calculator: you enter your quotes, and it reports a partial total if anything is missing. The cost page explains what makes up the bill.
What warranty do the makers give?
| Maker | Residential | Commercial | Worth noting |
|---|---|---|---|
| ModWood Xtreme Guard | 25 years, pro-rata from year 11 | 10 years | covers rot, warping, cracking and termite damage |
| Futurewood CleverDeck | 10 years | 7 years | when installed and cared for to its guidelines |
| Ekodeck Classic | up to 15 years | up to 15 years | mould or mildew defects limited to 2 years |
| NewTechWood | 25 years | 10 years | plus a 25 year stain warranty; high-pressure cleaning is not covered |
| ClickDeck frame | up to 50 years | n/a | the aluminium frame only, not boards or pedestals |
Read the exclusions. Most tie cover to installing and cleaning the board exactly as the maker says.
How do you install and clean it?
Follow the installation guide for gaps, temperatures and fixings, and the cleaning guide for what each maker allows. If you’re building the whole deck, start with how to build a deck.
Is composite or timber the better choice?
It comes down to upkeep and price. See merbau against composite for durability, tannin, heat and fixings side by side.
Questions
What is composite wood decking?
It is decking board made by mixing plastic with wood fibre and pressing it into planks. The wood version is often called wood plastic composite, or WPC decking. Some boards use mineral filler instead and contain no wood.
What is composite decking material?
A blend of plastic and a filler, usually wood fibre or minerals, shaped into boards. Most current boards add a protective outer layer over the core, and a few are made entirely of plastic. Check the maker's description for what is actually in the board you are buying.
Is artificial lumber the same as composite decking?
Mostly. Artificial lumber is an American name for plastic and composite boards that stand in for timber. In Australia, shops sell the same thing as composite decking, WPC decking or plastic decking, so use those terms when you search.
Is composite timber decking real timber?
Not in the way a merbau or pine board is. Wood-based composites contain wood fibre bound in plastic, so they look like timber but behave differently: they follow the maker's joist spacing and gap rules rather than the timber tables in AS 1684.
How do I build a deck from scratch?
Check approvals first, then footings, bearers, joists and boards, in that order. Our deck-building guide covers each step and the rules for attaching a deck to a house.
Sources
- ModWood FAQs | Composite Decking Questions & Answers
- Futurewood FAQs
- Classic Composite Decking FAQs | Ekodeck
- Fixing Instructions for ModWood Flame Shield (August 2016)
- Ekodeck Flame Fighter Decking | Tech Specs | Composite Decking
- BAL 29 Decking (Bush Fire Attack Level) - Futurewood
- Coastal Decking Technical Sheet v202510
- Millboard Decking Installation and user guide (EN-UK edition, Dahlsens-hosted)
- CleverDeck Xtreme Fixing Guidelines
- NewTechWood Terrace Decking Installation Guide
- Fixing Instructions for ModWood (June 2010), Bunnings-hosted PDF
- Ekodeck Classic Decking | Tech Specs | Composite Decking
- Fixing Guidelines - Futurewood
- Avenue Decking Installation Guide v6 2026/AUS
- ModWood Product Warranty | Natural Grain & Xtreme Guard
- Futurewood 10 Year Domestic & 7 Year Commercial - Product Warranty
- Ekodeck Classic Decking | Warranty Information | Composite Decking
- 25-Year Limited Residential Warranty | NewTechWood
- Clickdeck 50-Year Structural Frame Warranty - Residential
- Ekodeck Decking Cost Comparison