Cladding

WPC is an extruded natural timber replacement cladding made from a mix of plastic (virgin and recycled) and cellulose fibre (wood/bamboo/rice).

It was invented in the USA and refined in the late 1980’s/the early 1990s. Primarily designed as a substitute for certain types of timber cladding (i.e. decking) products, it is currently produced and sold all over the world and is one of the best external cladding options currently available.

WPC cladding materials offer a low maintenance alternative to timber clad products with no oiling or staining required and the option of a concealed fix.

Unlike timber cladding systems, using WPC external cladding products ensure that there are no splinters, sap or tannins runs, no rotting, it's low maintenance and it is also white ant/ termite resistant.

To put it simply, no. The products all vary according to the type, quality, and quantity of the raw materials used for cladding as well as the profile of the extrusion, quality of tooling, and the skill/knowledge/IP of the external cladding manufacturer.

Futurewood cladding uses the highest grades of recycled polyolefin (plastic from post-industrial waste), hardwood wood flour, rice husks, pigments, UV inhibitors and fungicides for cladding products. In the harsh Australian environment, solid WPC decking and cladding are preferred to hollow WPC decking and cladding due to the differences in surface area/moisture absorption, and profile strength/design.

Finish, look and the weathering (colour change) of WPC decking or fencing products should all be considered before deciding which brand of WPC that you choose.

Fixing of the decking boards is also an important consideration as not all concealed fixing options are the same; some types of concealed fixing are expensive and cumbersome and require glue to be used under each board. Futurewood NewTech deck clips are quick and easy to use, reduce installation time (saving labour costs), and are very economically priced. There are 4 different clips in the range that cover every type of installation and provide the complete NewTech composite deck board fixing system.

Futurewood is made from a combination of cellulose material (25% hardwood wood flour & 30% rice husks) and 35% recycled polyolefin (plastic from post-industrial waste).

These main ingredients for products are classified as recycled and represent 90% of the overall material. They are combined with colour pigments, UV inhibitors, fungicides and bonding agents to deliver very low maintenance and a sustainable alternative to the rainforest natural timber, typically used for outdoor decking and fencing in Australia.

The standard length boards are 5400mm long. Custom length boards are available subject to certain conditions. The standard colours are Walnut, Slate Grey, Weatherstone, Mahogany and Chocolate.

Slight colour variation between boards is natural. However, we recommend that wherever possible, you purchase all of the boards required for your project from one batch in order to avoid more extreme colour variations that may occur between different batch runs.

CleverDeck is produced using a proprietary blend of plastic and cellulose fibre materials.

The formulation has been designed and tested to meet the demands of a typical Australian deck when installed in accordance with the fixing recommendations.

For further information regarding design and performance characteristics of products, refer to the technical specifications.

CleverDeck will heat up at a slightly higher rate than timber when exposed to direct sunlight.

Darker colours will retain more surface heat (up to 25 degrees Celsius above the ambient temperature).

CleverDeck and EnviroSlat profiles will burn like most timbers.

Some councils are now applying the relatively new Australian Standard for BAL (Bushfire Attack Levels) to new deck construction. CleverDeck complies with some of the lower levels of the BAL; refer to Futurewood staff for further information regarding BAL options and fire resistance.

CleverDeck and EnviroSlat are produced with a non-chemical reactive polymer base and have an extremely high level of moisture resistance.

However, any chemical/liquid spills should be washed off immediately to avoid the potential of any staining of the cellulose material that will occur over time if the spill is allowed to remain on the decking or fencing material. Fat, wine and other foodstuffs may stain the material if left to soak in overtime.

We recommend cleaning with Handy Andy or standard Omo powder. We do not recommend using bleach as it may affect the colour pigment (refer to the Futurewood care and maintenance guidelines for more information).

The colour in CleverDeck decking and EnviroSlat fencing and external cladding runs right through the boards.

These boards are made with Ultra-Violet inhibitors that help protect the colour pigments used in the product from continual exposure to UV radiation.

The colour will soften over the first 4-12 weeks that your deck is exposed to the elements. This is a natural bedding-in process caused through the lightening of the cellulose fibre in the formulation. Once the initial colour weathering has taken place the lightened shade will be maintained over many years.

Most CleverDeck products are supplied with a 10-year warranty against rotting and termite damage.

The special polymers used in the formulation of CleverDeck will ensure that you enjoy years of low maintenance use, unlike some timbers that will rot and deteriorate after only a few years if not properly maintained. Deck Tiles carry a 1-year warranty.

CleverDeck is supplied in a fully finished condition, unlike most timber decking.

When you consider the cost of cleaning; sealing/oiling/staining of a timber deck and the ongoing maintenance associated with annual oiling etc. CleverDeck should save you a considerable amount of time and money over the many years of its useful life compared with high maintenance timber.

Refer to the Futurewood “cost calculator” on our web site to help you compare the costs between CleverDeck and Merbau timber. Simply type in all of your own quoted prices to determine the cost comparison between CleverDeck and your alternative timber for your job.

CleverDeck and EnviroSlat can be worked with normal woodworking tools.

CleverDeck can be fixed using NewTech Deck Clips providing a very appealing concealed fix finish or it can be screwed to timber or metal joists by drilling directly through the face of the board. EnviroSlat can be fixed to our black powder-coated aluminum fence posts or any other type of posts or frame using a range of different screw types. Refer to the appropriate Futurewood fixing guidelines for more information.

CleverDeck will span a maximum of 450mm between joist spacings in domestic installations when installed at 90 degrees to the joist. Generally speaking, the closer the joist spacing the better the deck will perform.

Therefore, better performance will be achieved if you reduce your joist spacing to 400mm and even better performance will be achieved with joist spacings of 300mm.

For further information on angled installations refer to the CleverDeck fixing guidelines.

EnviroSlat should be fixed at a maximum 900mm centres for multiple spans and 600mm for single spans.

For further information refer to the EnviroSlat cladding fixing guidelines.

No, CleverDeck and EnviroSlat are designed for use as either decking or fencing and are both classed as “non-structural” materials.

No, CleverDeck is machined to give it a non-slip finish after it is extruded so that it provides an excellent slip-resistant surface in either wet or dry conditions.

CleverDeck has undergone various slip resistance testing and been rated at the R11 level when tested by the CSIRO.

Yes, CleverDeck and EnviroSlat cladding, like most materials, will expand as they heat and contract as they cool.

Boards generally expand in length with very little change to their width. Your decking design should allow for this and we recommend that long lengths of decking are not butt joined to each other.

The preferred method of installing long lengths of decking would be to use a breaker board between the long boards running at 90 degrees.

Refer to the CleverDeck fixing guidelines for more information.

EnviroSlat cladding system needs to be fixed at either 600mm or 900mm intervals with an appropriate gap/spacing at the ends of the boards. Refer to the EnviroSlat cladding house fixing guidelines for more information.

CleverDeck and EnviroSlat cladding have a fungicide added to the formulation that helps to reduce the risk of mold growing within the material under normal conditions.

Due to the ability of mold spores to be transported in the air, it is important to keep the surface of your CleverDeck or EnviroSlat cladding free of dirt and other contaminants to reduce the incidence of mold growing on your deck or fence. Damp areas with little or no airflow will promote mold growth and regular cleaning of your deck or fence will be required under these conditions.

CleverDeck and EnviroSlat cladding have a very low moisture absorption rate and are impervious to the effects of salt air and saltwater.

As such they are highly suitable for use in coastal areas and around pools, spas and water features. Care should be taken to avoid spilling any highly corrosive swimming pool chemicals on CleverDeck or EnviroSlat cladding. Any spills should be cleaned up and washed off immediately.

CleverDeck and EnviroSlat are primarily made from discarded rice husks, hardwood wood flour (sawdust) and recycled polyolefin (plastic from post-industrial waste), making them an excellent environmentally friendly product in their own right.

These products can be classed as 100% recycled. A small amount of colour pigment, UV inhibitor and other chemicals are added to the recycled products in order to produce a high-quality final product.

When you consider that by choosing CleverDeck or EnviroSlat cladding, you are not using Merbau or any other rainforest timber it makes your decision even more environmentally sound with a low carbon footprint!

CleverDeck is produced to a level of hardness that makes it suitable for the general traffic use required of a domestic/residential deck.

The product is supplied with a machined, indented finish on the 138mm boards and a coarse sanded finish on the 86mm boards.

Larger scratches caused by dragging heavy objects over the deck may be difficult to remove so we recommend that any outdoor furniture is fitted with appropriate protection under the legs/ feet to avoid any major scratching from moving tables and chairs over the deck.

Most scratches can be removed by light sanding however, care should be taken to ensure that the indented grain is not removed in the process. Alternatively, as the boards have the same finish on both surfaces, damaged boards can be turned over by unscrewing the deck clip screws, sliding the deck clips out from between the boards and then turning over the board/boards with the damaged sides and sliding the deck clips back into position and refastening them.

EnviroSlat fencing boards are made to the same hardness and finish as the 138mm CleverDeck decking boards so that the surface will hide any minor scratching but care should be taken when handling the boards to make sure that they are not dropped or dragged over sharp objects as they are prefinished. Refer to the Futurewood care and maintenance guidelines for more information.

CleverDeck requires only occasional cleaning in order to keep the surface free of dirt and general grime.

We recommend normal sweeping and cleaning of your deck at regular intervals. You can use a pressure washer to clean your deck but do not run this at greater than 8Mpa (1200 PSI) or position the nozzle within 300mm from the deck surface otherwise this may mark the surface of the deck.

Periodic cleaning with a mild detergent or household cleaner will help to keep the surface in top condition and will greatly reduce the potential of any mold growth forming on dirt or food scraps left to build-up on the deck. Refer to the care and maintenance guidelines for more information.

EnviroSlat cladding requires only occasional cleaning in order to keep the surface free of dirt and general grime.

We recommend periodic cleaning of your fence or cladding using a mild detergent or household cleaner. You can use a pressure washer to clean your fence or cladding but do not run this at greater than 8Mpa (1200 PSI) or position the nozzle within 300mm of the boards otherwise this may mark the surface of the boards.

Cleaning will help to keep the cladding boards looking good and will greatly reduce the potential of any mold growth forming on dirt that might build up over time on your cladding. Refer to the care and maintenance guidelines for more information.