Decking Directory

Notes on decking

Shorter pieces that answer one question each, with the sources shown. For the big decisions, start with the guides.

  1. Can you paint composite decking?

    Can you paint composite decking? Not capped boards, which do not hold paint and lose their warranty. Uncapped ones can be, with care. Plus why boards fade.

    Upkeep · 31 October 2026

  2. Decking joist spacing and the subframe explained

    Decking joist spacing for timber and composite boards, what size timber a decking frame uses, UC4 treatment, aluminium frames and what a quote should say.

    Building a deck · 31 October 2026

  3. Decking on a slope or uneven ground

    Decking on a slope or uneven ground: how a deck is levelled on posts or pedestals, laying over soil or concrete, and the 300 mm height that needs planning.

    Building a deck · 31 October 2026

  4. How to clean composite decking

    How to clean composite decking without harming it: soapy water and a soft brush twice a year, when a jet wash is safe, grease, mould and why boards fade.

    Upkeep · 31 October 2026

  5. Is composite decking slippery?

    Is composite decking slippery when wet? How the UK pendulum test works, the rating to ask for, and why algae, not the board, is the usual cause of a fall.

    Materials · 31 October 2026