Futurewood Decking Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ's)
What is Futurewood Decking decking made of?
Futurewood Decking is made from a combination of cellulose material (rice hulls) and recycled high-density polyethylene (old milk bottles) making it a virtually 100% recycled material. The main ingredients are combined with colour pigments, UV inhibitors, anti-mould agents and fillers to deliver a very low maintenance alternative to the rainforest timbers, typically used for outdoor decking in Australia.
What is the Futurewood Decking warranty?
Futurewood Decking comes with a 15-year warranty against rotting or attack from termites or white ants. View the full Futurewood Warranty.
What lengths is Futurewood Decking sold in?
Futurewood Decking comes in standard 5.4 metre lengths. We can also order in cut to size lengths to minimise wastage under certain circumstances.
Can Futurewood Decking be painted or stained?
Yes, Futurewood Decking can be painted or stained with the appropriate materials however the product has been designed to offer a low maintenance solution with long-lasting colour pigments and UV protection. The colour will initially weather slightly over the first 8-12 weeks of installation while the colour "beds in" and enhances the overall look of your deck. If you decide to change the colour of your decking you must check with your paint supplier to ensure that the material chosen is compatible with the decking. You may be required to apply a primer or prep coat prior to painting or staining your deck in order to achieve a reasonable level of adherence. Your warranty may be affected if an incompatible paint/lacquer/stain is applied to Futurewood Decking.
What colours is Futurewood Decking available in?
The standard colours are Walnut, Slate Grey & Salt Bush. We recommend that wherever possible you purchase all of the boards required for your project from one batch in order to avoid any possible colour variation that may occur between different manufacturing runs.
How strong is Futurewood Decking?
Futurewood Decking is produced using a proprietary blend of plastic and cellulose fibre materials. The formulation has been designed and tested to meet the demands of a residential deck when installed in accordance with the fixing recommendations. For further information regarding design and performance characteristics refer to our technical specifications.
How hot will the surface of Futurewood Decking become when exposed to continual direct sunlight and how does this compare with timber?
Futurewood Decking will heat up at a similar rate to timber when exposed to direct sunlight. Darker colours will retain more surface heat.
Does Futurewood Decking burn?
Futurewood Decking is difficult to ignite and has a very slow burn rate. The product can be specially made with fire retardant chemicals added to the formulation in order to improve its fire rating.
Is Futurewood Decking stain and chemical resistant?
Futurewood Decking is produced with a non-chemical reactive polymer base and has an extremely high level of moisture resistance. However, any chemical/liquid spills should be washed off immediately to avoid the potential of any staining of the cellulose material that will occur over time if the spill is allowed to remain on the decking surface. Fat, wine and other food stuffs may stain the deck if left to soak in overtime. We recommend cleaning with a strong detergent or Handy Andy or a mild bleach solution. Care should be taken to ensure that bleaching of the colour pigment in Futurewood Decking does not occur (refer to Care & Maintenance for more information).
Will the colour in Futurewood Decking fade over time?
Futurewood Decking is made with Ultra-Violet inhibitors that help protect the colour pigments used in the product from fading from continual exposure to UV radiation. Some slight colour lightening will occur over the first 8-12 weeks that your deck is exposed to the elements. This is a natural bedding in process caused through the lightening of the cellulose fibre in the formulation. Once the initial colour weathering has taken place the lightened shade will be maintained over many years.
Does Futurewood Decking last longer than a timber deck?
Futurewood Decking comes with a 15-year warranty against rotting and termite damage. The special polymers used in the formulation of Futurewood Decking will ensure that you enjoy years of low maintenance use, unlike some timbers that will rot and deteriorate after only a few years if not properly maintained.
Does Futurewood Decking cost more than a timber deck?
Futurewood Decking is supplied in a fully finished condition, unlike hardwood decking timbers. When you consider the cost of cleaning and staining your timber deck and the ongoing maintenance associated with annual staining etc, Futurewood Decking should save you a considerable amount of time and money over the many years of its useful life compared with high maintenance timber.
How do I work with and fix Futurewood Decking?
Futurewood Decking can be worked with normal wood working tools. It can fixed using NewTech Deck Clips providing a very appealing concealed fix finish or it can be screwed to joists by drilling directly through the face of the board, refer to fixing instructions for more information.
What joist spacing is required to fix Futurewood Decking?
Futurewood Decking will span a maximum of 450mm between joist spacings in domestic installations when installed at 90 degrees to the joist. Generally speaking the closer the joist spacing the better the deck will perform. Therefore better performance will be achieved if you reduce your joist spacing to 400mm and even better performance will be achieved with joist spacings of 300mm. For further information and angled installations refer to the detailed chart shown under fixing instructions.
Can Futurewood Decking be used as a structural component in a deck?
No, Futurewood Decking is designed for use as decking and is a “non-structural” material.
Is Futurewood Decking slippery when wet?
No, Futurewood Decking is machined to give it a non-slip embossed finish after it is extruded so that it provides an excellent slip-resistant surface in either wet or dry conditions.
Does Futurewood Decking expand and contract as it heats and cools?
Yes, Futurewood Decking like most materials will expand as it heats and contract as it cools. Boards generally expand in length with very little change to their width. Boards will increase or decrease in length up to 1mm per metre over a 20 degree Celsius temperature change. Your decking design should allow for this and we recommend that long lengths of decking are not butt joined to each other. The preferred method of installing long lengths of decking would be to use a breaker board between the long boards running at 90 degrees. Refer to our fixing instructions for more information.
Is Futurewood Decking mould resistant?
Yes, Futurewood Decking is treated with an anti-fungal solution that stops mould spores from growing on its surface. Keeping your Futurewood Decking free of dirt and other contaminants will ensure that mould does not grow on your deck.
What are the environmental credentials of Futurewood Decking?
Futurewood Decking is primarily made from discarded rice hulls (husks) and recycled plastic HDPE (old milk bottles) making it an excellent environmental product in its own right. These products can be classed as 100% recycled. A small amount of colour pigment, UV inhibitor and other chemicals are added to the recycled products in order to produce the high-quality final product. When you consider that by choosing Futurewood Decking you are not using Kwila or any other rainforest timber it makes your decision even more environmentally sound!
Can Futurewood Decking be used near the sea or around swimming pools?
Futurewood Decking has a very low moisture absorption rate and is impervious to the effects of salt air and saltwater. As such it is highly suitable for use in coastal areas and around pools, spas and water features. Care should be taken to avoid spilling any highly corrosive swimming pool chemicals on Futurewood Decking. Any spills should be cleaned up and washed off immediately.
Is Futurewood Decking scratch resistant?
Futurewood Decking is produced to a level of hardness that makes it suitable for the general traffic use required of a domestic/residential deck. The product is supplied with a machined, embossed finish that absorbs most minor scratches. Larger scratches caused by dragging heavy objects over the deck may be difficult to remove so we recommend that any outdoor furniture is fitted with appropriate protection under the legs/feet to avoid any major scratching from moving tables and chairs over the deck. Most scratches can be removed by light sanding however care should be taken to ensure that the embossed grain is not damaged in the process.
How do I clean and look after my Futurewood Decking?
Futurewood Decking requires only occasional cleaning in order to keep the surface free of dirt and general grime. We recommend normal sweeping and cleaning of your deck at regular intervals. Periodic cleaning with a mild detergent or household cleaner will help to keep the surface in top condition and will greatly reduce the potential of any mould growth forming on dirt or food scraps left to build up on the deck. Refer to our Care & Maintenance recommendations for more information.