With severe restrictions on work, travel and socialising over the past 10 months, people have turned their attention to improving their homes and outdoor spaces. In the warm summer months especially, such spaces became our havens and even our outdoor offices.
As part of this, the UK saw a huge increase in demand for timber, and in particular landscaping products, resulting in many retailers reporting record year turnovers for this sector.
Janet Sycamore, director of the Timber Decking & Cladding Association (TDCA), says that many of its members have been working round the clock to meet demand, with some selling out as soon as a delivery arrives. “If 2020 is anything to go by, then the popularity of timber decking and cladding has never been greater,” she said.
This re-found love of wood has also been reflected in new cladding trends now emerging – notably pre-coloured and textured products.
CladMark-accredited IRO Timber from BSW is one example. Winner of the 2020 Wood Protection Association (WPA) Innovation Award, IRO Timber cladding is heat enhanced, creating a striking grain appearance. Preservative treated and finished with a protective cream, it is durable and comes in 15 colours.
Another innovation is Finish Line cladding from James Latham. Combining modified wood (Accoya), timber engineering and surface protection, its specialist production process can even create a distinctive two-tone effect with some of the 12 colour options available.
Ecochoice is also offering a pre-weathered range where the cladding is supplied with a natural looking silvery grey finish.
To support the growing market, the TDCA, in partnership with the Timber Trade Federation and with support from Wood Campus and the WPA, has launched The Timber Cladding Handbook. This go-to 48- page resource provides clear, relevant and up-to- date information for specifiers, buyers and installers. Content includes material selection, design and installation and UK building regulation compliance. The publication is free as a download and £12, including p&p, for the hard copy from www.tdca.org.uk.
Building Regulation and Cladding
Whilst we may see further restrictions to the use of timber cladding on particular building types, factory applied and independently approved flame retardant treated timber cladding remains fit for purpose for many construction applications permitted under UK regulations. Tighter building control around fire safety in general is indeed welcomed by the manufacturers who produce compliant timber products.
Feedback from some TDCA members indicates that there are still uncertainties around the logistics of importing from Europe post Brexit. Certain timber stocks are proving more expensive and in short supply due to the global high demand. Businesses are monitoring the situation carefully, but companies with strong supplier relationships remain confident in their supply chains.
Ms Sycamore said that demand for timber products in the first half of 2020 unquestionably benefited from the great weather and consumers deciding to build a deck or add cladding as a lockdown project.
But can some of this popularity also be put down to timber’s versatility and environmental credentials?
“People are increasingly aware of their impact on the planet and questioning their buying choices – opting for materials and processes which have a positive effect on climate change,” she said. “There are several industry campaigns promoting wood’s credentials as a sustainable, cost effective, low carbon product. These messages are definitely having a positive effect.”
