What is the difference between solid and hollow boards?
Hollow boards have channels in the core, so they use less material and weigh less. Solid boards are filled throughout.
| Point | Hollow | Solid |
|---|---|---|
| Weight | Lighter; Savoy Timber says a 16 ft hollow board is a third lighter | Heavier |
| Price | Generally cheaper, say Cladco and Ultra Decking | Generally dearer |
| Edges | Exposed channels; Cladco says end caps are offered | Savoy and Cladco say no end plugs needed |
| Strength | Ultra Decking says square hollow boards perform well at 300 mm joist centres if installed correctly | Ultra Decking says solid has the highest strength |
| Weather | n/a | Savoy says solid can warp or contract in extreme weather |
These are sellers’ statements. Ovaeda’s article makes similar claims but contradicts itself in places, so we use it only as an opinion.
Which boards are solid, and which are hollow?
| Board | Core | Size | Joist centres | Warranty |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Cladco ProDeck Composite Decking Board | hollow | 143 by 23 mm | not published | 10 years |
| Cladco Signature Composite Decking Board | hollow | 150 by 25 mm | 400 mm | 10 years |
| Envirobuild Explorer Composite Decking Board 4m (Oak) | hollow | 145 by 21 mm | not published | 15 years |
| Cladco Signature Solid Composite Decking Board | solid | 150 by 25 mm | not published | 10 years |
| Envirobuild Frontier Composite Decking Board 4m (Teak) | solid | 142 by 22 mm | not published | 25 years |
Sizes, joist centres and warranties come from the product pages; “not published” means the page didn’t give a figure. Eva-Last, Millboard and Trex don’t state hollow or solid on the pages we read, so they are left out. Cladco says its Signature boards must be installed on its recycled plastic subframe and carry no commercial warranty.
What do solid and hollow cost?
NeoTimber lists Classic Lite at £19.00, Classic Hollow from £21.60, Classic Solid from £27.55, Deluxe Hollow from £27.56 and Deluxe Solid from £33.77, without saying whether that is per board or per metre or whether VAT is included. eDecks lists an Evolution Deck Oak Hollow board, 3,600 by 146 by 21 mm, at £24.98, VAT status not stated. The pattern, solid above hollow, is the useful part; compare your own quotes on a per m² basis in the cost calculator.
How do you fix a solid board?
Fixing follows the board’s profile, not its core: grooved boards take clips, and square-edge boards are screwed. Cladco recommends 316 stainless screws with a PH2 bit for its 50 and 65 mm screws. See clips and joists.
Questions
What is solid composite decking?
A board with a full-section core instead of channels running through it. Solid boards are heavier and, according to Cladco and Savoy Timber, don't need end caps.
Is solid composite better than hollow?
Sellers say solid boards are stronger and heavier, and hollow boards are lighter and cheaper because they use less material. No maker figure compares strength, so check the joist centres in your board's guide.
Do solid boards warp?
Savoy Timber says solid boards can warp or contract in extreme weather, though it says that's rarely an issue in the UK climate. That is a merchant's view, not a test.
Sources
- Hollow vs Solid Composite Decking - Cladco
- Hollow vs Solid Composite Decking - NeoTimber
- Difference between solid and hollow composite decking - Savoy Timber
- Hollow vs Solid Composite Decking - Ultra Decking
- Hollow vs Solid Composite Decking - Ovaeda
- eDecks home page
- Composite Decking Advice - Ecoscape UK
- Eva-Last Apex Grooved Composite Deck Board 140mm (manufacturer or seller)
- Eva-Last Infinity I-Series (IS 113) Composite Groove Deck Board (manufacturer or seller)
- Trex Trex Transcend (grooved/square edge) - UK site (manufacturer or seller)
- Trex Trex Transcend Lineage - UK site (manufacturer or seller)
- Trex Trex Enhance - UK site (manufacturer or seller)
- Envirobuild Explorer Composite Decking Board 4m (Oak) (manufacturer or seller)
- Cladco 4m Signature Solid Composite Decking Board (manufacturer or seller)
- Millboard Lasta-Grip 200mm (Coppered Oak / Golden Oak) (manufacturer or seller)
- Millboard Enhanced Grain 176mm (manufacturer or seller)
- Millboard Weathered Oak 200mm (manufacturer or seller)
- Cladco 4m ProDeck Composite Decking Board (manufacturer or seller)
- Cladco 4m Signature Composite Decking Board (manufacturer or seller)
- Envirobuild Frontier Composite Decking Board 4m (Teak) (manufacturer or seller)