LANDSCAPING
MILLBOARD’S NO-WOOD WOOD DECKING
Wood-look decking manufacturer Millboard has developed a new option for outdoor flooring: Brushed Basalt. Moulded from genuine timber samples and hand coloured during production at their Warwickshire factory to give the look of perfectly painted timber in a highly contemporary grey. Brushed Basalt combines the authentic painted-wood look with a level of durability that painted wood could never match. Mill- board decking contains no actual wood at all, so doesn’t warp or rot even when used in waterside locations. Millboard’s sales director, Guy Douglas, explained: “We developed Brushed Basalt in response to customer demand. With the current trend for grey in interior and exterior design, architects and property owners wanted complementary outdoor flooring to use in their projects.
“Our main focus was on ensuring that nothing was lost of the beautiful wood grain that is so perfectly reproduced in our decking. We wanted to create the look of natural wood that has been tastefully painted. That’s something that hasn’t been seen before in outdoor flooring.” The development of Brushed Basalt marks a new departure for Millboard and a distinc- tive design option for outdoor spaces.
Since Global Stone launched their porcelain paving in 2014, their collection has grown to be the largest external paving collection in the UK. However, porcelain isn’t just useful as flooring, as Harrington goes on to explain: “Due to its low absorption of moisture, porcelain is the perfect worktop, walling and flooring for outdoor kitchen and eating areas. Splashes of fat on the worktop, wine spills on the ground and general foody leftovers will not soak into the porcelain, meaning it is easy to clean and maintain before, during and after cooking.”
The contemporary feel of the indoor/outdoor design trend often relies on large seamless surfaces, which Harrington says porcelain is again perfect for. “Single sized paving which started in contemporary gardens have now expanded into traditional designs; porcelain easily meets the demands of those that are looking to update their garden landscape. There is also an increasing demand for finishing pieces, such as cladding and setts and bespoke designer features.
“2018 has set the trend for the gardens of the future. With the 2020’s just around the corner, a modern twist of the 1920’s is back in fashion. Asymmetrical paving shapes are emerging, paying homage to the art deco designs of the past. Sharp angles are complemented by soft planting and other garden textures such as gravel and pebbles. These are the perfect partner for paving, especially if there’s a slight contrast in colour. Both assist with draining water and contribute to minimal maintenance alongside porcelain. Plus, with currently on-trend succulent plants such as cacti, there’s even less need to spend the weekends pruning and more time enjoying a fresh outdoor space.” According to Harrington, merchants can provide porcelain paving for just about any type of landscape. “Porcelain is perfect for both
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contemporary and traditional designs and has proved popular with home owners, landscapers and garden designers alike. Our goal is to provide merchants with a wide choice, enabling their customers to benefit from the unique low- maintenance qualities of porcelain paving.” Merchants may find porcelain paving an easy sell since among its properties are some very important features, including being hard-wearing, scratch and abrasion resistant and highly resistant to severe weather changes including heat and frost. Due to the manufacturing process of these tiles, they are also incredibly easy to clean, requiring only mild detergents, brushing or jet washing and no sealants, saving customers both time and money. So while the trend of a flowing, elegant and effortless looking indoor/outdoor space is currently coveted by customers, the idea to have their cake and eat it, is not only the dream but a possibility.
Low maintenance
Rebecca Hughes, marketing manager at Talasey Group, agrees that recent trends in the sector have shown a rise in low-maintenance products such as artificial grass. “As the outdoor living trend rises, people are now using their gardens as an extension of their homes and they want to spend quality time in them, not working on them.”
“People are still favouring natural grey shades from the lightest to darkest shades. Pearlescent white, silver and even deep classic blue and black are increasingly popular for patios. After showcasing our products at several RHS flower shows this year, we also noticed a real increase in the use of wood-effect porcelain paving. People are thinking long-term, as important as aesthetics are, they want practical materials that will stand the test of time. It’s no surprise
www.buildersmerchantsjournal.net September 2018
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