A blog written by Alfresco Floors

Timber is one of the most sought-after materials when it comes to balcony flooring, but for obvious reasons, it isn’t always suitable.

Highly combustible and requiring regular treatment to ensure longevity, architects and specifiers are using alternatives that not only meet the latest fire regulations but also give a similar aesthetic.

Typically, this means using a composite balcony decking, along with a fire-rated subframe and other non-combustible balcony flooring components. But what exactly are composites, and why are they an ideal option for your next project?

Let’s explore these questions and more, so that you know exactly what to expect from composite balcony flooring giving you and your clients the highest possible results this year.

WHAT IS COMPOSITE BALCONY DECKING?

A man-made product, composite balcony decking can be made of a mix of materials including natural fibres, minerals and even some recycled plastics. When heated up, the materials combine with the bonding agent and create a single composite, which can be shaped into boards.

An alternative to timber decking, composite balcony decking aims to offer all the aesthetics of timber, without any of the potential issues such as combustibility, rotting and weather damage.

Composite decking often conjures up thoughts of plastic content, but it’s important to note that not all composite decking contains flammable elements. Composite balcony decking such as ZERODECK is plastic-free, and class A fire rated meaning that it is entirely non-combustible, unlike composites containing plastic which are at most class B-rated, and therefore not suitable for high-rise residential balconies.

BENEFITS OF COMPOSITE DECKING OVER TIMBER

Because composite decking such as ZERODECK is entirely non-combustible, it provides a far safer decking solution than timber.

On top of these, there are also a range of other benefits that mean even if you are specifying for projects which could use timber decking, it makes far more sense to stick to composite decking.

The materials used to create the composite decking material mean that boards can be far more stable than their timber alternatives and they will be resistant to the likes of rot, mould, and damp; all things that make timber difficult to maintain.

As well as this, composite doesn’t splinter either, making it far more comfortable underfoot for all users.

With composite decking, like ZERODECK, you are getting all of the aesthetic benefits that users expect from timber, but without any of the headaches – a longer-lasting solution that requires very little in the way of maintenance.

ZERODECK: COMPOSITE BALCONY DECKING WITH A WOOD AESTHETIC

ZERODECK is a composite balcony decking that ticks all of the boxes.

Manufactured from mineral composites, it has been designed to meet the non-combustible requirements that are essential on high rise balcony flooring projects.

Class-A1 fire rated, projects can now have the timber aesthetic that is highly sought after, without any of the issues.

You can out find more about ZERODECK and composite balcony decking here.

CONCLUSION

As you can see, composite balcony decking is an important material to consider when planning for your upcoming projects.

Offering everything you need for a safe and stylish balcony flooring; there are composite decking products on the market that are suitable for class A fire rated balcony decking, slip and weather-resistant, as well as stain and fade-proof.

No longer needing to be associated with plastic, recent developments in technology mean that the use of minerals and fibres help create composites of the highest quality.

Amongst the options available, ZERODECK can be used for balcony decking projects looking for a non-combustible timber aesthetic and is a great alternative to aluminium decking.

If you’d like to discuss this or other composite balcony decking solutions with Alfresco Floors, please do get in touch with our team.