How Do You Finish The Edges Of Your Decking Area?

Composite decking areas are a great place for relaxing, entertaining, and somewhere safe for the kids to play. They provide a solid, useful garden zone that’s likely to be your most popular outdoor space for years to come.

One question we often get asked is how do I finish the edges of my decking area?  Well, broadly speaking there are 2 options for finishing off the edge of your decking area, and also the option of closing the vertical face of your decking area if it is raised off the ground, which hides the subframe from view.  In the article, we will go over the different ways to finish the edges of your decking area.

Edge Finishing Details for Your Composite Decking Area

Detail 1 – Composite Bullnose Edging Deck Board

Detail 2 – Composite Decking Corner Trim

Detail 3 – Vertical Composite Decking Face

Composite Bullnose Edging Deck Board

Bullnose decking boards are typically the neatest option for finishing off around your decking area, providing a smart and seamless edge detail. The slight protrusion of the bullnose edge mimics that found on typical stair treads, making it perfect for steps and staircases too.  Bullnose deckboards typically has exactly the same finish as the main decking boards, the difference being that the outside edge is rounded to create the bullnose. The rounded edge protrudes beyond the edge of the subframe allowing a vertical decking board to be installed below creating an attractive corner detail.

Bullnose decking boards are installed using hidden t-clips and screws in the same way as the main decking boards, providing a very neat and attractive finish. One of the significant benefits of the bullnose decking board is that they finish flush with the rest of the decking, reducing trip hazards and giving a clean, contemporary look.

Both the Luxxe™ Woodgrain and Classic™ Grooved Composite Decking from Ovaeda are complimented by a matching bullnose board – get your free samples here, or to view the bullnose decking boards or place an order click here

Composite Decking Corner Trim

Another popular edge finishing detail for Composite Decking is a corner trim.  These product match the colours of the the composite decking boards perfectly. We would recommend using a bullnose decking board for finishing the perimeter of your decking where possible, but the corner trims also provide a neat alternative option for finishing the edges.  Where a bullnose board can’t be used, for example on vertical corners, corner trims provide a very neat finish to the decking.

There are two methods of installation for corner trims:

• Use a suitable outdoor adhesive to glue the corner trim to the decking. We have found the best performing adhesive for this purpose is Power Grab & Bond.  Roughen the inside surfaces of the corner trim to aid adhesion, and apply the adhesive to this surface, ensuring that you don’t go too close to the outside edge. Once applied, press firmly into place, and allow to dry fully before using the decking area.  This will ensure a strong bond and prevent the corner trim from coming loose

The alternative method of fixing corner trims is to fasten them with stainless steel screws in addition to the adhesive.  This will only be necessary if the adhesive bond fails, which can occasionally happen in high traffic areas etc.  With this method, carry out step one fixing the corner trim with adhesive, then predrill the corner trims and the decking board behind it to prevent the composite from splitting.  Where possible, countersink the holes in the corner trim to avoid the screws sitting proud of the corner trim once installed.

Vertical Faces

Vertical faces are actually quite easy to create and are a great way of covering up unsightly subframes. There are two main finishing materials to use when creating fascia’s. First up is the actual deck board that has been used on the main area. This is a sure-fire way of getting exactly the same finish for the fascia as the actual decking itself. This is the option that we recommend going with. The other option is to use an actual fascia board. This is much thinner than the deckboard itself so is weaker and is harder to match to the deck board.

To install vertical fascia on open edges of your decking, the process is similar to the main decking installation. Install vertical joists spaced at 300-500mm onto the edge of your subframe. Start by installing starter/end clips onto the bottom of the vertical joists and install your boards from the bottom up. Fix boards to the verticals using hidden fasteners. Once you come to the top board of the vertical fascia, direct fix at a 45-degree angle into the vertical joist, remembering to predrill the holes through both the deck board and the joist behind.

View our 3D Illustration to see a typical application for Composite Corner Trims

Next Steps

Why not order free decking sample pack, or order the corner trims needed to finish your decking area?

You can also call us on 0208 159 2999 or send us an email to sales@ovaeda.com to get quotes, guidance and any technical support with your plans. If you think you will require the help with your decking installation, we would be delighted to put you in touch with one of our approved installers.