HOW TO CHOOSE PROPER WOOD-PLASTIC COMPOSITE TERRACE BOARDS?

When planning to build a terrace, clients often have some questions. What should we use for a terrace: wooden boards (thermowood, larch, pine wood) or wood-plastic composite boards? How to choose proper wood-plastic composite boards? Many customers already know the main advantages of wood-plastic composite terrace boards: durable, eco, resistant to rotting; resistant to UV rays, cold and temperature changes; have no splinters, shivers; easy and quick to install with usual tools; resistant to water and its vapor, salty and chlorinated water, wood destroying pests; fully recyclable; contain no lead. However, when deciding on wood-plastic composite terrace boards, clients must be answered to some more questions: what is the composition of wood-plastic composite? What kind of plastic is used to produce wood-plastic composite boards? How experienced is the manufacturer producing these products? The composition of wood-plastic composite contributes into the appearance and physical properties of the final product:

• 50% of wood flour / 50% of plastic. Such is the most optimal ratio of the composition of wood-plastic composite, as then the final product looks like wood, and plastic used as a filler secures reliability and durability. PVC (polyvinylchloride) used in this mixture, as a usual practice, is the best externally used and most trusted plastic, which is essential for terraces;
• 60% wood flour / 40% plastic. Due to a larger percentage of wood in the final product, its operational characteristics become worth; the density of the material is lower, and such kind of a terrace board will be more subject to swelling, being at the same time more fragile. As the density of the material is insufficient, the fitting frame has to be thickened, which eventually reflects in the total price of the entire system.

The production of wood-plastic composite terrace boards shall involve plastics thanks to which the final product is given a shape and respective physical properties. The production process is called extrusion, and usually to make a terrace board there can be used polyvinylchloride (PVC) or polyethylene (HDPE).

The characteristics of plastics used to produce wood-plastic terrace boards:

• Polyvinylchloride (PVC) – a terrace board is durable, scratch resistant, stable, nonslippery, nonflammable, color retaining.
• Polyethylene (HDPE) – a terrace board is subject to rubbing and is rather slippery; when mounting, a thicker frame is needed.

When choosing wood-plastic terrace boards, the client should be certain about reliability and experience of the manufacturer to secure the quality of the final product. A manufacturer with a proven vast experience would mean a continuous and stable production control system and periodic testing of final products, permanent cooperation with laboratories that evaluate product quality, participation in international associated structures uniting manufacturers and establishing requirements for products.

If you want to choose proper wood-plastic composite terrace boards, we would suggest consulting with InoWood experts, the Lithuanian manufacturers, for over 20 years already developing and processing composite raw materials with a focus on biocomposites –completely secondary raw materials are processed into terrace boards, without cutting any trees and consuming oil resources.