What to Do with Leftover Composite
Decking

Build a Matching Outdoor Storage Box

Constructing a storage box with composite decking is a perfect way to use leftover materials. You can use it to store all your gardening accessories, garden cushions, or even children’s garden toys.

• It will Stand the Test of Time:

  Since composite decking is a very durable material; a storage box constructed with it is highly resistant to moisture, termites, and other weathering elements.

• It’s Safe and Practical:

  Your new composite storage box will not splinter, making it the perfect place to keep your summer accessories for easy access.

  Expert Tip: When building a storage box, ensure you leave small gaps (3mm) between the slats or install a vent. This allows air circulation and prevents your stored cushions from getting musty.

Construct a Custom Planter Box

Learning how to build a planter box with leftover composite decking is another great idea – Not only will it be a great accessory feature that matches your new deck, but a planter box made with composite will also look modern and aesthetically pleasing.

Why composite boards should be used:

• Perfect for Planting:

  Composite planters will not rot over time like wood, due to their durability and resistance to moisture.

• Safe for Edibles:

  Composite decking boards do not leach chemicals into the soil, making them safe to build planters and raised garden beds, for your vegetables and herbs.

  Expert Tip: Remember to drill drainage holes in the bottom of your planter and line the sides with a porous landscape fabric to keep the soil contained while letting water escape.

Build a Long-Lasting Pet House

As composite decking boards are safe for pets, leftover composite decking can be used to build a pet or bird house in the garden. It’s a perfect addition!

Why it’s a great build:

• Pet Safe:

  It is non-toxic and splinter-free.

• Rot-Resistant:

  Heavily resistant to moisture, you don’t have to worry about mould or mildew issues affecting your pet’s health.

• Easy Clean:

  Muddy paw prints can be wiped off easily with warm soapy water.

Important Consideration: Heat & Ventilation
Composite materials can retain heat in direct sunlight. If you are building a house for a pet:

• Choose Light Colours:

  It is advisable to use lighter coloured boards (like light grey or oak) which reflect more heat than dark charcoal or black boards.

• Ventilation is Key:

  Ensure you design the structure with adequate airflow (vents or open sides) to prevent the interior from becoming too hot.

Expert Tip: If using hollow boards, ensure you use capping or trims on the edges to prevent sharp corners and stop debris from entering the board cavities.

Make a Weatherproof Garden Bench

This material is resistant to water and moisture, making it the perfect material when constructing a garden bench that can be left outside all year round.

Why Leftover Boards are Great for Benches:

• Strong

  They won’t warp, crack, or splinter like timber benches often do.

• Rain-Resistant:

  Rain will not penetrate the material, meaning it won’t rot or decay over time; simply add waterproof cushions for a perfect, comfortable look.

  Expert Tip: Use the “Picture Frame” method (mitred corners) for the seat of the bench to hide the cut ends of the boards and prevent clothing snags.

Add a Stylish Garden Path

Apart from making a bench, you can use leftover composite decking to create a clean, modern and practical path through your garden.

A Great Addition with Added Benefits:

• A path reduces the amount of grass in your garden, helping to limit annual maintenance.
• It provides easy, mud-free access to any area in your garden, whatever the weather.

Expert Tip: Just like when learning how to build the right decking, you should treat this as a mini-build. Do not lay boards directly onto soil. To ensure consistency with your main area, we recommend digging out the path area to a depth of 150mm, laying a weed membrane, and filling with a solid sub-base (like MOT Type 1) before laying your support sleepers. This ensures your path remains stable, level, and weed-free for years to come.

Create a Safe Raised Garden Bed

Do you have a love for gardening and have leftover composite decking to be used – Why not construct a durable, raised garden bed?

A true eco-friendly and safe solution:

• Unlike pressure-treated wood, composite decking does not contain toxic, industrial chemicals and won’t risk leaching them into your soil.
• You have the added benefit of ensuring your home-grown plants will be safe.

Expert Tip: Use stainless steel screws when constructing your raised bed. Since the soil will be wet, standard screws will rust quickly and stain your beautiful composite boards.

Conclusion

As you can see, homeowners can use leftover composite decking for variety of purposes. You can use it to build a bench, pet house, garden bed, or storage box. This can be achieved with no more than your leftover boards, providing added longevity and safety, creating further enhancements and beautiful new features for your garden or even larger structural additions like building a pergola over your deck.