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How do composite decking boards compare?
The boards below are the UK composite boards we have verified from manufacturer or seller pages, sorted by brand. A blank, shown as “not published”, means the page we read didn’t give the figure, and we don’t fill it in.
| Board | Size | Length | Joist centres |
|---|---|---|---|
| Cladco ProDeck | 143 by 23 mm | 4 m | not published |
| Cladco Signature | 150 by 25 mm | 4 m | 400 mm |
| Cladco Signature Solid | 150 by 25 mm | 4 m | not published |
| Envirobuild Explorer | 145 by 21 mm | 4 m | not published |
| Envirobuild Frontier | 142 by 22 mm | 4 m | not published |
| Eva-Last Apex | 140 by 24 mm | 4.8 m | 300 mm |
| Eva-Last Infinity I-Series | 134.1 by 24.9 mm | 4.8 m | 400 mm |
| Millboard Enhanced Grain | 176 by 32 mm | 3.6 m | 400 mm |
| Millboard Lasta-Grip | 200 by 32 mm | 3.6 m | 400 mm |
| Millboard Weathered Oak | 200 by 32 mm | 3.6 m | 400 mm |
| Trex Enhance | 140 by 24 mm | 3.65 m or 4.87 m | not published |
| Trex Transcend | 140 by 24 mm | 3.65 m or 4.87 m | not published |
| Trex Transcend Lineage | 140 by 24 mm | 3.65 m or 4.87 m | not published |
Joist centres here are the maximums the maker’s installation guide or product page states, and they mean different things for different boards. Millboard’s 400 mm is a residential figure; Eva-Last’s Apex is 300 mm. Read the guide for the exact board.
Which boards come in which length?
| Length | Boards we have checked |
|---|---|
| 3.6 m | Millboard Lasta-Grip, Millboard Enhanced Grain, Millboard Weathered Oak |
| 3.65 m | Trex Transcend, Trex Transcend Lineage, Trex Enhance |
| 4 m | Envirobuild Explorer, Cladco Signature Solid, Cladco ProDeck, Cladco Signature, Envirobuild Frontier |
| 4.8 m | Eva-Last Apex, Eva-Last Infinity I-Series |
| 4.87 m | Trex Transcend, Trex Transcend Lineage, Trex Enhance |
Our board sizes guide turns those lengths into waste figures for your deck.
What is the difference between hollow and solid composite boards?
Hollow boards are lighter and cheaper, solid boards denser. EnviroBuild puts a 150 mm hollow board at roughly 2.5 to 3.5 kg per metre and a solid one at 4.5 to 6 kg. Cladco describes hollow boards as the choice for domestic gardens and solid ones as denser and tougher for high traffic. Hollow boards have exposed edges, and Cladco recommends its end caps; solid boards need none. Ecoscape says both can support heavy loads but solid is sturdier, and suggests closer joist centres for hot tubs or heavy furniture.
What does capped or uncapped mean?
Capped boards have a protective shell, and uncapped ones expose the composite core. EnviroBuild says uncapped boards cost less, suit covered or sheltered spots, absorb more moisture and need more upkeep outdoors. Its Frontier is capped, and its warranty covers fade (up to 5 Delta E of colour change) and food, drink and mould stains cleaned within a week. The uncapped Explorer has no fade or stain cover.
Grooved or square edge?
It changes how the board is fixed. Eva-Last says grooved boards take clips that create a standard 5 mm gap, while square-edge boards need spacers for a consistent gap. Guardian’s boards are double-sided with two finishes you can mix, match or reverse. Eurocell warns that step edging only matches the grooved side of its deck board.
What warranties do they carry?
| Board | Warranty stated |
|---|---|
| Cladco ProDeck | 10 years. Warranty table: 10+5 years residential, 5+5 years commercial; extra 5 years only if installed on a Cladco-supplied recycled plastic joist/subframe. Page badge/description also says 15-year - |
| Cladco Signature | 10 years. 10 years residential, 0 years commercial; requires T-clips, 6mm locking clips and installation on Cladco recycled plastic subframe. |
| Cladco Signature Solid | 10 years. 10 years residential, 0 years commercial; covers breakage, fungal decay, insect damage, rotting, splintering; requires installation on Cladco recycled plastic subframe. |
| Envirobuild Explorer | 15 years. 15 years residential, 10 years commercial (spec table on page). |
| Envirobuild Frontier | 25 years. 25 years residential, 15 years commercial; described as ‘25 year Fade & Stain warranty’. Full terms in separate PDF (not read). |
| Eva-Last Apex | 30 years. 30 years stated on product page; no conditions shown on page (see Warranty Claims page). |
| Eva-Last Infinity I-Series | 25 years. 25 years stated on product page; no conditions on page. |
| Millboard Enhanced Grain | 25 years. 25 years residential, 10 years commercial (per product page) |
| Millboard Lasta-Grip | 25 years. 25 years residential, 10 years commercial (product page). |
| Millboard Weathered Oak | 25 years. 25 years residential, 10 years commercial (per product page) |
| Trex Enhance | 25 years. Page names ‘25-Year Limited Residential Fade & Stain Warranty’; full terms not on page. |
| Trex Transcend | not published as one figure. uk.trex.com says 50 years for Transcend lines; UK retailer listings say 25 years residential. Confirm with Trex before relying on either. |
| Trex Transcend Lineage | not published as one figure. uk.trex.com says 50 years for Transcend lines; UK retailer listings say 25 years residential. Confirm with Trex before relying on either. |
Warranty figures conflict between pages for several lines, and where they do we publish no number. Read the exclusions: fading and staining are often limited.
How do I choose?
Start with the joist spacing and the frame, since a board that needs 300 mm joists costs more to frame than one that takes 400. Then compare price per m² on the prices page, and read how each maker says to clean it. For a ranking method, see best composite decking, or go straight to the composite decking calculator.
Questions
What are composite deck boards?
Planks of plastic mixed with wood fibre or minerals, made to replace timber boards on a deck frame. They come hollow or solid, capped or uncapped, and with grooved or square edges.
What are composite decking panels?
Usually a shop's name for boards or tiles sold in a pack. If you want something that clips together without a frame, look at decking tiles. If you want planks on joists, you want boards.
Which composite decking boards are best?
There is no single best board. Compare construction (capped or uncapped, hollow or solid), joist centres, warranty terms and price per m². Our best brands page sets out the criteria.
Sources
- Composite Decking Board Guide - EnviroBuild
- Hollow vs Solid Composite Decking - Cladco
- Hollow Vs Solid Composite Decking - Ecoscape
- Eva-Last UK FAQ
- Eurocell Decking and Balustrade Installation Guide (Issue 1)
- Guardian Composite Decking Installation Guide (Sept 2022), hosted by Roofgiant
- Composite Decking Warranty (EnviroBuild)
- Eva-Last UK Warranty and Claims
- NeoTimber warranty and care
- Composite Decking (Cladco category page)
- Eva-Last Apex (manufacturer)
- Eva-Last Infinity I-Series (manufacturer)
- Trex Transcend (manufacturer)
- Trex Transcend Lineage (manufacturer)
- Trex Enhance (manufacturer)
- Envirobuild Explorer (manufacturer)
- Cladco Signature Solid (manufacturer)
- Millboard Lasta-Grip (manufacturer)
- Millboard Enhanced Grain (manufacturer)
- Millboard Weathered Oak (manufacturer)
- Cladco ProDeck (manufacturer)
- Cladco Signature (manufacturer)
- Envirobuild Frontier (manufacturer)