Why Choose Composite Decking Boards?
The organic look of treated timber — without the endless sanding, staining, or splitting.
Traditionally in the UK, timber has been the go-to decking solution. However, our wet, damp climate inevitably leads to rot, splintering, high maintenance costs, and dangerously slick surfaces.
Rinato Natural Composite Decking Boards, exclusively supplied by F.H.Brundle, represents a second-generation leap forward in outdoor flooring. By encapsulating a high-strength core within an advanced protective skin, you get a premium wood-lipid hybrid that looks natural and performs flawlessly for years.
• 360° Wrapped Capstock Polymer Shield: Unlike first-generation composite boards that absorb moisture and fade over time, Rinato Natural features a full co-extruded outer cap. This high-grade skin provides total immunity to oil spills, deep stains, and heavy scratching.
• Smart Reversible Design (Dual-Colour): Each board features two complimentary, natural earth-tone colours on opposite sides (e.g., Teak and Walnut). This allows you to mix profiles, build contrasting borders, and slash material waste during installation.
• Ultra-Low Maintenance: Forget about buying expensive deck stains, sealers, and sanders. Rinato Natural requires only an occasional washdown with soapy water or a light pressure wash (under 1200 PSI) to stay looking brand new.
• Family & Pet Safe: Our boards are completely splinter-free and engineered with an anti-slip texture, creating a safer environment around family areas, hot tubs, and garden pools.
What is Composite Decking
Composite decking is a modern alternative to traditional timber decking, made from a blend of recycled wood fibres and plastic polymers. This combination creates boards that mimic the natural appearance of wood while offering enhanced durability and resistance to common outdoor issues such as rot, moisture, splintering and insect damage. Unlike timber, composite decking requires minimal maintenance – there’s no need for regular staining, sealing or painting, and it is designed to retain its colour and structural integrity over time. As a result, it’s a popular choice for homeowners and commercial projects seeking a long-lasting, low-maintenance decking solution that performs well in varying weather conditions.
Why Rinato Composite Decking Boards are the best choice.
Composite vs Wood Decking Boards
| Feature / Property | Rinato™ Natural (2nd Gen) | 1st-Gen Uncapped Composite | Traditional Treated Timber |
|---|---|---|---|
| Protective Surface Layer | 360° Polymer Capstock Shield | None (Exposed core) | None |
| Moisture Absorption | Virtually Zero (Rot & mould free) | Moderate (Prone to swelling) | High (Splits, warps, and rots) |
| Maintenance Required | Periodic soap & water wash | Regular cleaning needed | Annual sanding, sealing, staining |
| UV Fade Resistance | Advanced (Inhibitors built-in) | High fading in first 6 months | Total silvering/greying rapidly |
| Lifespan | Long-term durability | Moderate durability | Low to moderate (7–12 years) |
| Eco-Credentials | 60% Recycled wood / 40% Recycled Plastics | Varies | Chemical treatments required |
| Splinter Risk | Zero Risk | Low Risk | High Risk over time |
How to spot 1st-Gen Uncapped Composite.
When comparing decking samples or quotes, use these quick physical checks to ensure you aren’t accidentally buying outdated, high-maintenance 1st-generation boards:
• No Distinct Outer Ring on Cut Ends: Look closely at the cross-section of the sample. 1st-gen uncapped boards are completely uniform from the center to the edge, looking like a dense, compressed biscuit. Modern capped boards show a clear, visible outer “shell” wrapped around the inner core.
• The Thumbnail Scratch Test: Press your thumbnail firmly into the grain of the sample. An uncapped surface is relatively soft and will easily score or leave a permanent mark. A polymer-capped board will resist the pressure without marking.
• A Dull, Cardboard-Like Texture: Run your fingers over the surface. Uncapped boards expose raw wood fibers directly, giving them a flat, slightly rough, or chalky texture right out of the box. Capped boards feel smoother, harder, and more resilient.
• The Sample Stain Test: Put a drop of vegetable oil or coffee on the sample and leave it for five minutes before wiping. If it sinks in and leaves a dark shadow, the board is uncapped and will act like a sponge for outdoor spills.
The Benefits of Composite Decking.
• The Value: Pound-for-pound, Rinato Composite Decking Boards are the best value-for-money board available on the UK market; at around £38 per square metre (ex. VAT) they represent the sweet spot of quality, durability and affordability. The reversible nature of the boards also means that on a dual-colour deck, wastage (through off-cuts) is minimised. There are cheaper hollow composite boards on the market, these are typically first-generation boards with larger (square) cavities and as a result lack the durability and robustness of Rinato boards.
• The Aesthetics: We have deliberately colour matched three pairs of complimentary, natural colours to provide (where required) excellent contrast and style for deck owners. The Charcoal / Silver Grey combination (our most popular) provides a contemporary aesthetic for a modern feel, the Antique / Light Grey combo blends two lighter-tone colours for a clean, sophisticated ambiance. And the Walnut / Teak marriage is ideal for those looking for more traditional wood tones. All boards feature a realistic wood-grain texture for ultimate feel and appeal.
• The Sustainability: Our Rinato Composite Decking Boards are made from a traditional Wood Polymer Composite (WPC) blend, and from 100% recycled material (60% recycled wood and 40% recycled plastic). The wood is FSC® Certified. As with all composite boards, recycling them at end-of-live (which typically is around 25-years) can be tricky, but not impossible, they will be accepted by your local recycling centre.
• The Fixings: These boards use a smart hidden fixing system consisting of stainless steel clips that anchor in the boards to the frame via the boards’ engineered side channel. Rinato boards also work with a polymer twist-clips (such as those used on the Outdure QwickBuild deck framing system.
SILVER GREY & CHARCOAL
ANTIQUE & LIGHT GREY
TEAK & WALNUT
Technical Specifications & Compliance
Technical Specifications:
• Coverage Metric: Every 6.7 linear meters of decking perfectly equates to 1 square meter of coverage area.
• Subframe Compatibility: Can be installed on standard treated timber joists or integrated into aluminium subframe systems like Outdure QwickBuild.
• Joist Layout Requirements: Maximum recommended joist spacing is 400mm centres when boards are laid at 90 degrees to the joist.
• Expansion Allowance: Features built-in allowances for linear expansion and contraction (a 5mm to 6mm end-to-end gap is recommended depending on board lengths and ambient temperatures).
Testing & Compliance Status:
Certified Safety & Sustainability: Rinato Natural is rigorously benchmarked to meet strict UK and European construction standards.
• FSC® Certified Core: Sourced from 100% sustainable supply chains, utilising recycled wood fibres and 100% recyclable non-toxic polypropylene.
• Anti-Slip Tested: Surface texturing is engineered and tested for traction under wet and dry conditions, mitigating slip hazards near pools or during frosty British mornings.
• Antimicrobial Guard: Infused with an advanced antifungal formulation alongside an antimicrobial surface coating to permanently reject mould, mildew, and structural decay.
Rinato Natural Composite Deck Boards Testing Report
| Test | Test method | Value |
|---|---|---|
| Slip resistance | EN 15534-1 | Wet value: 50 |
| Water absorption |
ISO62:2008 | 0.73% |
| Resistance to indentation |
EN 15534-1:2014 Section 7.5 EN 15534-4:2014 Section 4.5.7 EN 1534:2010 |
Brindell hardness: 79 MPa Rate of elastic recovery: 54% |
| Bending strength |
ISO 527-1:201 | 19 MPa |
| Resistance to artificial weathering UV 2000 Hours |
ISO 4892-2:2013 cycle 1 | Exposure time 2000 Hrs Grey scale: 4-5 |
| Density | SO1183-1:2012 | 1.177g/cc |
FAQs
The boards feature a grooved edge profile designed to accept F.H.Brundle’s hidden fixing clips, ensuring a clean surface free of exposed screw heads. Stainless Steel Clips automatically lock in a sleek, architectural 1mm to 2mm gap between the boards.
Every Rinato Natural board is manufactured with a different complementary tone on each side (such as Teak on one side and Walnut on the other). For consumers, this offers excellent design flexibility. For installers, it drastically reduces material waste—you can use one face for the main deck body and simply flip the remaining offcuts over to create contrasting borders, fascia trim, or striking step treads without ordering separate products.
Unlike first-generation uncapped composite decking which bleaches dramatically, Rinato Natural features an advanced polymer shield packed with UV stabilizers. You will experience a very minor, natural settling of the gloss level over the first 8 to 12 weeks as the factory processing oils wash away. After this brief period, the colour locks in permanently and will resist fading for decades.
It is exceptionally safe. Rinato Natural is engineered with a deeply embossed, high-traction wood-grain texture. It undergoes rigorous UK pendulum testing (BS 7976-2) and achieves a “low slip potential” rating in both wet and dry conditions. Because the polymer cap absorbs virtually zero moisture, it denies green algae the damp environment it needs to grow, eliminating the primary cause of dangerously slick timber decks.
For standard residential installations, the maximum recommended joist spacing is 400mm centres when the boards are laid perpendicular (at 90 degrees) to the joists. If you are installing the decking diagonally at a 45-degree angle, you must reduce the joist spacing to 300mm centres to prevent any structural flexing and ensure a completely rigid finish.
