Arbordeck blog

How to create an award-winning deck

Island Mist with glass railings

Entries to the 2021 Arbordeck Awards are now closed and we’re delighted to have received more than 100 submissions, with many fantastic decking projects which showcase the skills and talent of installers from across the UK.

There’s not long left until the winners of the Arbordeck Awards are announced at FutureScape in November, but if you can’t wait until then to find out what makes an award-worthy deck, you’re in the right place. Here, we’re taking a look at the five most popular features of previous winning decks.

Curved decking

Trex curved deck and railings

One of the easiest ways to make a decking project stand out is to incorporate curved edges, which gives the deck a sleek, modern feel.

Curved decking can be created through the Trex CustomCurve Heating & Bending Solution, which allows users to curve decking boards in order to create custom shapes. Not only do curved edges look more modern than their traditional counterparts, but the option to curve decking boards also provides the ideal solution to tricky spaces where standard straight decking boards won’t quite work.

Problem-solving designs

Using curved decking boards to tackle awkwardly-shaped spaces is a great example of using both creativity and the tools available to overcome obstacles during the design and installation of a project – which our judges always love to see.

Whether it’s a difficult space or an unusual requirement from a customer, demonstrating the imagination and skills it took to overcome the problem is an easy way to catch our judges’ attention.

The added extras

Our panel of judges always look at decking projects as a whole, meaning that those which feature finishing touches such as lighting or railings often do well at the Arbordeck Awards. And there’s plenty of choice when it comes to adding the extras which can transform how a deck looks and functions thanks to the Trex Outdoor Lighting Collection, Trex Signature Railing and ArborRail ranges.

Because additions such as lighting and railing are consistently popular among projects entered into the Arbordeck Awards, we’ve introduced the Top Spec Trex Deck category for 2021.

Island Mist with lighting

Bold use of colours

Thanks to the wide range of colours now available through Trex, it’s easier than ever to incorporate clever uses of colour into Trex decking projects. Using more than one colour in a decking project, particularly when those colours are contrasting, is a simple yet effective way to make a deck shine – which is why it’s regularly seen in Arbordeck Awards entries.

Techniques such as using a different colour for a deck’s border or using two or more colours to create a pattern are great ways to make a deck stand out from the crowd.

Unique features

While using different colours is a popular way of making a deck stand out to our judges, it doesn’t have to end with two-tone borders: colours can be used to create unique designs which really add the ‘wow factor’ to a project. A great example of this is 2019 Deck of the Year winner, Simon Thomas Deck & Design’s Bryntirion project.

Unique features

Not only had the judges never seen this star design on a deck before, but it was designed with the vast amount of open sky the position of the deck receives at night in mind – meaning the deck showcased Simon’s creativity as well as his skills as an installer.

Other unique feature that can make a deck stand out are sunken seating areas, multiple levels, and specially-designed entertainment spaces such as a bar or integrated jacuzzi. And with Trex composite decking, the possibilities are almost endless!

Follow Arbordeck on Twitter, Instagram and Facebook for regular updates on the 2021 Arbordeck Awards.

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