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Introduction
When upgrading your deck, the length of the boards you choose plays an important role in the final look, cost, and speed of your installation. In this guide, we’ll walk you through the standard board lengths available in the UK and the key pros and cons of using longer boards from our experience.
Table of Contents
Standard Decking Board Lengths in the UK
Different Standard Lengths, But Why?
The four main decking solutions on the market today are available in a variety of standard lengths. The reason for this variation is simple: it’s driven by factors like the material type, the supplier’s history in the market, and their logistics network, which is designed to meet the demand for different project sizes.
Different Types:
Composite & PVC Decking:
The most common lengths available are 2.4m to 4m. Longer lengths (e.g., 4.8m and even 5.2m) are sometimes available but are less common and may carry a premium price. Top Tip: we just launched our 4.8m boards
Timber Decking (Softwood & Hardwood):
Timber is often available in a wider range of lengths, they are the easiest and available in a variety of lengths from 1.2m up to 4.8m or even longer from specialist suppliers, due to their length of time in the market.
Aluminium Decking:
This is typically sold in a standard 3.6m length and are not a huge seller here in U.K.
The Pros & Cons of Using Longer Decking Boards
In our experience and feedback most customers are looking for different length due to their project dimensions. Many customers do assume that longer boards are always better, but its key point out they come with clear trade-offs.
The Advantages (The "Pros"):
A Cleaner, More Seamless Look:
The primary benefit is aesthetic. Using longer boards means you will have fewer butt joints (where two board ends meet), resulting in a cleaner, smoother, and more professional-looking finish.
Faster Installation:
For simple, rectangular decks, using longer boards can reduce the number of cuts you need to make, which can speed up the installation process.
The Disadvantages (The "Cons"):
Less Stable & More "Bouncy":
A longer board is naturally more flexible than a shorter one. If you use long boards, it is absolutely critical that your subframe joists are correctly spaced (max 300mm centres) to provide enough support and prevent a “bouncy” feeling underfoot.
Higher Risk of Warping:
Longer boards have more internal stress and can be more prone to warping if not installed perfectly.
Higher Delivery Costs:
This is a crucial “hidden cost” that many homeowners in the UK overlook.
Expert Tip: In our experience, delivery and courier companies in the UK classify items over 4m in length as “ugly freight.” This means the delivery cost for a 4.8m decking board can be significantly higher than for a standard 3.6m and 4m board. Always factor this into your budget when comparing prices.
Conclusion: Choosing the Right Length for Your Project
While longer boards can create a more enhanced and seamless finish, for most standard UK garden decks, using a more common length like 3.6m often provides the best balance of aesthetics, stability, and overall cost-effectiveness once high delivery charges are factored in. Always plan your deck layout before ordering to minimise waste and choose the most efficient board length for your design. At Ultra Decking we are the first and only provide to offer the widest range of composite decking boards length from 2.4m to 4.8m composite decking boards.
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