PuraShield Composite Decking

Co-Extruded Composite Decking

PuraShield composite decking is co-extruded, which means two layers are formed together in one pass: a structural core of wood fibre and HDPE plastic, wrapped in a continuous polymer cap that is bonded to it under heat. The cap is part of the board, not a coating, which is why this is also called capped composite decking. On PuraShield the cap runs all the way round the board, 360°, including inside the round chambers, so no raw core is left exposed.

Rain sits on the surface instead of soaking in, spills and leaf stains lift off, and mould has far less to take hold of. It is the only capped decking we stock, and it sits at the premium end of our composite range, just below the solid Puraboard. The manufacturer backs PuraShield with a warranty of 25 years for residential use and 15 years for commercial use.

What the Cap Does for You

The colour pigment sits inside the cap rather than on the surface, so PuraShield holds its colour better than an uncapped board. In accelerated weathering tests, 2,000 hours of UV, it showed the lowest colour change of any board in the Pura decking range. Expect a slight mellowing over the first six months, then a steady tone. The cap earns its place in the places where an uncapped board struggles:

• South-facing decks (full sun all day): the in-cap pigment holds the colour evenly.
• Coastal gardens (salt air): the sealed surface takes the weather without soaking it up.
• Barbecue and dining areas (grease and spills): stains sit on the cap and wipe away.
• Decks under trees (leaf litter and damp): there is no open fibre on the surface for mould to grow into.
• Busy family decks (daily wear): the cap stands up to scuffs better than an uncapped board.

Co-Extruded vs Mono-Extruded Composite Decking

A mono-extruded board is one blend of wood fibre and plastic all the way through, with no cap. It costs less and wears well, but the surface is more open to stains and fading. Here is where PuraShield sits in our range, from entry to top:

• PuraPro composite decking: mono-extruded square hollow, 135×25 mm, the best value per m².
• PuraPlus composite decking: the same construction on a wider 145×21 mm board.
• PuraPrime composite decking: mono-extruded round hollow, 140×22 mm, stiffer, with an anti-slip reverse face.
• PuraShield: co-extruded and capped all round, 138×22.5 mm, in three lengths.
• Puraboard solid composite decking: a solid 175×22 mm polyurethane board with no wood and no hollow chambers.

On a sheltered back garden deck, PuraPro will do the job for less. Where the sun, the sea or the barbecue is the problem, PuraShield is the board that pays for itself.

Choosing a PuraShield Board Length

Every PuraShield board is 138×22.5 mm with a round hole core, and every colour comes in all three lengths. That makes it our only composite decking sold in more than one length, so you choose the length first and the colour second. Measure the run the boards will cover, then pick the board that gets closest without a short offcut:

• Shortest board: for small decks, steps and short runs, where a longer board would mostly end up as offcut.
• Middle length: the all-rounder for a typical garden deck, as on PuraShield Teak decking.
• Longest board: crosses most domestic decks with no end joint on a straight run, so the surface reads as one unbroken run, as on PuraShield Cedar decking.

Choose the length on the product page, then enter your area in the calculator there and it works out how many you need; the cart adds the fixings and extras.

PuraShield Colours

The six colours fall into three families: greys, a black and wood tones. Every board carries some variation in tone and grain, which is what keeps a large deck from looking flat:

• Light Grey: a clean, neutral pale grey. Light grey composite decking opens up a smaller deck and stays bright on overcast days.
• Dark Grey: a deep anthracite that anchors a scheme but still reads as grey, not black.
• Ebony Black: a true deep black with a fine grain that avoids the flat look of cheaper black boards.
• Cedar: a soft mid-honey tone that reads as real wood at first glance, so cedar composite decking suits modern and traditional houses alike.
• Teak: a rich, warm tone with a red-brown depth, for the character of mature hardwood.
• Ipé: a deep, warm chocolate brown, named after the South American hardwood it imitates.

Slip Rating and Reversible Faces

PuraShield is reversible, with a smooth face on one side and a wood grain face on the other. It is rated R10 on the ramp slip test (EN 16165), where the higher the R number, the steeper the slope a tester can walk on a wet, oiled surface before slipping. Choose the face that suits your house as you lay each board.

Fitting and Finishing a PuraShield Deck

PuraShield fits like any composite deck, with two differences: the end gap and the saw. The PuraShield installation manual has the full detail; the basics are:

• Joists: space them at 350 mm centres, measured from the middle of one joist to the next, on composite or timber decking joists, or on adjustable decking pedestals over a slab or roof.
• Clips and screws: hidden clips hold each board down; PuraFix stainless screws with colour-matched heads fix edgeboards and steps. Find both in our decking screws and fixings. Within 3 km of the sea, use A4 (marine grade) stainless.
• Gaps: leave 3 mm between boards and 8 mm where board ends meet, a little more than on our uncapped boards.
• Cutting: the cap is harder than the core, so use a fine-toothed blade at moderate speed to avoid chipping the top edge, and pre-drill anywhere you face-fix.
• Edges: PuraShield edgeboards and co-extruded corner trims come in the same six colours, alongside our other decking trims and fascia.

PuraShield in Dublin and Across Ireland

See all six PuraShield colours in our Dublin showroom and collect your order there, or have it delivered anywhere in Ireland. PuraShield is one of five ranges in our composite decking collection.