4 Tips to create the perfect outdoor space

1. How do I determine the best decking colour for my space?

The right decking colour can enhance your scenery, complement your home or make your deck stand out – or all three at once!

• To make your outdoor space cohesive with the rest of your home, use similar colours inside and out. Choose a tone that is complementary to your indoor flooring for a seamless transition.
• For a natural look, incorporate colours that complement the trees, plants and rocks already in your garden. Shades of brown or grey will make your deck blend in with its surroundings.
• If you want to go bold, choose a deck colour that contrasts with your home’s siding and stands out from the background, such as a spicy red. Or consider a complementary decking colour offset by contrast railing for eye-catching appeal.

With high-definition timber grain patterns and rich saturated colours inspired by the outdoors, today’s composites look more natural than ever before. To determine the best colour decking for your space come in store to get your samples today.

2. Is Trex™ composite decking really more eco-friendly than timber decking?

Timber might be a natural material, but the chemical coatings used to protect pressure-treated timber from rot and mould are not. Trex ™composite decking, on the other hand, uses few chemicals in its manufacturing process and does not require any harmful substances to maintain. Building with timber also contributes directly to deforestation, wiping out trees that local wildlife depend on for food and shelter. Alternately, composite decking provides the look and feel of real timber, without the environmental impact.  The entire Trex™ decking portfolio is manufactured using more than 95% recycled content, including reclaimed industrial timber scraps and recycled plastic from common items such as shopping bags, newspaper sleeves and shrink wrap. Each year, the company diverts more than 380 million kg’s of waste out of landfills and has never cut down a tree in the making of its products.

3. Would a Timber-alternative deck be more cost efficient?

Once you factor in material consistency, durability and the minimal maintenance, composite decking has never been more appealing.  The cost – and time – required to maintain a traditional timber deck can far exceed the upfront investment of a composite deck that will last decades and is backed by a 50-year fade and stain warranty. When you consider the cumulative costs of annual power-washing, sanding, staining and painting a timber deck – not to mention the value of all the time you get to spend enjoying your deck rather than working on it – composites outperform timber by saving you time and money in the long-term.

4. Can I build a deck and then add railing later?

Builders and designers recommend you consider railing from the outset. As one of the most visible parts of the deck, railing can provide design inspiration. And, for raised decks, it’s a requirement. Typically, if your deck is more than 1m from the ground, building codes will require railing. If the deck is closer to the ground, railing is not typically necessary but can add an appealing frame to your space. Be sure to check local codes to determine if railing is required.