Stock Up for Easter Garden Projects

Easter marks the start of the decking season. With the 2023 long weekend just around the corner, are your branches well stocked to capture those early sales? There are many different types of deck board available for merchants to stock. Remember that decking can be in short supply at certain times of the year, so always make sure you have enough.

Softwoods remain the mainstay of the decking market, with Redwood Pine and Whitewood Spruce commonly chosen, but other popular softwoods also include Douglas Fir, Western Red Cedar and Larch.

Hardwood deck boards are denser and require extra substructure support. Composite and modified wood boards are also increasingly being used for decking in the UK, so consider keeping a selection of those as well.

Make sure you stock joists and substructure components that will wear at the same rate as the boards you offer. Some decking types require joists to be spaced closer together, so always advise your customers to check their decks can withstand the intended loads.

Are your decking products well treated?

Don’t forget that the guidance around decking products has changed. All timber intended for use as decking substructure components must now be treated to Use Class 4 standards for ground contact – Use Class 3 is no longer considered sufficient. This also applies to substructures below hardwood and modified wood decking products.

Learn more about timber decking

The Timber Decking & Cladding Association, in partnership with WPA and TDUK, have created a new Timber Decking Handbook that aims to be the ‘go to’ reference for anyone who works with timber decking.

The Handbook aligns with British Standards and provides definitive guidance on deck types, installation, maintenance and sourcing.
Download your free copy at www.timberdevelopment.uk