Repurposing Leftover Composite Decking & Offcuts

It’s quite common to end up with leftover decking after most installation projects. Offcuts and spare boards don’t need to go to waste though. With our decking offcuts ideas and a little creativity, leftover decking can be reused to make stylish and functional additions to your garden or home.

Our composite decking boards are an eco-friendly choice as they make use of recycled plastics and wood to produce decking boards that are both long lasting and attractive. It makes sense, then, to repurpose any offcuts and pieces that don’t go into your decking.

If you’re looking for inspiration on things to do with decking offcuts, read on…

Article Contents

• Benefits of Repurposing Leftover Decking
• Outdoor DIY Ideas for Decking Offcuts
• Indoor DIY Ideas
• Other Decking Offcut Ideas
• Tips for Customising Leftover Decking Projects
• FAQs

Benefits of Repurposing Leftover Composite Decking

Acting on leftover decking ideas means less waste to landfill, plus there’s no need to buy new timber for small DIY projects. Composite materials are durable, versatile and look great for both indoor and outdoor use. Composite decking can be perfect for sustainable-minded homeowners and anyone who enjoys a spot of weekend DIY.

Outdoor DIY Project Ideas for Decking Offcuts

Garden Planters

Composite decking offcuts and leftovers can be ideal for creating raised garden beds or sleek flower boxes. Our composite decking is already rot-resistant and designed for outdoor use in all weathers, making it perfect for this use. Depending on the style and location, you could keep the decking’s original finish, complementing or matching your decking. You could also paint it if you’re looking for a different look or eye-catching feature in your garden.

DIY Benches & Seating

Depending on the lengths of your offcuts, leftover boards can be used to build simple benches or stools to match an existing deck. Composite decking can be ideal for corner seating or standalone pieces of garden furniture. You could also pair the composite materials with timber or even metal frames.

Outdoor Furniture

As well as seating, similar ideas for leftover decking boards could involve other items of outdoor furniture such as side tables, footrests, or even small outdoor storage benches. Again, this is a great way to match outdoor furniture to existing decking and create a consistent complementary look. The tough composite decking material is also durable enough to withstand rain and UV exposure.

Privacy Screens

Vertical slats from leftover boards can be repurposed to form privacy panels or windbreaks. These garden screens can serve as stylish partitions between different zones of the garden. They can also be used to screen bins, composters, storage areas or anything else that’s a bit messy.

Gates or Fencing Accent

Leftover composite decking can be used as inserts in small garden gates or low fencing. With a sleek and stylish finish, these inserts can add a unique aesthetic, while the composite material’s weather-resistant properties ensure it will be a durable addition.

Indoor DIY Project Ideas

Shelving Units

Leftover decking board ideas don’t have to be strictly for the outside. Composite decking boards can make sturdy, practical and easy-to-clean shelves that are great for sheds, utility rooms and garages, but the stylish finish means they can even be used for minimalist wall shelves indoors.

Storage Boxes

If you’re wondering what to do with leftover composite decking and you have a lot of clutter with no home, why not turn leftover decking into custom-sized boxes for garden tools, toys or shoes? One of the benefits of composite decking is that it’s so easy to maintain, and this still applies when the boards are repurposed. Storage boxes made with composite material will be just as easy to clean, durable and long-lasting.

Mudroom or Hallway Features

Composite decking offcuts can also be used to create a range of functional features such as coat racks, boot trays or bench tops in transitional spaces such as utility rooms or mudrooms. The water-resistant properties of composite material make it especially fitting for these types of areas.

Pet Beds or Feed Stations

Pet owners can make use of leftover decking ideas for dog and cat beds with a raised platform or perhaps elevated feeding stations. Composite offcuts are durable, easy to wipe down, and can blend in with the garden or utility space.

Other Decking Offcut Ideas

Children’s play areas

Decking offcuts could be used to make small climbing steps for toddlers, balance beams for slightly older kids, or toy boxes for any age. Composite material can be sanded and is splinter-free compared to wood, making it safer for kids than raw timber.

Garden Games & Décor

Get the whole family involved in repurposing and upcycling by using your composite decking leftovers for a variety of garden games and features. Kids will love painting bespoke planters or helping design simple signs and names plaques for the garden. You could even convert offcuts into a giant game of Jenga!

Tips for Customising Leftover Decking Projects

You don’t need to be a DIY expert to start getting creative with leftover decking, but you should keep safety and a few practical issues in mind. Any rough edges on your composite material can be easily sanded to a smooth finish, which is particularly important if you’re making something that will be handled or are getting the kids involved. Make sure you use appropriate items such as composite-friendly paints and screws and fixings that are compatible with composite materials.

Safety & Practical Considerations

Composite offcuts may need cutting down to even smaller sizes depending on your project or idea. You should always wear appropriate PPE when cutting or sanding composite decking boards and use suitable tools. Check manufacturer guidance if you’re unsure about alternative uses, such as weight limits for decking boards or the best fixing types to use.

Frequently Asked Questions

What’s the best way to maintain repurposed decking projects?

Composite decking boards are designed to be easy to clean, and the same holds true if you reuse offcuts for something else. Specialist composite decking cleaner will tend to get the best results, but in most cases, a quick wash with warm, soapy water will keep your repurposed boards looking fresh. In general, it’s best to avoid harsher chemicals or pressure washers.

Do you usually use all of your composite decking in a project?

Some decking areas will be specifically designed to use a set number of decking boards, but in many cases, there will be offcuts from full-length boards that are cut down to fit the design. Longer lengths of spare board can be held onto in case any parts of the deck need to be replaced, but offcuts can also be ideal for small add-ons or garden DIY.

How can I customise my projects with paints or stains?

Composite decking isn’t designed to be stained, but you can paint them with certain exterior-grade, composite-friendly paints. Light sanding first helps the paint stick, and the best type of paint for composite decking is generally a high-quality paint with a 100% acrylic latex exterior.

Choose Dino Decking to Upgrade Your Outdoor Space

It’s always good to recycle and breathe fresh life into leftover decking, but the primary purpose of our composite decking boards is to help you create your perfect outdoor space. As tough and durable as they are sleek and stylish, Dino’s decking boards come in a wide range of colours and options. Order your free sample pack today to see what they look like close up and choose the decking boards to suit your own personal tastes and style.