Does Composite Decking Expand and Contract?
Yes it does and it certainly can do. In the past we've during the early days when there was a hollow composite decking we had a lot of expansion.
We'd have the ends of the boards opening up to 10 millimeter from summer to winter which obviously was causing a problem people.
We weren't happy with that and also on the edges it was expanding a lot more than today’s boards.
Now that we do the PVC decking and theTrex decking it doesn't expand half as much.
I'm sure it expands a little bit and you do have to leave little gaps, tiny gaps on the end, and on the sides, but in general we've never had customers come back and say that they don't like the appearance due to expansion.
This wasn't the case in the early days though when the composite decking first came out with the hollow compensate boards and we used to get problems with expansion.
Thankfully with today’s materials expansion and contraction is no longer a problem.
Does Trex decking expand?
The good news is composite decking boards tend to expand and contract across the length of the board as temperatures increase and decrease.
Proper spacing always allows some movement and some of the boards can be installed with hidden fasteners if required.
How far apart should the joists be for Trex decking?
The joist spacing tends to be common across most composite decking boards similar to Trex decking. That means the spacing across centres would be 400mm for straight decking and 300mm inches for diagonal decking being laid at 45 degrees.
Decking Advice
We have been in the timber, PVC, and composite decking business for years and a main supplier for the #1 decking manufacturer Trex Decking.
Choosing the right timber, PVC, or composite decking can be a daunting decision especially when you realise they are available in many different colours and finishes.
Your choice of decking has a big impact on the look and feel of the garden where you install it so making the right choice is important.
Our decking specialists are here to guide you through the process of making the right choice for you based on your needs and your budget.
We have a large display area showing the different types, styles and finishes so you can make your choice from visual examples.
On those same displays you can also see the different glass, PVC and timber rails and panels to finish off your decked area.