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From what to expect when you first unpack your Millboard, to aftercare tips for looking after your decking and cladding, as well as answers to all of your most common questions.
When you take your first look at your new Millboard decking boards, you will be amazed at the attention to detail, craftsmanship and quality before you. You’ll notice how lightweight yet durable the boards are, ready for immediate use.
There are a few things users are advised to be aware of before diving in and building that dream project:
– A release agent will be present on the surface of the boards when you take delivery of them, which may give a slightly shiny effect. This release agent has been applied so that the finished board can easily be removed from their moulds and will disperse in the weeks following installation.
– Like wood, no two Millboard decking boards are the same colour, with the subtle differences giving the most natural appearance. This is to give your decking all the good looks of a timber deck, but all the structural benefits of a composite deck.
– The boards are moulded under extreme pressure and not extruded, so some dimensional variance is expected. The permitted size tolerances for decking boards are limited to: Width: ± 3mm, Length: ± 5mm, Thickness: ± 2mm.
– As with timber, it may be necessary to trim the ends of the boards during installation, in order to achieve a flush, clean finish.
Millboard decking is extremely versatile and can be used in practically every outdoor space (subject to building control). Create decks, cladding, balconies, roof gardens, boardwalks, bridges, pontoons, seating, steps, planters and more. Millboard can be used as the decorative face for most outdoor designs, as long as it is fixed to a structural element.
Millboard has been designed to replicate the natural variances of timber and it is not intended for the product to have identical shades. Buying all the Millboard decking you need at the same time should help to ensure that the colour is as consistent and it is recommended to always lay out the boards before installation, to create an effective, subtle blend.
Millboard goes to extraordinary lengths to recreate the look of natural timber. As with all products exposed to the elements, including sunlight, snow and rain, Millboard will naturally weather and tone down over time. Slight yellowing, especially in the deeper grain of the decking and cladding boards, will be visible and loss of gloss is also expected and intentional. This is in order to replicate the natural piece of timber it has so carefully been moulded against, along with Millboard’s unique hand-coloured process.
As with all composite products, the surfaces of the boards tend to be hotter than timber when exposed to direct sunlight. Darker colours particularly will feel hotter and may be uncomfortable to walk on in bare feet. Under direct sunlight and high temperature, footwear may be necessary. Special caution should be taken when using decking in areas by heat/UV reflective glass or around pools.
As Millboard is made from a resin mineral composition, it is stable in comparison to timber or composites based on timber. It is recommended to leave a 4mm gap between the sides of boards and a 1mm gap between the ends of boards. A 10mm gap should be left between the boards and any solid surface to aid drainage.
Yes. Millboard will issue you with either a Residential 25 year Limited Warranty or a Commercial 5 year Limited Warranty, depending on the installation application of the boards and if the products are registered within 90 days of the installation. To register your warranty click here.
The Lastane® finish is resistant to food and drink stains and scratches, as well as everyday wear and tear. Sharp objects such as unprotected table or chair legs, spiked shoes, animal claws or metal planter bases can leave marks if dragged across the surface, so take care when moving these items around. The risk of marking from strong dyes and stains such as berries and animal droppings will be reduced if removed as soon as possible. This also applies to cooking oils or fats that come into contact with the surface of the Lastane®.
Please ensure to cover and protect the boards from any surrounding building or landscaping works, painting, rendering or cementitious dust that could contaminate or mark the surface, especially if the boards have been recently installed. Millboard will not be held responsible for issues arising from the boards being affected by foreign substances, as this does not represent a fault with the product. We are able to recommend cleaning solutions that may be used to address contamination concerns or in situations where guidance has not been followed.
Following extensive trials, we recommend Durafix® stainless steel screws, designed specifically for Millboard – this is a requirement of Millboard’s limited warranty. There’s no need to pre-drill or countersink Millboard decking and the unique Lastane® material coating flexes back over the screw-heads, leaving a minimal witness mark. This may be more visible on the lighter colours. Should some of the screws leave larger witness marks, these can be filled.
As the boards are a moulded product, Millboard uses a release agent in the manufacturing process, so when the boards are first delivered this release agent is still on the surface. This may result in the boards looking like they have a shiny or waxed surface or have small particles of dirt and water puddling. This release agent will come off the surface within 6-8 weeks due to natural weathering. This process can be accelerated by cleaning the boards with warm soapy water and stiff brush after installation.
When the boards are first laid, they still have a release agent on the surface, this will come off within 6-8 weeks due to natural weathering and usage.
Surface water will always be more prevalent on Millboard due to it being made from a non-porous composition. Laying the boards to a slight fall away from a building will help to drain the water off the surface, however it will not drain all of the water off the boards. Adhere to relevant gapping on the sides and ends of the boards as per the installation guidance to assist drainage, the boards have a cupping tolerance of 2mm. Surface water can be taken off the surface of the boards with a brush or large squeegee, frost or ice can be removed by spreading white salt across the board surface. When the boards are first laid, they still have a release agent on the surface, which will come off within 6-8 weeks due to natural weathering and usage. The release agent means that the water will form beads or globules over the surface of the boards. Once this release agent has come off, the water will dissipate across the board surface.
There will always be a slight variance in the boards’ dimensions due to the fact that they are moulded from natural oak and due to the pressure of the moulding process. Despite this, the boards are calibrated to maintain as consistent a profile as possible. The manufacturing tolerances are: Width: ± 3mm, Length: ± 5mm, Thickness: ± 2mm. The dimensions of the Weathered Oak style may vary more between moulds due to the fact that they are moulded from timeworn oak with minimal changes to the dimensions. When working with the boards, packers may be required to create a flush finish between two boards.
Dimensional variation is also possible with the Envello® cladding boards and therefore the same manufacturing tolerances are applicable: Width: ± 3mm, Length: ± 5mm, Thickness: ± 2mm.
When using the Shadow Line products, it may be necessary to use the Millboard Multi-Spacers during the installation process, in order to achieve straight and consistent 6mm gapping between boards.
Millboard has been designed to replicate the natural variances of timber and it is not intended for the product to have identical shades. Buying all the Millboard cladding you need at the same time should help to ensure that the colour is consistent.
Samples are provided as a representation of the product and customers are advised to view full boards in a showroom prior to purchase, in order to fully appreciate the product.
The Shadow Line+ cladding boards have been tested to BS EN 13501-1 and have a classification of D-s3, d0. The Board & Batten+ range is also crafted with fire retardants in the board composition, but is NOT fire-rated and does not carry a ‘reaction to fire’ certificate.
The responsibility for the cladding’s suitability in the required location is to be determined by a certified building professional (building control, building insurance, fire officer, etc). Millboard will not be held responsible for incorrect specification, application or product installation in areas not in accordance with government guidance. Current guidance should be gained from the government website relating to the geographical project location, England’s building regulation Approved Document B can be found here.
The ideal companion to Millboard’s all-weather composite decking is the DuoSpan subframe system.
DuoSpan combines the strength of aluminium with the design flexibility of recycled plastic. This combination enables distinctive design opportunities for decking and outdoor structures that would be impossible with most conventional subframes. Boasting impressive durability and exceptional ease of installation, DuoSpan provides the perfect subframe for Millboard decking, as well as a universal support system for other outdoor flooring. Its ingenious design includes multiple features that make it near-impossible to get assembly wrong.
Timber is the most commonly used subframe material. However, timber only performs well under ideal circumstances if the cut elements are regularly retreated. In applications where the timber is in contact with the ground or has limited airflow, the intended lifespan of the frame can be impeded significantly. Millboard recommends using the innovative DuoSpan framework or Plas-Pro to achieve a non-rot solution.
When using Plas-Pro as an alternative to timber, please remember that the structural spans are not equivalent. Please refer to the Plas-Pro brochure and installation guide for further details.
DuoSpan™ combines the strength of aluminium with the design flexibility of recycled plastic. This achieves a system that provides exceptional ease of installation, enormous strength and durability. DuoSpan has been designed by industry professionals to comply with Eurocode 1: Actions on Structures (BS EN 1991-1-1). The system has been assessed for point loading in relation to both domestic and commercial use, making it suitable for a range of applications.
There may be situations where the Plas-Pro framework items may be more suitable than the DuoSpan, such as furniture framework or areas in wet/marine environments. Manufactured in the UK from 100% recycled plastic and designed for longevity and reliability, they will never suffer from insect attacks or rotting.
Millboard decking has been tested to BS EN ISO 13501-1:2007+A1:2009 and has a Bfl-S1 reaction to fire classification (fire test for flooring). Millboard is not recommended for use as cladding or balcony decking on buildings 11m or above, and for other use, it should be subject to Building Regulations to check suitability, use and proximity.
More information on requirements for fire can be found here.
Millboard decking boards have been certified to EN 13501-1 and have a rating of Bfl-s1 when used as a flooring product. This does not mean that the decking boards will have a ‘B’ rating when they are used in a cladding application. When the decking boards are used in a cladding application, they have no fire rating and carry no ‘reaction to fire’ certificate. The responsibility for the cladding’s suitability in the required location is to be determined by a certified building professional (building control, building insurance, fire officer etc). Millboard will not be held responsible for incorrect specification, application or product installation in areas not in accordance with government guidance. Current guidance should be gained from the government website relating to the geographical project location. England’s building regulation Approved Document B can be found here.
Millboard’s Shadow Line+ cladding boards have been tested to BS EN 13501-1 and have a classification of D-s3, d0. The Board & Batten+ range is also crafted with fire retardants in the board composition, but is NOT fire-rated and does not carry a ‘reaction to fire’ certificate.
The responsibility for the cladding’s suitability in the required location is to be determined by a certified building professional (building control, building insurance, fire officer etc). Millboard will not be held responsible for incorrect specification, application or product installation in areas not in accordance with government guidance, in the UK or abroad. Current guidance should be gained from the government website relating to the geographical project location. England’s building regulation Approved Document B can be found here.
In instances where there is burning wood or coal, the fire bowl/brazier should be placed onto a porcelain or cement tile/slab. The slabbed area needs to extend about 1m outside the fire bowl/brazier. Any embers or burning material needs to be removed immediately to prevent any damage or lasting marks to the Millboard surface. Patio heaters or infrared heaters are not known to affect the boards.
Contact our expert team now – we are always happy help!
Millboard’s handy aftercare guide tells you everything you need to know to keep your Millboard products in excellent condition.
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