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Can you see the difference between real teak and Flexiteek?
You have to look closely, but you can see the difference. On relatively small areas such as sellers exhibit at trade fairs, the difference is virtually nil, but when you see a full deck you notice that Flexiteek is just a bit too nice to be real wood. The irregular grain patterns sometimes seen in real wood are not found in plastics. We also have a special technique to simulate this effect, but the standard profiles do not have it and most customers do not find it desirable, since deep graining in the material increases dirt accumulation. Standard Flexiteek material resembles teak even after it ages because it becomes slightly darker, making it look more like new teak.
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How does the material behave compared with real teak?
Leaving aside the emotional aspect, synthetic teak is better than real teak in all regards. Flexiteek is practically maintenance free, it does not rot or split, and it does not require annual treatment. The idea that Flexiteek becomes much warmer in the sun than real teak is simply a myth. Actually it is slightly cooler, since Flexiteek is lighter than new teak. Real teak gradually changes to light grey as it ages, resulting in a slightly lower temperature with real teak, but the difference is negligible. Flexiteek is specially treated to be less slippery than real teak, especially when it is wet. For this reason , some boat builders fit even their classic boats with Flexiteek swim platforms.
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Flexiteek is synthetic – does that mean it’s bad for the environment?
Not at all. Flexiteek is made from pure PVC and is fully recyclable. You'd be amazed at what nice things are made from pure recycled material. By contrast, real teak (as you know) is a threatened wood species, which makes it more and more difficult to find good-quality timber. From an environmental perspective, it is therefore much better to choose a modern alternative – such as Flexiteek.
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Is Flexiteek available in other colours?
Flexiteek is available in several colours. In the photo gallery there is a picture of a boat with red, white and blue Flexiteek material, and you can also choose from beige, grey and black. New colours are added regularly, so it is a good idea to ask whether your favourite colour is available.
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Is Flexiteek resistant to ice, snow and heat?
Flexiteek is fairly insensitive to extreme ambient conditions, so it has good resistance to both heat and cold. Unlike natural wood, it does not twist or warp, which eliminates the problem of boards coming loose due to warpage and causing leaks. Thanks to the UV stabiliser in the Flexiteek material, there is virtually no discolouration, even in extreme tropical regions.
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Now that I have Flexiteek on my boat, how should I maintain it?
Flexiteek does not require regular maintenance. If it gets spotted with wine, oil, blood (from fish) or any other substance, simply wash the spot off with soap and warm water. In extreme cases you can even use a high-pressure cleaner. Caution: never use acetone or thinners, because they will cause permanent damage to the Flexiteek material. If you have spilled something that cannot be removed using the above methods, you can sand the surface with 40 or 60 grit sandpaper.
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Can I install Flexiteek myself?
Flexiteek is specially designed to allow it to be installed by skilful laymen. The profiles have tongue-and-groove joints, which makes installation especially easy. Flexiteek is fully glue bonded, which significantly reduces the risk of damage to the boat because there is no need to use screws as with wood or other alternatives. The degree of skill needed to install Flexiteek yourself depends on the boat and the complexity. The more hatches, corners and edges, the more difficult it is to finish everything nicely. Flexiteek material is very easy to trim with a knife or shears, so you can handle even highly complex jobs if you have enough patience, but you should bear in mind that a complex deck will take a fair amount of work, while a simple, straightforward interior deck can be completed in an afternoon.
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What do I need to install Flexiteek decking?
This depends on whether you do everything yourself or you use prefabricated panels. With the first option, you naturally need to have all the profiles necessary to cover the entire deck. You also need glue for joining the profiles together and another type of glue for bonding the profiles to the deck. You need a sturdy knife, shears that allow you to cut various angles properly, and a roller for pressing the profiles firmly against the deck after they are glued in place. All of these items can be purchased from us (see our webshop). If you work with prefabricated panels made for you according to a template or a drawing, you only need the glue for bonding the panels to the deck and the roller for pressing them firmly in place. The second option is naturally much simpler but more costly. In any case, you should always read the installation instructions before you start.
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Does my boat need any special treatment before I install Flexiteek?
The deck must cleaned thoroughly and must be free from dirt, grease, oil and wax. The surface must be smooth and flat, since every irregularity will be visible after installation. If there are any holes or bumps, they must be filled or removed before installation.
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I would like to do the installation myself but I prefer to buy prefabricated panels. How does that work?
Nidra can supply fully prefabricated panels for gluing directly to your deck. Of course, for this we need the exact dimensions of your deck and a list of your extra wishes (if any). The safest approach is to send us a template, consisting of a sheet of cardboard or plastic with exactly the same shape as the deck in question. You can also send us a drawing, but in this case Nidra will always make a template and send it to you for approval. Along with the template, we ask you to send several photos of the deck so we can produce the most suitable pattern according to our judgement. Once the pattern is ready, it is sent to you by e-mail for approval. After you agree, we make a perfectly fitting unit that can easily be glued to the deck. If the boat is located within a reasonable distance from one of our workshops, templates can also be made by one of our installers if so desired.
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Does Nidra also do complete installations? If so, where?
Nidra does complete boat installations. They can be done either by us or by one of our authorised installation firms. We work with experienced partners both inside and outside the country, so there are no real geographic limitations. Flexiteek installation does not cause any nuisance, so it can be done in the boat’s home marina. Ask us for information – most likely we will be able to help you.
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