Essential Composite Decking Board
Essential Composite Decking Board
SKU: NT-DK-ESS-HOL-GREYNot sure which colour? Order free samples · Questions? Speak to an expert
Product benefits
Why choose Grainex® composite
Up to 25-Year Warranty
The most comprehensive warranty available on UK composite products. Residential and commercial cover included.
Zero Maintenance
Never sand, paint, stain or treat. A simple wash with soapy water is all that's ever needed.
Anti-Slip Both Sides
Embossed grip texture on both board faces provides safe footing in wet conditions year-round.
Fade & Stain Resistant
UV-stabilised composite won't fade, splinter or rot. Resists mould, algae, oil and wine stains.
Weatherproof
Handles British frost, rain and UV without warping, cracking or delaminating.
Eco-Responsible
Made from recycled wood fibres and reclaimed plastics. FSC-certified. A sustainable timber alternative.
About this product
The Essential range is our most popular composite decking board. A lightweight hollow composite deck board, the Essential range is perfect for residential garden decking projects where a combination of affordability, durability and beautiful aesthetics are key. The Essential board features a capped top surface that provides enhanced resistance to fading, staining and weathering, making it our most popular choice for UK homeowners.
Why choose Essential composite decking?
- Embossed Woodgrain Finish. A deep, textured woodgrain is a sight rarely seen on hollow deck boards. With many manufacturers tending to simply print a wood-effect on the surface. The Essential range stands head and shoulders above the rest with an etched, deep finish.
- Reversible Finish. Some people prefer a woodgrain finish - some prefer grooves. Our Essential range of composite deck boards has both on a single plank. One side is a authentic woodgrain finish for a natural look, while the reverse is a grooved pattern for a more contemporary feel.
- Hollow Tube Design. The Essential range comes equipped with a hollow ‘tube’ design, which promises a lightweight composition without a compromise. What’s more, we remove a fraction of the material within the core in order to better match the strength of the board’s solid alternative.
Technical Specifications
Board dimensions: 145mm (W) x 24mm (D) x 3600mm (L)
Weight per board: 11.52kg
| Characteristic | Result |
|---|---|
| Density | 1.35g/cm3 |
| Flexural Strength | 29.1 Mpa |
| Flexural Stiffness | 3543 Mpa |
| Maximum Load | 5194 N |
| Impact Resistance | 56 J/m |
| Durometer Hardness | 69.4 Shore D |
| Tensile Strength | 24.5 Mpa |
| Water Absorption | 0.65% |
| Linear Thermal Expansion | 43.2x10-6 K-1 |
| Reaction to Fire | Cfl -s1 |
| Slip Resistance | 0.38 - 0.89 (See Below) |
Installation & Care
Before you start: store boards flat and allow them to acclimatise on site before fitting. Leave appropriate expansion gaps at board ends and edges, as composite expands and contracts with temperature.
Fitting: install onto a suitable, well-ventilated subframe (composite, plastic or treated timber joists) with joist centres no greater than recommended for the range. Secure with the matching NeoTimber clips and screws, fitting along the length of the boards.
Routine care: clean every 3–6 months using warm soapy water and a soft-bristled brush, working along the length of the boards. A jet wash up to 3100 PSI may be used with a fan attachment kept at least 250mm from the surface.
Exclusively handpicked excellence, manufactured and distributed by NeoTimber®
Technical Specifications
| Product name | Essential Composite Decking Board |
| SKU | NT-DK-ESS-HOL-GREY |
| Material | Co-extruded composite (WPC) — recycled wood fibre & HDPE |
| Board length | 3.6m |
| Board width | 145mm |
| Board thickness | 24mm |
| Weight per board | 11.52kg per board |
| Coverage per board | approx. 0.522m² |
| Core construction | Hollow tube |
| Surface finish | Reversible: embossed woodgrain / grooved |
| Minimum joist spacing | 300mm centres (perpendicular) |
| Fire classification | Cfl-s1 |
| Residential warranty | 25 years residential / 10 years commercial |
| Commercial warranty | 10 years |
Compare the Full Range
Find the right grade for your project and budget.
| Feature | Lite | Essential | Classic | Advanced | Deluxe |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Price (from) | £19/board | £23/board | £28/board | £32/board | £38/board |
| Core | Single wall | Single wall | Hollow twin | Solid | Solid + cap |
| Co-extrusion | ✕ | ✕ | ✓ | ✓ | Premium |
| Colours available | 4 | 4 | 4 | 8 | 8 |
| Fade resistance | Good | Good | Very Good | Excellent | Superior |
| Residential warranty | 10 years | 15 years | 20 years | 25 years | 25 years |
| Best for | Budget builds | Standard decks | Mid-range | Quality finish | Premium projects |
Installation Guide
A professional-finish composite deck can be installed by a competent DIYer over a weekend.
Plan and measure your area
Mark out your deck area and calculate the total square meterage. Add 10–15% for cuts and wastage.
Prepare the sub-frame
Install pressure-treated C24 timber or aluminium joists on a firm, level base. Joist spacing must not exceed 400mm centre-to-centre for perpendicular boards, 300mm for diagonal laying.
Lay the first board
Start at the most visible edge or against the house wall. Allow a 5mm gap from any fixed structure. Use the supplied starter clips — slot into the board's groove and screw into each joist.
Continue laying boards
Press each board firmly into the previous clips, then add middle clips to the exposed groove. Check alignment every 3–4 boards. Stagger butt joints by at least 600mm across rows.
Cut and finish edges
Use a fine-tooth circular saw with the cut side face-up. Seal cut ends if the deck will be exposed to standing water at that edge.
Add trims and fascia
Finish exposed edges with matching fascia, corner trims, and skirting. Fit edge boards using stainless screws colour-matched to your boards.
Frequently asked questions
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