Revolutionizing Decking: STRONGDEK™ for Unmatched Performance

insights from industryBarry MyersCorporate Director, Marketing and CommunicationsStrongwellIn our latest interview, AZoMaterials speaks with Strongwell about their new STRONGDEK™ structural composite decking system, an ultra-high-performance system, offering unmatched strength and rigidity.

Could you please introduce yourself and tell us a little about your role at Strongwell?

I’m Barry Myers, Corporate Director, Marketing and Communications for Strongwell and a member of the team that came up with the all-new STRONGDEK™ Ultra High-Performance Structural Composite Decking System. I spend a significant amount of my time on building and remodeling projects using both traditional and more advanced materials and then work to educate others on the pros and cons based on various applications.

The STRONGDEK™ system is a new structural composite decking system from Strongwell. How does the system work, and what is the board made from?

There are two main components of a STRONGDEK™ board – a structural deck plank made from pultruded fiber-reinforced polymer (FRP) and an extruded hybrid composite thermoplastic top cap. The plank provides the structural strength and rigidity for the system, while the top cap provides the finished appearance, UV and slip resistance, and finished board dimension. To install a STRONGDEK™ board, you first screw down the plank to the substrate using standard decking screws in the integrated fastener grooves on the plank’s edges and then snap on the top cap.

The Strongdek System. Image Credit: Strongwell

Could you tell us more about the research and development that went into making the decking system?

We started the development of the new STRONGDEK™ in 2019, recognizing that there was an opportunity to improve one of our legacy decking products. After several discussions, we decided to start from scratch and design the new STRONGDEK™. As we were brainstorming, we knew there was room for a premium, high-performing decking that the market didn’t yet have. There are many aesthetic options, but few are designed for extended durability. STRONGDEK™ marries the benefits of the higher-end thermoplastic composite decking with the benefits of pultruded thermoset composites, balancing strength with stiffness.

During the development process, the cap presented our biggest challenge. It needs to offer long-term aesthetic beauty, be fade and scratch resistant, offer excellent slip resistance when wet or dry, meet extremely tight manufacturing tolerances to match the pultruded plank, minimally expand and contract during temperature changes, and stand up to a wide variety of environments where it may be installed. It took over three years of R&D to finally settle on a cap that checked all those boxes.

What are some of the useful applications of the STRONGDEK™ system?

Anywhere a traditional 5/4 deck board could be installed for a walking surface, STRONGDEK™ could be used in replacement. However, because STRONGDEK™ is so much stiffer and stronger than most decking boards, you can increase joist spans to the maximum allowed by code. For example, while most existing composite decks recommend using 12” on center for installing boards on a diagonal, 24” on center is no problem for STRONGDEK™. If you have a corrosive area, such as a coastal deck, marina, or dock, STRONGDEK™ is ideal because it is impervious to corrosion and rot.

Strongdek in use. Image Credit: Strongwell

What specific performance advantages does the STRONGDEK™ technology offer users?

There are a few key advantages to selecting STRONGDEK™ over other composite decking currently on the market. First is the previously mentioned strength and stiffness of the STRONGDEK™ system. In our testing of a range of commercially available decking products, we found STRONGDEK™ offered a maximum load more than 10x higher than that of some of the most expensive popular-brand composite decking boards and as good or better than most brand new wood deck boards, and STRONGDEK™ was roughly 3x stiffer than those same high-end composite boards.

Second, STRONGDEK™ is a two-part system. In situations where damage occurs or a remodel is undertaken that involves the deck, being able to simply pry off the old STRONGDEK™ caps and put down new ones is a huge cost and time savings and far safer than replacing entire boards. Consider a hotel that is remodeling and wishes to change its color theme. If the existing STRONGDEK™ is brown but the new space would look better in gray, the hotel owner could simply order new gray caps and transform the look of the deck in a fraction of the time and at a much lower cost than closing the deck to do a complete tear out and replacement.

The third benefit is also a result of STRONGDEK™ being a two-part system. The design of the plank integrates 82° tapered grooves on each edge, which is the standard taper for most decking screws. This groove ensures screws will be in the ideal place for holding down the plank and have a snug fit as they’re secured. It also avoids the need to utilize a separate hidden fastener system like other deck boards require. With STRONGDEK™, as you snap on the top cap, all screws are automatically hidden.

Fourth, the STRONGDEK™ cap is stain and fade-resistant. We did lab testing, but also real-world testing for over three years in a hot, coastal environment to see how STRONGDEK™ would hold up to the elements. It was shocking at how little color change there was over that period. Spills of most items wipe up without leaving any stain or discoloration behind.

What is next for Strongwell? Are there any exciting projects you are working on after the release of the STRONGDEK™?

Specific to STRONGDEK™, we currently have a limited number of standard colors. One of our first tasks is to expand our color selection. We also want to diversify the system application range. Thus far, we have used STRONGDEK™ on wood-framed decks of various sizes and configurations, stairs, a dance floor, a stage, and a large steel and composite pedestrian bridge. We look forward to seeing STRONGDEK™ used on marinas, boardwalks, and docks. We are also looking into options for offering trim and other accessories and finding ways to showcase STRONGDEK™ with STRONGRAIL^®, our all-composite handrail and fencing product. Strongwell has long been known for its R&D capabilities and commitment to push the envelope with composites – STRONGDEK™ is no exception.

Strongdek in use. Image Credit: Strongwell

Where can readers find more information? (provide any relevant links for our audience)

The best way to learn more is to visit www.STRONGDEK™.com. As we expand our STRONGDEK™ offerings and complete more installations, we’ll continue to update and revise the website. We’ll add case studies, installation resources, and more information as time goes on. In addition, if anyone wishes to ask specific questions about STRONGDEK™ beyond what is shown on the website, there is a contact form to submit questions or comments. I see all of those submissions and can be a resource for you.

About the Interviewee

Barry Myers is the Corporate Director, Marketing and Communications for Strongwell. He has worked with the company since 2012, educating engineers, architects, and others on the benefits of pultruded fiber-reinforced polymer (FRP) composites. He is located at Strongwell’s Corporate Headquarters in Bristol, Virginia. He holds an MBA from Milligan University. In his spare time, Barry is an avid woodworker and maker and enjoys taking on remodeling and construction projects. He is a co-inventor of the STRONGDEK™ system, which holds patents in multiple countries.