From year to year, facade or terrace boards made of wood-polymer composite (WPC) are becoming increasingly popular material both for laying floors on an open terrace or in a gazebo, and for finishing the facade of a house or making a fence and other external structures in the yard.
This is due to the fact that in appearance, both in texture, texture and color, the wood-polymer composite is as similar as possible to boards made of natural wood, but is several times more resistant to the negative effects of the sun, water, mechanical load, and the coating has a fairly long service life. Just as the popularity of WPC is growing, manufacturers are also appearing on the market, offering ordinary customers and experienced designers the opportunity to buy decking boards.
Leading experts have prepared a review and comparison of WPC manufacturers who occupy top positions on the Ukrainian market, the results of which are presented in this article.
The importance of choosing a quality WPC manufacturer
Compared to other types of materials for decorative finishing of external structures, wood-polymer composite has a number of significant advantages. Among the advantages of this material, it should be noted: high strength and reliability, excellent resistance to deformation under the influence of ultraviolet radiation and excessive humidity, as well as high fire resistance, environmental composition and, of course, the durability of the fiberboard. These indicators are the main ones that you should pay attention to when choosing boards made of wood-polymer composite. However, do all fiberglass manufacturers on the market offer high-quality materials?
Most of the well-known manufacturers of wood-polymer composites in Ukraine make them from raw materials, the quality of which is confirmed by relevant certificates. However, there are companies that use low-quality raw materials, which significantly affects the appearance, stability and durability of the decking board. Therefore, when choosing hardboard for finishing a terrace, gazebo or the same facade, you should definitely pay attention not only to the quality of the material, but also to the company that manufactures it.
Overview of the main Ukrainian manufacturers of wood-polymer composite decking boards
Among the most popular manufacturers of wood-polymer composites on the Ukrainian market are the following companies:
- Tardex;
- “WPC Plant”;
- Woodplast;
- Polymer & Wood;
- Polyroot.
The faсade and terrace boards made of hardwood from each of these manufacturing companies differ in their properties, features and advantages, but have high performance characteristics, and therefore consumers choose them. Therefore, we will consider each manufacturer of wood-polymer composites separately.
Tardex
The Ukrainian company Tardex uses high-quality composite raw materials, consisting of:
- crushed flour-like raw materials, which consist of 70% natural hardwood oak, ash or beech;
- premium polymer compounds, which make up 28% of the total composition;
- dyes, stabilizers and modifiers of natural or synthetic origin with a share of 2%.
Modern manufacturing technologies and the use of high-quality polymer-composite materials that are sufficiently resistant to the negative effects of moisture, sun and temperature allow Tardex to produce reliable decking boards that do not rot and retain their original appearance for a long time.
"Factory DPC"
The HOLZDORF company or “Factory DPC” produces decking boards and siding from wood and high-quality polyvinyl chloride, namely a mixture of table salt and ethylene in a 50 to 50 ratio using licensed Austrian technology using innovative European equipment. HOLZDORF is the first manufacturer of wood-polymer composite in Ukraine using polyvinyl chloride, thanks to which the finished product has the following advantages:
- excellent mechanical strength;
- high level of resistance to the negative effects of ultraviolet radiation;
- excellent resistance to sudden temperature changes, high humidity and precipitation;
- high resistance to rotting and mold formation;
- service life more than 30 years.
Woodplast
The decking board produced by the company consists of:
- wood of natural origin - 60%;
- hot-melt polymers - 35%;
- special additives, in particular dyes and stabilizers - 5%.
Externally, decking boards from Woodplast are as similar as possible to boards made of natural wood, both in texture and color, but differ:
- excellent resistance to ultraviolet radiation, moisture, mold and mildew;
- high fire resistance;
- durability and long service life.
Composite decking boards from Woodplast can be used to make floors in an open terrace or gazebo, flooring on balconies, as well as for arranging paths around swimming pools, summer areas of cafes, and for cladding the facades of houses and building fences.
Polymer&Wood
The manufacturer Polymer&Wood is one of the leading enterprises in Ukraine for the production of wood-polymer composites. Facade and deck boards, as well as Polymer&Wood siding, are highly environmentally friendly and safe for human health, which is confirmed by relevant certificates. The main features of the WPC from this manufacturer are:
- high quality board manufacturing;
- excellent strength, reliability and weather resistance;
- resistance to biological effects;
- easy installation and simple maintenance;
- long service life, namely more than 35 years.
Polyroot
The Polyroot company is a Ukrainian manufacturer of modern and high-quality decking or facade boards made of wood-polymer composite. The finished products of this manufacturer contain:
- 44% natural shredded natural hardwood;
- 56% high quality polymers, additives and dyes.
WPC production by Polyroot is carried out at its own production facilities, which are located in Ukraine
And modern European equipment, high-quality, certified raw materials from Ukrainian and European manufacturers, as well as our own laboratory, allow us to produce high-quality and reliable wood-polymer composites and carry out operational quality control at all stages. Thanks to this approach, Polyroot’s finished WPC is distinguished by:
- High strength. According to test results, the decking board can withstand a load of about 660 kg;
- Excellent resistance to deformation. Facade or terrace boards do not change their properties, structure, shape and color from constant exposure to ultraviolet radiation or rapid temperature changes.
- High moisture resistance. In case of excessive humidity or during precipitation, it does not get wet or become slippery, and due to the content of high-quality polymers, it is quite resistant to the processes of rotting, development and appearance of fungi, mold, and various microorganisms;
- Easy installation and simple maintenance. The deck board can be installed quickly and, most importantly, easily on any surface, and during operation it does not require additional painting or special treatment;
- Durability. Wood-polymer products from Polyroot, when properly installed and used, have a long service life, reaching more than 25 years.
Let's summarize which WPC manufacturer is better to choose
We suggest that you familiarize yourself with the results of the review and comparison of the main characteristics of decking boards from 5 popular manufacturers in Ukraine in the table.
Comparative table of the main characteristics of WPC decking boards from leading manufacturers.
| Сharacteristics | Polyroot | Tardex | Factory DPK | Woodplast | Polymer&Wood |
| Type | Double-sided | Double-sided | Single-sided | Single-sided | Double-sided |
| Structure | Natural wood (3D) | Wood texture, smooth surface | Wood texture | Corrugated surface | Wood texture, corrugated surface |
| Compound | 44% primary polymer, 44% wood, 6% chalk (CaCO³), 3% additives, 3% dye |
70% wood, 28% polymer, 2% dyes and stabilizers, 2% dyes and stabilizers |
50% wood, 50% polyvinyl chloride |
60% water, 35% polymers, 5% additives |
50% wood, 48% polymers, 2% additives |
| Weight 1 m² | 20 kg | 18 kg | 22 kg | 21 kg | 19 kg |
| Density | 1.45 g/cc | 1.4 g/cc | 1.5 g/cc | 1.48 g/cc | 1.44 g/cc |
| Maximum load | 540 kg | 500 kg | 550 kg | 520 kg | 510 kg |
| Water absorption coefficient | no more than 1% | no more than 1.5% | no more than 0.8% | no more than 1.2% | no more than 1% |
| Relative linear thermal expansion | no more than 1% | no more than 1.2% | no more than 0.9% | no more than 1.1% | no more than 1% |
| Temperature range | -30 - +70 С° | -30 - +70 С° | -25 - +60 С° | -30 - +70 С° | -30 - +70 С° |
| Service life | More than 25 years | More than 20 years | 30 years | 15 years | More than 25 years |
| Loss of color | Up to 5% | Up to 7% | Up to 4% | Up to 6% | Up to 5% |
In addition, all manufacturers of decking boards use high-quality, certified raw materials of natural or synthetic origin. Therefore, which manufacturer to choose and where to buy high-quality decking boards, you ask.
We invite you to pay attention to the young but rapidly growing company Polyroot, which specializes in the production of high-quality and reliable decking or facade boards made of wood-polymer composite. Innovative manufacturing technologies, modern equipment and the use of high-quality polymers in combination with crushed natural wood make it possible to obtain a high-quality universal fiberboard, which is excellent for laying the floor of a terrace, veranda, balcony or gazebo, arranging an anti-slip coating by the pool, durable façade cladding and making a reliable enclosing fence. Polyroot offers a wide range of wood-polymer boards of various thicknesses, properties, textures and colors, as well as components for reliable fixation. You can buy WPC boards from a network of partner stores or order the required amount of materials on the company’s website with fast delivery throughout Ukraine.
