LAYING TIPS

Wickes’s online guide to fitting a composite deck includes an easy-to-follow video with information on constructing a timber sub-frame. Find it under ‘how-to guides’ at wickes.co.uk. Here are some of Wickes’s top tips for laying decking...

Composite decking is relatively easy to install if you have planned your layout accurately and have a solid timber frame as a base. The deck boards fit to the frame using specific fasteners and screws.

Make sure that you wear protective clothing, such as gloves, a face mask and safety goggles, when cutting or sawing timber, and applying timber treatments.

Start by planning your deck to scale on paper and be as accurate as possible with measurements and expansion gaps. Try to plan the layout to minimise cutting.

Always use structural, treated timber for the sub-frame and screws specifically designed for the job. Treat all cut surfaces with two coats of preservative to ensure a hard-wearing, long-lasting deck.

When sawing, use the 90-degree guide marker on your saw, or a set square, to make accurate cuts, and sand the cut ends to remove splinters. Mark out pilot holes to ensure your fixings are accurate.