Composite Wood (WPC) Surfaces Guide

Composites also generally have the added benefit of being less likely to split, delaminate or be attacked by termites. Composite Wood can be engineered to be lighter weight for easier handling and fire rated. Developments in composite wood technology are making the use of composites more and more versatile meeting the demands of an ever-expanding market, from light weight composites, fire rated composites, to shaping composites on site delivering intricate shapes and patterns etc.

Two main types of composite available to the Australian consumer are WPC Composite (Wood Plastic Composite) and Capped Composite (Capped Stock Composite). So, what’s the difference between the two?

With all good intentions, advertising campaigns were geared towards composite wood not requiring sanding or painting, being more stain, scratch, and mould resistant, exhibiting longer life and requiring less maintenance than natural wood, but in practice this is not so.

Raw materials used to make composite wood do succumb to effects of the harsh Australian climate. Defects in composites can vary depending on their source, from product break down or dissolution in high wet areas, bleaching or turning white when exposed to direct sunlight, excessive colour fading, warping, mould and fungal attack, excessive expansion and contraction, excessive heat absorption becoming too hot to walk on, rotting of structural timber between the composite wood and structural timber interface, high degree of slippage especially when wet, prone to staining and so on.

Composite Wood does not deteriorate like natural timber, it does not become grey but often fades to a washed-out shade from its original colour giving a plastic-like or synthetic appearance. The rate of deterioration will be subject to composition, geographical location, level of exposure to weather elements such as sun wind and rain, level and frequency of foot traffic, degree of wear and tear due to abrasive materials such as sand and sea salt, time allowed for dirt and grime to lock in and concentrate microbial degradation and poor construction methods for example poor ventilation and so on.

New composite materials are constantly hitting the market with the same degree of high-performance expectations, but ultimately the common reality is that nothing truly is ‘maintenance free’, all flooring/cladding especially external surfaces need periodic cleaning and maintenance for longevity.

Culminating from a combination of 10 years field work, research and development Aqualis Coatings has developed a range of products specifically designed for the composite care market. At present when it comes to coating, the only type of composites which can be treated to some degree like timber are the WPC Composites.

Despite the vast range of suppliers and formulations of WPC composites in the market, most can be coated and restored to new using Aqualis Composite Care products. It must be stressed that due to variations in composite formulae and a multitude of possible defects a test piece be coated before any full-scale repairs be undertaken.

The Aqualis Composite Care system is a multi-step coating process designed to safely strip old coatings using Aqualis ‘Strip Ease’, clean using Aqualis ‘Composite Bright’, treat mould and algal growth with Aqualis ‘No Fungal Pro”, replenish lost colour using Aqualis ‘Refresh’, seal the surface from stains and water ingress using Aqualis ‘Composite Sealer’ and provide anti-slip where required using Aqualis ‘Traction’.

It is advisable to contact the respective supplier of your composite before any restoration work can be undertaken to avoid any potential warranty issues.