Installation Tips & Techniques
Although the installation of ResiDeck composite wood decking tiles is very straightforward and trouble-free, there are a number of simple tips and techniques we have learned over the years that can help make installation even easier.
Leave a small gap at boundary walls
If you're planning to install ResiDeck tiles in an area bordered by walls on two sides, we recommend you don't place the tiles directly in contact with the boundary walls. Unless you are positive that the walls are perfectly at right angles to each other, if the angle of the two walls is less than 90° (which is often the case), then you'll have a minor alignment issue if you have not planned for an appropriate gap against one of the walls.
Making a template for cutting tiles
If you need to fit ResiDeck tiles around pipes, posts or other fixed objects, you can easily cut the tiles with a hand saw, power saw or jigsaw. The best way to do this is to make a cardboard template the same size as the decking tile. Cut out the section of your template where the pipe or post is situated, then use this template to cut the tile to the same size. With any tiles that are cut, make sure that all the slats are securely fastened to the plastic base with at least two screws, adding extra screws as necessary via the pre-formed screw holes in the base.
Leave a small gap at corners of walls
When fitting the tiles against a boundary wall, do not butt the tiles firmly against the wall but leave a small gap between the boundary wall and the tiles to allow for slight expansion/contraction of the composite wood or plastic base due to temperature or climate variations.
Start laying from an outside corner
If you are installing ResiDeck tiles on a patio, balcony or rooftop with open sides, we recommend that you start laying the tiles from the outside of the decking area and work inwards towards the wall of the house in an expanding triangular manner. This will allow you to size and cut the tiles necessary to fit neatly into the gap remaining between the last row of complete tiles and the boundary wall of the house
Filling in small gaps at boundary walls
If your deck design has a gap of less than one tile's width against an inside wall or around a fixed object, one attractive alternative instead of cutting tiles to fit, is to fill the gap with pebbles, volcanic rock, bark or some other landscaping material.
ResiDeck composite wood decking tiles offer exceptional opportunities for creative landscaping. One popular design option is to leave out a few tiles and fill the space with other landscaping materials such as pebbles or colored rock
Alternative edge treatment
Whilst the ResiDeck range of tiles does not include any edge reducers, you could either use our clip on SwiftDeck or LinkDeck hardwood edge reducers or alternatively screw a length of L-shaped anodized aluminum (about 1" x 1") to the edge of the outer row of tiles.
