Composite Decking 4.8m x 30mm

[stevevalo]

I have a balcony that is in the process of been replaced.

I have planned to put composite decking down to try and reduce maintenance.

My problem is: I have 5 support beams protruding from my house, they are each just short of being 1 metre apart. with the total distance being 4.8 metres.

I am therefore looking for composite decking that can straddle the ~1 metre span without sag and ideally have no joints.

I have tested this at a local building supply and their 25mm thick hollow section sags a lot (see pic).

I have since sourced 30mm hollow section but doesn't come in 4.8metre lengths.

Does anyone know if 4.8metre x 30mm or thicker lengths exist?

 

[foxhole]

Solid boards up to 6.1m.?
http://uk.trex.com/products/decking-and-railing/transcend-decking-and-railing/

Your test did not use secured boards which will reduce the amount the boards are able to move.

 

[motorbiking]

how high off the ground?

 

[stevevalo]

Thanks foxhole, I'll have a look.

@motorbiking, approximately 2.5metres, why?

 

[motorbiking]

won't you need building control and structural calcs? That is quite a height to risk falling from.

 

[stevevalo]

Even if the house was already built with a balcony?

I'm only replacing what was already there, obviously not going to fit anything that's dangerous on my own house.

 

[stevevalo]

Solid boards up to 6.1m.?
http://uk.trex.com/products/decking-and-railing/transcend-decking-and-railing/

Your test did not use secured boards which will reduce the amount the boards are able to move.

Thanks for that but not to keen on these square edge boards, do you have any other recommendations?

 

[foxhole]

You could add extra timber in between existing to reduce span or overboard with ply, then you can use any thickness of board on top .

 

[stevevalo]

Don't think I will be doing that, kind of defeats the purpose of composite decking.

 

[freddiemercurystwin]

A 1m span for decking is potty, needs additional supports as mentioned.

 

[stevevalo]

So the builders that built this house in 1970 were potty?

And the balcony that I used until I decided to replace it was unsafe?

I'm only trying to replace something that stood for 47 years, and the house had planning permission with the balcony.

If I can't replace it with composite then I'll go for thicker timber decking.

 

[freddiemercurystwin]

So prey tell what decking are you replacing?

 

[stevevalo]

That is a good question, is what was on before classed as decking?

 

[freddiemercurystwin]

I don't know, you've not told us! Maybe you could enlighten us? Is it timber then? If so how thick is it?