Decking board and tile buying guide

Size

Decking tiles are square floor tiles that come in standard sizes (usually 500 x 500 mm or 400 x 400 mm). They are made up of several wooden boards that are spaced out and fixed onto two or three crossbars.

Installation

Decking tiles can be laid in several different ways. Choose from the following options:

• place your decking tiles directly onto the earth, grass or on concrete (no fixings required);

• screw your decking tiles onto joists (for uneven or damp surfaces);

• lay your decking tiles onto height adjustable PVC riser pedestals;

• clip your decking tiles onto a ready-built surface (provided it is flat and stable).

You can lay your decking tiles in a checkerboard pattern by alternating the direction of the tiles for a more stylish result. Otherwise, you can lay them all in the same direction to create the impression of length and make your deck look bigger. 

Appearance

Decking tiles come in a range of different patterns and two main materials: 

• natural wood (pine, oak, eucalyptus, teak, timber)

• composite (wood flour + polymer and binder). 

Uses

While traditionally used to cover smaller garden areas, decking tiles are now available in extra-large sizes (up to 1,000 x 1,000 mm) making them suitable for more spacious decks.

Advantages

Decking tiles offer a number of advantages. They are: 

• compact;

• lightweight;

• easy to transport;

• quick to install (especially models that use decking clips).

Size

Decking boards are rectangular wooden boards that are planed on all sides like those used for interior hardwood floors. The standard size for deckboards is 2,100 to 2,400 mm long with a width of around 90 to 200 mm.

Installation

Decking boards can be fitted in two different ways: 

• screwed directly onto joists (screw holes left on show);

• clipped onto joists and held together by decking clips (which cannot be seen on the surface).

It is a little more complicated to install decking boards as they must be laid on joists spread at least 400 mm apart across the entire surface of the deck.

Appearance

Decking boards come in two varieties:

• grooved, textured side is non-slip;

• smooth, can be more slippery when wet.

Uses

Decking boards are ideal for larger garden areas. Using large deckboards will cut down on the amount of connections and cuts you have to make, for a more even and attractive result.

Advantages

Decking boards also offer a range of advantages. They are: 

• hard-wearing;

• available in many different wood types, such as timber;

• fairly easy to install.

Both decking boards and decking tiles can be made of natural or composite woods. An essential factor, your choice of material will not only determine the appearance of your deck but also its price, care needs and durability. That being said, wood enthusiasts will appreciate the wide range of high-quality species offered by decking boards!

Exotic wood

Hardwearing and warm, exotic wood decks are a popular choice. While exotic wood boards are fairly expensive to purchase, they do offer a range of attractive qualities: they are rotproof and offer natural protection against wood-eating insects and fungi. Among the most popular exotic woods are:

• teak;

• ipe wood; 

• itauba;

• cumaru;

• jatoba.

European wood

European wood is less expensive – with the exception of oak and chestnut – and offers the same level of durability provided it is treated and well maintained over time. The most common woods used for decks include:

• pine;

• douglas fir;

• black locust;

• oak;

• chestnut.

It's worth noting that all wood – no matter if it has been treated or not – will grey with age. It is, therefore, necessary to apply a protective coating.

Heat-treated wood

Retified or thermally modified wood

This treatment is carried out on woods that are naturally weaker, in terms of their mechanical properties. These woods are heated to a very high temperature in order to modify their structure to create a stronger wood that is more resistant to insects and fungi. This process also makes the wood darker making it look more like exotic wood.

Autoclaved wood

Autoclaved wood has been treated by a process of impregnation. The wood is put in an autoclave where it is penetrated by chemicals that provide better protection against weathering, insects and fungi.

Wood certification labels

Pan European Forest Certification (PEFC): certification to attest to the good management of the forest where the wood is sourced in terms of environmental, social and economic considerations. This label assures the wood can be traced from origin to processing.

Forest Stewardship Council (FSC): certification to attest that the wood comes from a responsibly managed forest. Wood with FSC labels are monitored from origin to distribution.

Composite wood

Composite woods are composed of a mix of wood flour and polymer resins (recycled plastics). Available in a range of shades, composites are very weather resistant (frost, UV rays, etc.) and rot-proof (mould-free). Composite wood is also pre-treated with a fungicidal treatment (for fungi protection) and insecticide (insect protection), and requires very little maintenance. Little affected by temperature changes, composite woods won't expand very much. They can also appear almost exactly like natural wood. However, you can choose from a range of modern or even metallic shades for a more contemporary feel.

If you're looking for a low-maintenance option for a south-facing deck, your best bet would be composite wood decking boards or tiles. This material won't grey in the sunshine and doesn't require any upkeep – meaning you'll never have to apply any protective treatment or penetrating oils!

As you may have noticed, there are no set rules when it comes to choosing between decking boards and decking tiles. Wooden decking boards can help to bring a sense of depth and volume to a smaller garden and they are also easier to maintain than tiles. The area you need to cover needn't factor too much into your decision thanks to the availability of extra-large decking tiles. However, it is more common to use decking boards for particularly big decks.

Similarly, decking tiles are typically used for balconies or small decks. Deck tiles are also recommended for creating garden paths or surrounding vegetable patches. Unlike decking boards, these tiles do not necessarily need to be fixed down making them ideal for temporary surfaces.

Finally, decking boards and decking tiles do not differ in terms of their mechanical properties. As such, it's up to you to make your choice based on your own criteria, such as: 

• price;

• ease of installation (based on the surface you want to cover);

• maintenance and cleaning requirements;

• the overall appearance.