3 Steps to Buy Composite Decking
Designing and building the most beautiful backyard deck for your outdoor area can feel daunting, but with a bit of research and some expert deck designer help, creating a dream deck for your family can be both rewarding and straightforward! One of the first steps to crafting your space is to choose and purchase the decking of your choice.
Whether selecting classic pressure-treated decking, rich and warm cedar deck boards, or one of the innovative composite decking lines, follow these steps below to learn how to estimate and buy decking of any type. You'll learn about top brands such as Trex decking, how much decking covers a square foot, hidden fasteners and more so you can become a deck expert!
As always, if you have any questions on what type of decking will work best for you, deck design help overall, or any other deck building detail, please feel free to give one of our deck designers a call at 1-888-824-5316. Or send in an email to hello@decksdirect.com with some project photos and we can start planning from there!
Step 1: Browse decking image galleries
Check out image galleries and photos online to find the decking look, style, and color that you want for your outdoor space. Do you want a natural, organic-looking wood tone to blend seamlessly in with the nature surrounding your home? Or are you looking for a bold, dynamic composite decking color that gives your outdoor living area a dramatic pop of color? Knowing the style and tone you want to set for your deck will help you make the best decision going forward.
With hundreds of composite deck board lines, profiles, and designs available, it's also important to look at the technical details of deck boards. Then you'll know how it applies to your deck project and be sure you're making a solid choice. Shop between capstock options, lengths, manufacturer warranties, and more to choose the line that works best for your deck needs.
Step 2: Measure your deck and estimate how many composite deck boards you'll need for your space.
With your decking choice on the ready, now it's time to measure your deck and estimate your deck board count.
Start by sketching out your deck shape. Measure each straight edge along the outside perimeter of your deck and note it on your draft. Unsure about the exact length? Round up to the closest foot.
Next, measure the inner borders of your space where it meets the house, measure and label each straight segment.
Now if your deck includes a staircase, provide the total height, width, and length of your stair stringer. Lastly, mark down any obstacles on your deck such as air conditioning units or columns.
Watch this incredibly helpful video below to learn how to measure your deck to get an accurate deck board estimate:
Step 3: Confirm your deck board count, place an order, and enjoy!
Before you place your order, we strongly recommend giving your deck board estimate a double-check with one of our deck professionals. This way we can avoid any additional shipping costs and ensure that you have everything you need to complete your deck!
We can also help you pick out and estimate your deck board fasteners! From Hidden Deck Fasteners and Clips to Wood Deck Screws or color-matching Composite Deck Screws, we'll make sure that you have all the parts and pieces you'll need for a one-stop deck shopping experience!