When timber decking hit the outdoor leisure market big-time in the early noughties, did anyone foresee that we’d still be talking about it 16 years later? Given that it originated in warmer parts, some may have doubted its suitability for the UK climate. However, with correct detailing and material choice, it’s proven to be the perfect product for creating amazing outdoor spaces nationwide.
Product choice was initially limited, with pressure-treated, grooved, softwood decking, with turned spindle balustrades the order of the day. The result was a traditional look, but with new possibilities to create incredible landscape designs. Its arrival also coincided with a new wave of garden makeover programmes, which did wonders to promote decking, with Alan Titchmarsh being a key advocate.
But the TV shows maybe didn’t do enough to educate about correct use. That’s where the Timber Decking and Cladding Association (TDCA), at the time called the Timber Decking Association, came in. Its role was to educate and promote good building standards with suitable quality materials, something it does, with a passion, to this day. In fact, it continues to raise the bar. For instance, it’s DeckMark quality accreditation scheme recently took a step forward when fixings manufacturer, Tite-fix Ltd, achieved a double first – its Deck-Tite range becoming the first deck screw to achieve DeckMark Plus and its Clad-Tite product the first cladding fixing to achieve CladMark Plus. The ‘Plus’ denotes that products are tested to recognised technical or safety standards.
Timber decking seems to have plateaued after 16 years on the market, but product choice has exploded. Pressure-treated timber continues to be a deckboard mainstay and predominates in substructures, but it’s now joined by a plethora of alternatives. A much broader range of tropical hardwoods is available, including species new to market.
Examples include Amargo Amargo, recovered from the depths of a Panama reservoir, which fooded a forest, and sold by Timbmet, and from Bolivia, Mandioqueira. The latter is mostly straight-grained and a light golden brown and last year Silva Timber became the sole UK supplier of this fully FSC-certified hardwood.
New thermally modified species have emerged such as Thermo Ash sold through Howarth Timber and modified timber, such as Accoya, available from a number of UK distributors, has also gained ground.
The product that suppliers say is set to grow market share signifi cantly in 2016 driven by its low maintenance promise is wood plastic composite (wpc) decking According to the TDCA though, some wpc products seriously underperform. They weaken and become brittle with UV exposure and just aren’t suitable for external use, so it warns members to take care in product selection and seek guidance on pitfalls. But many TDCA members are already supplying top-end wpc decking such as Arbordeck’s Trex. Likewise installer members professionally fit wpc decking, but still recognise timber substructures as the best way for supporting it.
Antislip products are also doing well, particularly in commercial use. TDCA members Gripdeck Ltd and WJ Group with GripDeck and DeckWright respectively are pushing the boundaries, with highly robust slip inserts that can be factory- or retrofitted. Design-wise, the current trend is for contemporary styling that allows personalisation, with contrasting materials such as glass and metal, and mix and match colours.
At launch stage is Q-Shades Colour Washed timber decking by Hoppings Q-Deck. This is pre-stained with translucent matt colour wash prior to TANALITH treatment. The result is stylish and durable, with preservative built-in. Depending on location, UV exposure and whether products are used horizontally or vertically, Q-Shades are expected to remain effective for two to five years respectively.
Shades of choice are ‘Pebble Grey’ and ‘Autumn Brown’ and the range includes cladding and screening as well as decking and deck posts. Gearing up for the launch, an excited Adam Pulfer, Hoppings group marketing and development director, bills the product as blending performance with affordability and says it ‘offers great opportunities to merchants and contractors alike’.
Owatrol describes its 13-colour deck paint range as a breakthrough, suitable for new or weathered wood and recoating.
"It’s fortified with Owatrol’s Emulsa-Bond, giving unrivalled adhesion to horizontal and vertical surfaces, enabling us to give a five-year guarantee against peeling or flaking on horizontal decking and 15 years on fencing, cladding and other vertical products," said Owatrol UK manufacturing director Gary Coniam, adding that the paint is suitable for other outdoor wood projects. New from Tite-Fix Ltd is the Exterior-Tite decking screw range, aimed at use with outdoor ironmongery and metal balustrades. Available in countersunk or pan head coated in Net-Coat Black or silver, the screws, says Tite-Fix, have superior corrosion resistance and can last the application’s lifetime. On the whole, the decking market feels alive and well and with market indicators presently favourable, the future looks rosy.
