A beautiful veranda or terrace will look even more harmonious if it is covered with a special board. However, the specifics of the material of manufacture should be taken into account - ordinary wooden floorboards are not suitable for this. Experienced craftsmen will say that you need a special terrace board. Reviews about it can be read on any specialized construction portal.
Purpose
For arranging a summer playground near a house or a pool area, wooden materials are increasingly being used. However, it should be understood that exposure to moisture and sudden changes in temperature adversely affect the condition of the product. You can reduce the influence of these factors in such ways as:
- The use of expensive wood species, the board of which will not change its configuration under the influence of moisture or temperature.
- Application of manufacturing technology from wood-polymer composite (WPC). This is a relatively new production method that results in a high quality composite deck board. Reviews of its performance properties are good, which affects the ever-increasing demand.
It is noteworthy that WPC products outwardly completely imitate the structure of wood. The scope of application depends entirely on the place of installation. On terraces with a protective roof, floorboards made of various types of wood can be installed. But it is recommended to use WPC boards near pools or decorative dams.
Parameters and specifications
What to look for when choosing a particular model? First of all, the technical properties of the material. Composite deck board has good operational qualities. Reviews speak of resistance to mechanical stress, preservation of the original color and ease of installation.
The main characteristics of a decking board can be divided into 2 categories: technical and aesthetic.
Technical:
- Dimensions. The cutting of the material, the amount of substandard residue depends on this.
- Product thickness. Characterizes the maximum load that the board can withstand.
- Moisture resistance and temperature control.
Aesthetic:
- Color. Selected according to the developed design.
- Texture. Even if a WPC board is used, they try to find models with imitation wood flooring.
But the main parameter is the raw material of manufacture. It directly affects all of the above characteristics.
Materials of production
Until recently, only wooden products were used. But the appearancenew technology for the use of WPC has made significant adjustments to the product range. Due to the affordable cost and a large number of models, plastic decking is increasingly being installed. Reviews about her are mostly positive.
Wooden deck board is made of precious woods that are resistant to atmospheric precipitation. This affects the cost of the product - not everyone can afford expensive models. However, they also have undoubted advantages. First of all, it is a natural material that does not emit harmful components during operation. It can also be surface treated for repair and restoration work.
Wooden board
Most often, larch decking is made, reviews of which can be found on specialized building portals. A complex technological scheme is used to manufacture products.
At the first stage, blanks are rejected. After cutting, the condition of the surface is checked, the absence of knots and cracks in its structure. Then the material is sent to dry in special chambers. Since the % moisture content of wood can be up to 60%, it is necessary to reduce this figure to 15%. Otherwise, the finished product may be deformed due to uneven swelling of the fibers.
Then the blanks are processed by milling machines and oil is applied to their surface toterrace board. Reviews of such products indicate the feasibility of using treatment with protective compounds. This limits the access of moisture to the structure of the material, which affects its service life.
WPC board
The modern method of producing boards from WPC is the complex application of manufacturing technology for polymer products. PVC is used as the main material. Wood shavings are added to its composition, and then granules are formed by heat treatment.
They are subsequently used in extrusion technology. Granules are poured into the filling hopper, and as they move along the line, they are heated. After the formation of the plastic mass, it enters the extruder under high pressure. Passing through the form (die), the final product is formed - a terrace board. Reviews about it are positive, since with a professional approach to the production process, the occurrence of marriage is almost completely excluded.
To create a texture that imitates wood, a film is applied to the front side of the product immediately after passing through the die. Then, by diffusion, it forms a single structure together with the base.
Installation
Installation technology depends on the type of source material. If it is necessary to install paths near the pool, a WPC decking board is selected. Reviews of such designs depend on compliance with the technology.
First you need to dosteel frame, on which the products will subsequently be installed. Its surface is treated with protective materials that will prevent rust. It is best to use stainless steel square pipes. The connection of individual floorboards is carried out using grooves located at the end of the product. During installation, the absence of gaps between them and compliance with the level are checked.
Care
Another advantage of WPC flooring is its durability and minimal maintenance. The situation is quite different for the wood material from which the terrace board is made. Reviews indicate the need for periodic surface grinding. Over time, the material may change color or defects may occur. To eliminate these shortcomings, special grinding machines are used. After removing the top layer, the surface of the boards is treated with oil.
The frequency of these works depends on external factors - the amount of precipitation, the time of direct exposure to sunlight, the degree of temperature difference. For high-quality floorboards, restoration work is carried out once every 5-6 years.
Selection Tips
How to choose the right coverage model? To do this, it is recommended to use simple tips:
- Invite a specialist. He will immediately determine how good this particular decking board is, reviews of which may be ambiguous.
- Calculation of the optimal number of products. To do this, a terrace plan is drawn up, and according to its dimensions, boards with optimal dimensions are selected.
- Cost. Cheap products often have low mechanical strength and a short service life. Therefore, it is recommended to choose models of the average price category.
It is important that the installation is carried out by a specialist. There are many nuances of installing terrace boards, ignorance of which can affect not only the appearance, but also the service life.
