Say Goodbye to Winter Wear and Tear with Recycled Plastic Decking

Winter in the UK brings with it a unique set of challenges that can wreak havoc on outdoor decking. Traditional materials, such as wood, often suffer from harsh conditions, facing issues like moisture absorption, freezing, and thawing, which can lead to rot, warping, and general deterioration. Fortunately, there's a solution that can withstand the challenges of winter while promoting environmental sustainability: recycled plastic decking. As a leading specialist in sustainable products, Kedel provides this comprehensive guide to help you understand why choosing recycled plastic decking is a superior option for maintaining a beautiful, functional outdoor space throughout winter and beyond.

Understanding the Importance of Winter-Ready Decking

Outdoor decking transforms gardens and yards into usable spaces for relaxation, dining, and entertaining. However, the appeal of these spaces can quickly diminish if the decking materials cannot withstand the winter elements. Rain, frost, snow, and fluctuating temperatures can inflict damage on traditional decking materials, leading to costly repairs or replacements in the spring.

Investing in winter-ready decking has numerous advantages. Besides reducing maintenance costs, it ensures safety by avoiding the slippery surfaces that often accompany wet weather conditions. It also preserves aesthetic appeal and property value, allowing you to enjoy your outdoor spaces all year long.

Recycled Plastic Decking: The Sustainable Choice

Recycled plastic decking offers a robust alternative to wood and other traditional materials. Made from repurposed plastic waste, such as milk bottles and other containers, this decking contributes significantly to environmental sustainability. By transforming waste into valuable products, recycled plastic decking helps to reduce landfill contents and conserves natural resources by lowering the demand for new plastic production.

Beyond its ecological benefits, recycled plastic decking boasts remarkable durability. It’s designed to resist the wear and tear associated with adverse weather conditions, ensuring it remains an attractive and functional component of your garden area irrespective of seasonal changes.

Durability: Standing Up to Winter Weather

One of recycled plastic decking's core benefits is its resilience. Unlike wood, recycled plastic does not absorb water, eliminating the risk of swelling, warping, or rotting when exposed to moisture. This non-porous nature is especially advantageous in winter, when thawing and freezing cycles are commonplace.

Recycled plastic decking is also impervious to insect attacks and fungal growth, which can further compromise the integrity of traditional wood decking. The material remains stable and retains its structure, ensuring longevity and sustained appearance despite exposure to winter’s harshest conditions.

Recycled plastic decking also retains its colour and won’t fade or bleach out in the sunlight, even after many winters. This colour-fast quality means less maintenance, as there’s no need for staining, sealing, or painting to maintain visual appeal.

Safety and Performance: A Non-Slip Surface

Winter weather is notorious for turning decking into slippery surfaces, increasing the risk of accidents. Recycled plastic decking is designed with safety in mind, featuring slip-resistant surfaces that remain effective even when wet. This benefit is particularly crucial when frost or light snow is present, allowing for safer navigation of outdoor spaces.

The textured surface of recycled plastic decking provides enhanced grip, reducing the potential for slips and falls compared to smoother wooden boards. This safety aspect is essential for homes with young children, pets, or elderly family members who are more vulnerable to slipping hazards.

Maintenance: More Time to Enjoy Your Garden

One of the most appealing aspects of recycled plastic decking is its low-maintenance nature. Unlike wood, which requires frequent treatment and care to protect against moisture and pests, recycled plastic demands minimal upkeep. A simple occasional cleaning with soapy water or a pressure wash is sufficient to keep the surface clean and looking fresh.

With no need for seasonal sanding, sealing, or varnishing, homeowners can spend more time enjoying their outdoor spaces rather than maintaining them. This feature is particularly welcomed during winter, when cold and wet weather makes outdoor maintenance unfeasible and unappealing.

Design Versatility: Enhancing Aesthetic Appeal

In addition to its sustainable and functional benefits, recycled plastic decking offers plenty of versatility in design. Available in various colours, textures, and styles, it can complement any garden aesthetic, from rustic charm to contemporary elegance.

Its flexibility during installation allows homeowners and landscape designers to create unique layouts and patterns, enhancing both functionality and visual appeal. Whether your design vision includes curved walkways, multi-tiered platforms, or integrated seating areas, recycled plastic decking offers the adaptability to bring your ideas to life.

The uniformity of the material’s colour and grain means there’s no need to worry about uneven fading, so your garden’s visual coherence is maintained over time. This aspect makes it an attractive option for those seeking to make a lasting impression through their home’s outdoor design.

Plastic Decking: Expert Installation Tips

For those considering recycled plastic decking, understanding the installation process can maximise its benefits and longevity. Proper installation ensures the decking remains stable and secure through all seasons, including winter’s harsh weather.

Recycled plastic decking is lightweight and easy to cut, making DIY installations feasible, although professional installation ensures optimal results. The boards are often designed to interlock, creating a secure fit that prevents shifting.

With recycled plastic, expansion and contraction due to temperature changes are minimal, but it’s still advisable to leave a small gap between each board to accommodate any natural movement. These measures help maintain the decking’s structural integrity and prevent buckling or warping.

For comprehensive instructions, read our Plastic Decking Installation Guide.

Preparation begins with assessing and preparing the ground where the deck will be installed. Ensure the area is level and debris-free; consider adding a weed barrier to prevent vegetation growth through the decking. The stability of the foundation is crucial; therefore, ensure a solid, well-compacted base using gravel or crushed stone beneath the decking.

Transform Your Garden with Kedel

To further enhance your outdoor space during the winter, consider integrating additional recycled plastic products from Kedel’s expansive range. Each product is designed to work harmoniously, providing a cohesive, sustainable outdoor environment.

Recycled Plastic Fencing: This provides a durable, attractive boundary that matches your decking, offering privacy and protection from the elements while maintaining a sustainable footprint.

Planters: Perfect for adding greenery to your deck, our recycled plastic planters withstand winter weather and provide a stable, insulating environment for plants and flowers.

Edging Materials: Maintain an orderly design with edging that resists the challenges of winter weather without needing replacement or maintenance. 

Winter doesn’t have to mean compromise for your outdoor spaces. By choosing Kedel’s recycled plastic decking, you invest in a sustainable, durable option that preserves the beauty and functionality of your garden throughout the coldest months. The durability and minimal maintenance required offer both peace of mind and more time to enjoy the pleasures of outdoor living.

As a UK-based recycled plastic specialist, Kedel is committed to providing sustainable, high-quality solutions for homeowners and landscapers seeking responsible choices. Our range of decking, alongside complementary products, supports a comprehensive approach to creating beautiful, functional, and eco-friendly outdoor environments. To find out more about our recycled materials or our plastic decking, get in touch with a member of the team today.