Understand your decking products

Spring brings decking sales opportunities

The trend for outdoor living and making the most of our outside spaces shows no sign of slowing down. For builders’ and timber merchants, this translates into big business, with decking and garden landscaping products becoming an increasingly significant percentage of summer sales.

That’s why, with Easter fast approaching, now is the perfect time to check your timber decking stocks as the weather begins to improve and people turn their attention to working on their gardens.

Timber decking is an attractive and economical way to create an aesthetically pleasing outdoor space. It can be used to section off gardens, define seating and play areas, and make it easier for people to navigate their gardens by creating defined pathways through lawns and shrubbery. It is also ideal for more commercial projects, from patios and terraces to building walkways, piers and playgrounds.

When correctly designed, installed and maintained, timber decking structures can be enjoyed year-after-year. But, like all construction materials, timber deck boards must be carefully specified to make sure the right products are sold for the intended application. Any timber purchased for use as a decking substructure component must be treated to Use Class 4 standards, for example, while some decking types require joists to be spaced closer together to ensure they can withstand the intended loads.

What you need to know
TDUK has a number of different decking resources available online for members to download.

The Merchant Guide to Selling Timber contains merchant-specific advice on the different types of deck boards available, plus explanations about timber treatments and Use Classes. Plus, our online Product Database includes an introduction to timber decking that outlines common sizes, supports, accessories, finishes and the relevant standards and certifications.

For in-depth Decking knowledge, our Timber Decking Handbook, produced in association with the Timber Decking & Cladding Association and Wood Protection Association, aims to provide definitive guidance as the ‘go to’ reference for all things timber decking.