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Help & Advice
Our Help & Advice section is home to lots of handy tips and tricks you can use to keep your decking in top condition, especially in the colder winter months. Plus, you’ll find all sorts of suggestions on how to make the most out of it year round!
A few installation rules for our composite decking that need to be followed are:
- All composite decking expands with heat and contracts when cooling due to its HDPE content, please allow the appropriate gap between lengths when laid end to end, hollow boards require a minimum of 1mm per metre of length of board gap at each end when the boards are cold, when warmed up this gap will reduce to the required mimimum 1mm overall when the boards are at their hottest. Gaps should also be left around any poles, posts and next to buildings 5-10mm is considered standard.
- A screw can be drilled and screwed at a 45 degree angle at the centre of boards to prevent walking (expansion and contraction will always be in the same direction this way).
- For domestic use our solid style boards can be used with 450mm centres max for joists, our hollow style boards can be used with 350mm centres, diagonally layed boards should reduce joist centres by 50mm.
Co-Extruded Decking Boards Care & Maintenance
- Clean your deck regularly to prevent dirt and grime build up.
- For standard dirt and grime mild dish detergent and water is all that is required to keep Ezy Decking capped boards looking like new. Use a soft bristled nylon scrubbing brush or mop to apply.
- Pressure cleaners can be used but with caution. Use pressure less than 2000psi no closer than 300mm from the decking boards, clean in the direction of the wood grain.
- For grease or oil spills, clean up immediately. Specific capped decking cleaners can be used (always test on an inconspicuous area first).
- Ensure minimum 100mm ventilation under deck and required spacing between decking boards. Eliminate standing water through good drainage.
- Keep decking board gaps free of debris so rain can remove pollen and organic debris between cleaning.
- Items stored directly on top of the deck surface, such as flowerpots, prohibit water evaporation and can cause some staining of the deck surface. Pot feet or stands can prevent this.
- Although Ezy Decking boards have a tough polymer coating, sharp objects dragged across the boards can cause scratches. These can be well hidden by pushing the scratch edges back together. For excessive damage we have matching colour repair kits available.
- Patio furniture has the potential to damage your boards if dragged across your decking boards, to prevent this happening we recommend using felt pads or similar protection under furniture items.
- Use of wrought iron railing or other steel materials in contact with or above a composite deck surface may cause dark staining.
- Construction dust such as plaster and concrete can leave difficult to remove residue/hazing. It is recommended to cover your deck during construction works. Hazing can be removed through repeated mopping.
- Low E glass is highly reflective, this reflection can cause excessive heat build-up and potential damage to close-by decking boards. Ezy Decking boards should not be installed in the vicinity of low E glass.
- Excessive radiated heat or flame from heaters or BBQ’s can cause damage to composite decking boards, please use caution when locating such items. BBQ mats are recommended.
- Although Ezy Decking boards are highly resistant to pool chemicals, it is recommended to hose down your deck if excessive pool water is splashed on it.
Please enjoy your low maintenance Ezy Decking boards!!!
How to Safely Cut Hybrid Flooring
- Wear appropriate protective gear!!!
- Before you begin cutting, make sure you are wearing safety goggles, earplugs or earmuffs, and an Australian standard dust mask. This will protect you from any debris or dust that may be generated during the cutting process.
- AS/NZS 1337: Eye and face protection: This standard specifies requirements for eye and face protection, including goggles, face shields, and visors.
- AS/NZS 1716: Respiratory protective devices: This standard specifies requirements for respiratory protective devices, including filters and respirators.
- Use the right tools: SPC can be cut using a variety of tools, the best tool to use is a hybrid flooring guillotine. Here at Ezy Decking we have a service that offers access to these cutters at minimal or even no cost to you the customer. Other tools that can be used with more caution and correct PPE include: a circular saw, jigsaw, or handsaw. Choose a saw that is appropriate for the thickness of the SPC and that has a sharp blade. PPE (personal protective equipment) that meets current government regulations must be worn when cutting spc flooring
- Measure and mark the SPC: Use a measuring tape to measure the length of the cut you need to make on the SPC. Then, use a straight edge or a square to draw a straight line where you want to cut.
- Secure the SPC: To prevent the SPC from moving during cutting, use clamps or a vise to secure it to a workbench or sawhorse.
- Cut slowly and carefully: When you are ready to make the cut, start the saw and slowly guide it along the marked line. Do not rush or force the saw through the SPC, as this can cause the material to splinter or crack.
- Dispose of the waste properly: Once you have finished cutting the SPC, make sure to dispose of any waste material in a responsible manner.
- It is important to note that SPC can be a very hard and dense material, so cutting it can be more challenging than cutting other types of flooring. If you are unsure about how to safely cut SPC, consider consulting with a professional flooring installer or contractor.