Wood Plastic Composite (WPC)

The CDECK is a range of innovative products resulting from several years of research and development into high performance composite materials. Designed to withstand the most demanding climatic conditions, so as to be an ideal solution for outdoor decking, both in residential and commercial areas, including terraces, balconies, gardens, pools, esplanades, marinas, etc.

In addition to its great strength and durability, this is a product of great aesthetic value that harmonises well with different architectural styles. It is made in Portugal to high standards of quality and meets strict environmental requirements.

What sets it apart is its ease of assembly and the advantages of its floating fixture system.

The CDECK combines aesthetics, strength and durability with ease of assembly and maintenance.

The boards are made out of a composite that combines wood with thermoplastic, PVC. In the case of the CDECK, this is better known as WPC (Wood Plastic Composite).

IHT uses PVC over other polymers, because it has high chemical and mechanical resistance levels, good thermal stability and a high level of resistance to radiation and other climatic elements. Its versatility and its working life (greater than 50 years) means that it is used in products ranging from construction (e.g.: pipes; window frames; false ceilings; etc...) to health (e.g.: blood bags, catheters, etc...).

The proportion of wood in the CDECK is around 50%.

The wood acts as a functional load in the mixture, and is the cheapest raw material component. High percentages of wood reduce the cost of the product, but that reduces performance, increasing water absorption and, as a result, change in size. On the other hand, low percentages improve its behaviour with regard to water but increase the cost and worsen its aspect, as the product retains a plastic appearance. Each manufacturer finds their balance between quality and cost. In the case of CDECK, the proportion of wood was set to achieve a high performance in all mechanical characteristics and water absorption, without compromising the appearance of the product.

In fact, there are other additives other than wood or polymer which cause major differences in the WPC's performance. This involves adding elements such as impact modifiers, UV filters, antioxidants, stabilizers, compatibilizers, etc., such that you can have products which seem equal but show extraordinarily different characteristics. This results in rich and well-balanced formulations which lead to products such as CDECK which show extraordinary performance with mechanical resistances 2 to 3 times greater than present-day WPCs.

High mechanical performance (the hollow decking is more resistant than most of the solid decking that is on the market, and 2 to 3 times more resistant than most hollow decking) due to its format and method of production;
The boards have two different finishes, and the client can choose which they wish to use;
Fastening system using clips which saves fitting time and resources (screws);
Joists are in PVC or aluminium to ensure greater durability;
Allows boards to be opened individually (pro intermediate clip);
Only needs one screw per board;
Variety of board colours (6) and clips (3);
Hollow and solid boards with the same configurations, which allows you to mix the two types of boards in a single fitting;

Having the joists in PVC or in aluminium ensures greater durability, because in most cases the joists are in direct contact with the ground, which means that they are subject to the action of humidity and biological agents, etc. Since PVC is immune to humidity and the other agents, it does not deteriorate, neither does it undergo alterations in size, thus ensuring a longer life for the whole system.

The CDECK system has an expected lifetime of more than 30 years. It should also be noted that both the colour and the comfort to the touch of the CDECK will remain unchanged throughout its useful life, unlike wooden decks over the years, and as a result of the constant variation in humidity and temperature, will have cracks, will lose its elasticity and consequently will appear the barbs and discomfort in the tread.

The CDECK is a semi-natural product, so variations in colour and texture are likely to appear over time. During the first months after outdoor fitting, the colour will gradually change until it stabilises. The boards will take on a final colour which is lighter and more natural than the original colour, due to the absorption of water by the wooden fibres. Once stabilised, colour and texture remain virtually unchanged.

Can or should the boards be painted? No. The CDECK should not be painted or varnished, as this type of treatment can lead to a deterioration of the boards.

Yes. Besides being free from knots and splinters, CDECK is also non-slip even when the flooring is wet.

Yes. It is also resistant to treatments used in swimming pools.

CDECK’s heat transmission factor is very similar to wood, which makes its behaviour very similar. Just as with wood, the darker colours will heat up more than the lighter ones, due to the fact that they absorb more radiation. Hollow boards will heat up a little less than solid ones given that they are ventilated.

CDECK solid and hollow boards have exactly the same external configuration, and are made of the same material, and the difference is just that the former are solid within and the latter hollow within.

Advantages - The solid boards have greater mechanical resistance than the hollow ones and have less variation in size due to moisture;
Disadvantages - Solid boards (when made with the same composition as hollow ones) are more expensive, because they contain much more raw material. As they have greater mass and a lesser exposed area, they heat up more than the hollow ones.;

No. Since the CDECK boards are made out of WPC, they contain wood and so they may undergo alterations in their configuration when permanently positioned underwater.

The choice of (solid or hollow) boardsdepends on several factors, starting with the quality of the product. With most existing composites on the market, especially those made of Polyethylene or Polypropylene, the use of hollow boards is discouraged for any situation, because their mechanical strength is usually very low (between 25 to 50% of the CDECK strength).
With CDECK, the use of solid boards is only needed in very particular situations, such as: - Extremely cold environments, where temperatures easily fall below 20° negative. - Environments which are always extremely humid, such as saunas or indoor swimming pools with constantly high temperature and humidity levels. - Environments or areas with a high risk of full or partial submersion of the boards, or areas where water will probably enter inside the hollows, such as swimming pools where the unloading areas are on the flooring - Areas probably subject to high mechanical impacts, such as catering areas where beer barrels, gas bottles, etc., are unloaded. The CDECK is available both as solid and hollow boards, with the same configuration, so that in one installation, where there are areas as described above, the two solutions can be combined. Even so, it should be noted that the hollow CDECK is more durable than most of the solid decking available in the market.

1. CTOOL
2. Rubber hammer;
3. 4 mm screwdriver;
4. Drill;
5. Power driver;
6. Circular Cutting Machine (with disc for wood);
7. Drill bits;
8. Measuring tape;
9. Materials specified in data sheet;

No. The CDECK has been developed as a system where each component has a specific role and, therefore, should always be fitted with the respective accessories, to ensure durability and long term stability.

In principle, anyone can fit the CDECK, given how easy it is and IHT provides a factsheet with all the rules for fitting, and even an online video explaining how it is done, providing you have the right tools.

The CDECK can be fitted in any area/location provided it meets the conditions specified in the corresponding Factsheet.

No, the boards can never be fitted directly into the ground, because it is necessary to ensure an air cavity between the boards and the ground, and this air cavity is ensured by the joists.

The CDECK joists must be fastened to the ground. If it is not possible to screw them (for example, because the flooring is waterproofed), the joists can be glued using a glue which adheres to the PVC and to the flooring. It is extremely important to ensure good fitting, and the joists should be generously placed throughout the whole fitting.

No, for three reasons:

1. The earth may move in certain areas, which would make the flooring curved;

2. As previously explained, the joists have to be well fastened to the flooring, so that the changes in size of the boards, due to variations in humidity and temperature, will not lead to it being raised in certain areas, especially at the edges.

3. Earth leads to the appearance and growth of plants, which sooner or later will clog the air cavity which is required in the lower part.

There are two ways to do this.The first involves creating a self-supporting structure using the CDECK system accessories and respecting what is defined in the Installation Manual of the Data Sheet. This structure should be based on concrete bases or removable slabs with sufficient area to distribute the weight without causing the soil to sink, while ensuring that no weeds or plants grow under the floor, which can be achieved by placing a geotextile blanket over the entire area.
The second way is to place inverted concrete beams under the supports (screwing the supports to the concrete beams and ensuring the distances indicated on the data sheet), supporting them to the full extent (in order to create a robust structure)and placing geotextile blanket at the intervals of the beams, to ensure that no weeds or plants will grow under the deck. To give greater stability to the whole system, one can also fill the intervals between the beams with stone or gravel.

No, it is absolutely essential to ensure the correct spacing between boards, because variations in temperature and humidity will lead to variations in the size of the boards and, if the gaps specified in the factsheets are not complied with, the decking may warp, lift or break.

Due to the extraordinary mechanical performance of the CDECK, what is more likely is that the decking will force the other materials around it to give way, which may lead to the breaking of the surrounding walls.

If I need to replace a board without pro clips, what should I do? If the board you wish to remove is located at the start of the platform, you should remove the terminal clip and then remove the board normally. If the ruler is located at the centre of the platform and does not contain pro intermediate clips, you should cut the intermediate clips with the aid of an angle grinder, and then refit the board with pro intermediate clips.

Can I fit facade boards on the flooring to hide seals? No, the facade board should not be used for flooring, because it is important for the composites to have good water drainage.

The facade gap is not sufficient for them to be used in flooring.

The CDECK should be washed using a high pressure washer ensuring a minimum distance of 30 cm between the jet outlet and the boards, and with a maximum pressure of 150 bar, always washing in the direction of the length of the boards. You can also use mild detergent, or a chlorinated solution (water with a little bleach) and a soft brush.

At the end of the fitting, due to the amount of dust that is produced, we recommend the deck to be carefully cleaned with water, mild detergent and a soft brush. During the lifetime of the decking, maintenance involves only regular cleaning, depending on need and usage. To clean you can use a chlorinated solution (with a little bleach).

For more persistent stains or spots, caused by the fall of products on the boards, act immediately to reduce the absorption of these products by the wood fibres, washing the boaand rubbing with a steel straw mop in the direction of their length. If you cannot remove them through this process, you can brush the rulers with a steel brush or sand them. This action will cause a color difference in the intervened zone, however, this difference will disappear with color stabilization. If you prefer not to brush or sand the rules, it is more likely that over time and with regular washings, the stains tend to be less visible or disappear altogether.

Yes. The CDECK, provided that it is installed and maintained in accordance with the rules set out in the data sheet, has a warranty period of twenty-five (25) years in the case of installation in private residential space, or ten (10) years in the case of installation in commercial space or public access.