Have you recently installed new composite decking and have some deck boards left over? Luckily there’s a wealth of ways to use them up!
It may surprise you to hear that you can use composite wood boards in the same way as you would timber boards.
Read on for some creative ways to use your leftover boards – you may even find yourself ordering more so you can keep building!
Can you reuse composite decking?
Absolutely! Anything you can craft with wood, you can also create with composite materials. In fact, composite offers distinct advantages over timber, particularly in terms of durability and low maintenance. This makes it an excellent choice for garden furniture and other outdoor projects, ensuring long-lasting beauty and functionality with far less upkeep.
When people think of composite they tend to only think of deck boards. However, you can also buy composite posts and composite joists that are used for decking subframes and balustrades. These too can be utilised to build a multitude of garden accessories that will last for years to come.
Here are just a few items you can create with your leftover composite boards to help you get started.
Ways to reuse composite deck boards
1. Planters
Composite boards are moisture resistant, which makes them the ideal material for building garden planters and flower boxes. Unlike timber, they need no protective varnishes or paints and come in a variety of colours, so you can either match to your deck or choose a contrasting colour to make them pop!
Simply make a composite (or timber) frame with joists, add a waterproof liner on the inside and composite boards on the outside.
2. Raised beds
Similar to planters, a raised bed is a simple, easy and effective way of repurposing your left-over composite boards. Whilst planters are free-standing and require sides and a base to hold the soil, a raised bed uses boards as the sides around the existing garden bed. Again, fix the boards to a composite or timber frame and then get planting.
3. Tables
Composite boards are the perfect material from which to make an outdoor table. Low maintenance and durable, your new table should last many years, even if it’s left outside all year round. Read more about how to build a composite table.
4. Benches and seating
Composite boards also make the ideal material for benches and seating. Being split and splinter resistant, they’re safe for even the smallest members of the family. Don’t forget you can use composite posts and joists as well as boards to make a truly unique and long lasting creation.
5. Dog house
Give your dog a comfortable shady retreat for those warm summer days. Durable and resistant to moisture and bugs they’ll love you for their new, water-proof home.
6. Storage
A simple storage box is a great addition to your deck, providing somewhere to store outdoor cushions, toys, or gardening accessories. Using left-over composite boards, you can build a box that perfectly suits the size of your deck.
7. Bin enclosure
Disguise unsightly bins by building a composite bin enclosure. As composite boards are easy to clean, they’re the perfect material for a completely unique enclosure, perfectly suited to your garden.
8. Wood store
Many of us now have wood burning stoves, which often means we have a pile of wood at the bottom of our gardens. Why not create a wood store, that’ll not only tidy and protect your timber, but also add a stylish touch to your outdoor space?
9. Flower boxes
A flower or window box is a perfect way of repurposing unused composite boards. As you can make the box any size you choose, you can design it to perfectly fit your window, garden, or deck.
10. Pergolas
Use heavy duty composite posts to build your own pergola in the same way as you’d build one from wood. Bug free, and with no need for ongoing treatments, it will stand the test of time with minimal maintenance.
View our range of composite decking
If we’ve inspired you to try something different with our composite decking boards, or if you have any questions about how to use your excess boards, call our friendly, knowledgeable team today on 01978 667 840.