A great-looking deck starts long before the first board goes down. A little planning makes installation faster, cleaner and cheaper. Here is a practical guide to planning a WPC (Wood-Plastic Composite) deck for your home, terrace or poolside.
1. Measure your area
Start with the length and width of the space in metres and multiply them for the total area in square metres (sqm). Our decking is priced per sqm, so this is the number you will work from. Add about 5–10% extra for cutting and waste, especially on angled or irregular layouts.
2. Know your board
Our flagship WPC board is 2.9m long and 15cm wide. Knowing the board size helps you visualise the run direction and plan where the joins will fall. Running boards along the longest sightline usually looks best and reduces visible joints.
3. Plan the substructure (joists)
Decking boards sit on a frame of joists. The joists do three crucial jobs: they level the surface, lift the deck for drainage, and create airflow underneath so moisture never gets trapped. As a rule of thumb, joists are spaced roughly 30–40cm apart — closer for areas with heavy foot traffic. Our WPC joists are made from the same weatherproof material as the boards, so the whole system lasts.
4. Do not forget the accessories
The finish is in the details. To install a deck properly you will need:
- Joists — the support frame under the boards.
- Clips & screws — hidden fasteners that hold boards down for a smooth, screw-free surface.
- End caps & trims — to conceal cut ends and edges for a clean, finished look.
5. Estimate your quantities
Once you know your area, we can help you work out exactly how many boards, joists, clips and end caps you need. Sending us your measurements (or a quick sketch) is the fastest way to get an accurate quote.
6. Supply, delivery and installation
You can buy the materials and install them yourself, or let our trained team handle the whole job. We supply, deliver and install nationwide, so you get one accountable team from measurement to finish.
Ready to start? Browse decking and accessories or send us your measurements for a free, no-obligation quote.