Composite decking is growing in popularity because it’s a long lasting and stylish alternative to traditional timber. From the different types of composite decking, homeowners are often curious about the difference between solid and hollow boards. This article explains what the difference is, and the pros and cons of each.
Key Takeaways
- Solid decking is stronger, quieter, and better for high-traffic or moisture-prone areas - ideal for long-term durability.
- Hollow decking is lightweight, more affordable, and easier to handle, making it a popular choice for homeowners.
- Both options are low maintenance, slip-resistant, and longer-lasting than traditional timber decking.
Solid vs hollow: What’s the difference?
Hollow composite decking boards have a hollow centre – less material means they are more affordable and lightweight, but they can’t offer the same level of strength as solid boards.
Solid composite decking boards don’t have a hollow core, so they’re very strong and resistant to pressure or weight.
Solid decking
Solid boards are ideal if you want decking with a very long lifespan. Eurocell’s solid decking comes with a warranty of up to 25 years’ depending on the product. It’s suitable for high traffic areas and can handle loads from heavy garden furniture like couches. Here are some more benefits:
Straightforward installation: Installation can be easier because there’s more material to screw into when joining the boards. Solid boards also don’t need end caps because they aren’t hollow, saving you an installation step.
Less noisy: Solid boards are quieter to walk on because they have no gap in the centre, so they don’t creak. This is ideal if you have children or pets.
Capped: Solid decking tends to be protected with a polyethylene cap, so it can withstand scratches, chips, sun damage and more. This also makes it easier to clean and more moisture resistant.
Light strength to weight ratio: Eurocell’s Sierra and Khaya range has up to 35% lighter strength to weight to make handling easier, while still maintaining its stability.
Moisture resistant: Because of its construction, solid decking is suitable for areas with water features or heavy rainfall because it is moisture resistant.
While solid decking is the more stable option out of the two, it comes with a higher upfront cost, partly because it uses more material. But because it has a longer lifespan, it can be more cost effective in the long run, especially if you plan to get a lot of use from your decking or it will be exposed to moisture. Also take into account that solid boards are heavier, so may be harder to handle.
With any decking project, it’s best to ask for help from a professional tradesperson to install the decking correctly, otherwise you risk voiding the warranty and limiting its lifespan.
Hollow composite decking
Hollow decking boards are a popular choice for many homeowners – and for good reason. The boards are strong, so can withstand the weight of garden furniture and are ideal for lighter footfall, compared to solid boards. Here are a few benefits:
Lightweight: Because the boards aren’t solid all the way through, they are lighter and easier to handle/lift.
Affordable: The boards tend to be less expensive compared to solid boards, so are perfect for homeowners on a tighter budget. At Eurocell, they’re priced from £23 per board.*
Long lasting: The boards can last for well over 20 years if well looked after and even come with warranty with Eurocell. That’s because they’re manufactured from wood and polymer construction, which is more durable than timber on its own.
Resistance: The boards are resistant to warping, splintering, cracking and fading.
Low maintenance: Composite decking, whether solid or hollow, doesn’t need painting or staining for upkeep.
Slip resistant: The boards are anti-slip to prevent any injuries and grooved boards can offer even more grip.
While hollow decking is stronger than timber, solid decking outperforms it in terms of strength and stability. It can become weathered more quickly (especially if it's uncapped).
Choosing between solid and hollow decking
There’s no right or wrong when choosing between solid or hollow decking but you should consider the following:
- Style preference
- How much footfall the area is likely to see
- How long you want it to last
- Budget
Make your garden stylish and functional
Once you’ve decided on the type of decking, you can get creative with the design.
Start thinking about the different shapes, layout or colour. Check out websites like Pinterest or TikTok for inspiration and put together a mood board to visualise your design. Also consider the accessories like coloured screws, matching fencing or whether or not you need a balustrade (a stylish railing ideal if your decking has height).
Check out Eurocell’s range of high-quality composite decking to transform your garden.
FAQs
Is solid or hollow composite decking better?
Both have their pros and cons but neither is ‘better’ – it all depends on your project and style. This might include your budget, how strong your decking needs to be or how you want it to look.
What are the disadvantages of hollow composite decking?
While hollow composite decking may have a low upfront cost, it’s not as durable as solid decking – especially if it's uncapped. It might also be more noisy when stepped on because of its hollow core. That said, hollow boards are stronger and last longer than timber.
What is the most natural looking composite decking?
At Eurocell, our composite decking has an embossed wood grain pattern to keep it looking natural and to help it blend into the surroundings. There are different shades of brown if you want a more natural aesthetic, or black and grey for impact.
*All prices for Eurocell products are correct on the date of publishing. Please check the individual product pages for exact prices at the time of reading as these might be subject to change.