What is WPC?
The Wood Guide · Calculating with wood
MaterialWPC — wood-plastic composite
The warm look of wood with the easy care of plastic. Developed around 1990, and today seen on almost every new patio.
- Wood fibre plus thermoplastic
- Also called wood composite
- Developed around 1990
WPC — wood-plastic composite
The warm look of wood with the easy care of plastic. Developed around 1990, and today seen on almost every new patio.
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WPC in brief
WPC stands for wood-plastic composite: a pressed material made of wood fibres and a thermoplastic. You will also see the name wood composite, and in Dutch it is known as HKC (hout-kunststof-composiet).
The material was developed around 1990 with one aim: to combine the aesthetic character of wood with the low maintenance of plastic. You mainly come across it on patios, boardwalks and fences, as an alternative to traditional timber.
As a composite product, WPC occupies its own place between solid wood and all-plastic. The wood content provides stiffness, stability and a more matt surface; the plastic content makes it resistant to rot and insects.
Pure plastic boards expand a lot in the sun and feel cheap. Wood fibre makes them stiffer, more stable and more wood-like in appearance. The proportion is usually between fifty and seventy percent — and the higher it is, the more the material behaves like wood, including slight greying.
- In full
- wood-plastic composite
- Also called
- wood composite, HKC
- Composition
- wood fibres plus thermoplastic polymer
- Developed
- around 1990
- Use
- patios, boardwalks, fences
- Maintenance
- no oil, stain or sanding
To be honest: WPC gets hot in the sun, expands more lengthwise than wood, and scratches can't be sanded out. "Maintenance-free" also doesn't mean "stays new": WPC fades and greys too, only more slowly — and irreversibly, because sanding it back is not possible.
What characterises WPC
No maintenance
No oiling, staining or sanding. Rinsing and an occasional brush against green algae is enough.
Splinter-free
Pleasant for bare feet and children — one of the strongest arguments against wood.
Even colour
No knots, no colour differences between boards, no uneven greying under furniture.
Dimensionally stable across the width
It doesn't cup like solid wood, although it actually expands more lengthwise.
What WPC is used for
| Use | Suitable? | What to look for |
|---|---|---|
| Decking boards | Excellent | Choose a light colour in full sun; generous end gaps |
| Pool decks | Excellent | Splinter-free and unaffected by water |
| Fences | Good | Heavier than wood; sturdy posts needed |
| Cladding | Good | Watch the expansion on long sections |
| Load-bearing structure | Unsuitable | Not a construction material |
| Where it gets hot | Careful | Dark boards in full sun get scorching hot |
Hollow WPC boards are lighter and cheaper, but less strong and more vulnerable to moisture penetrating through the ends. Solid profiles cost more and last longer. Ask about it — you can't see the difference in the photo.
Frequently asked questions about WPC
What is WPC?
Wood-plastic composite: wood fibres pressed with a thermoplastic. In Dutch it is called HKC; you will also see the name wood composite.
Is WPC the same as composite?
WPC is one type of composite — the type used for decking. See what is composite for the bigger picture.
Does WPC really need no maintenance?
No oil, stain or sanding. But it does slowly fade and grey, and it gets green algae just as easily — you still have to brush that off.
Does WPC get hot in the sun?
Yes, noticeably hotter than wood, especially dark colours. Choose a light shade if the patio is in full sun.
WPC in perspective
Wood that no longer moves and plastic that no longer looks cheap — with the limitations of both.
Have a question about your project? Just ask — we're happy to help.
Photos via Wikimedia Commons: Wood composite decking boards in different colours — Remos764, CC BY-SA 3.0 · Hollow and solid composite boards side by side, end visible — Geolam, CC BY-SA 3.0