106 LANDSCAPING & EXTERNAL WORKS


important for different customers. The most important are usually aesthetic considerations. Timber scores heavily here – it looks good! There also is no doubt that some artificial options look…artificial. Even so, they may offer a cheap and cheerful option for some whose budgets don’t stretch far and who appreciate the ease of maintenance. However, there are also man- made alternatives that offer a startling likeness to wood, with grain and texture carefully replicated. These true-to-wood looks come at a price, but the initial cost may be outweighed by the low maintenance and other advantages that accrue. Non-wood materials are more predictable in terms of their consistency of colour. While timber can be stained or painted to the required shade, composites are available in a range of colours to complement any design.


Safety is a high priority for many clients, especially in the commercial sphere. When it rains, timber becomes slippery, especially if it has any algal growth on the surface. Many clients will want to reduce the risks, especially to children and the elderly, and commercial clients will want to minimise the possibility of expensive legal claims


(which could massively increase the cost of ownership!) from people who slip and injure themselves. Grit-strips can be added, and provide excellent grip, but these compromise the appearance. Some composites can still be susceptible to algae, especially if the wood content is exposed on the surface or it has a smoother plastic finish, but varieties with an elastomeric surface provide excellent slip-resistance without modification, even in the wet. The environmental credentials of the different materials are also important to many clients. Wood is self-evidently a ‘natural’ product, but the process of heat- treating timber is very energy intensive. Many composite materials make a virtue of using recycled materials in their construction and – of course – there is no risk of their depleting precious hardwood forests.


The overall message is that while a ‘timber deck’ is what many clients have in mind when they aspire to decking, there are alternatives that may actually fit their needs better.


Stefan Holmes is technical product manager at Millboard Decking


WWW.ARCHITECTSDATAFILE.CO.UK


ADF APRIL 2021


Page 1  |  Page 2  |  Page 3  |  Page 4  |  Page 5  |  Page 6  |  Page 7  |  Page 8  |  Page 9  |  Page 10  |  Page 11  |  Page 12  |  Page 13  |  Page 14  |  Page 15  |  Page 16  |  Page 17  |  Page 18  |  Page 19  |  Page 20  |  Page 21  |  Page 22  |  Page 23  |  Page 24  |  Page 25  |  Page 26  |  Page 27  |  Page 28  |  Page 29  |  Page 30  |  Page 31  |  Page 32  |  Page 33  |  Page 34  |  Page 35  |  Page 36  |  Page 37  |  Page 38  |  Page 39  |  Page 40  |  Page 41  |  Page 42  |  Page 43  |  Page 44  |  Page 45  |  Page 46  |  Page 47  |  Page 48  |  Page 49  |  Page 50  |  Page 51  |  Page 52  |  Page 53  |  Page 54  |  Page 55  |  Page 56  |  Page 57  |  Page 58  |  Page 59  |  Page 60  |  Page 61  |  Page 62  |  Page 63  |  Page 64  |  Page 65  |  Page 66  |  Page 67  |  Page 68  |  Page 69  |  Page 70  |  Page 71  |  Page 72  |  Page 73  |  Page 74  |  Page 75  |  Page 76  |  Page 77  |  Page 78  |  Page 79  |  Page 80  |  Page 81  |  Page 82  |  Page 83  |  Page 84  |  Page 85  |  Page 86  |  Page 87  |  Page 88  |  Page 89  |  Page 90  |  Page 91  |  Page 92  |  Page 93  |  Page 94  |  Page 95  |  Page 96  |  Page 97  |  Page 98  |  Page 99  |  Page 100  |  Page 101  |  Page 102  |  Page 103  |  Page 104  |  Page 105  |  Page 106  |  Page 107  |  Page 108