ENGINEERED WOOD’S MOMENT

How Preservation Ensures Longevity Through Shifting Markets and Winter Months

By Paul Cave, Sales Director at Koppers

At Koppers, we’ve long believed that the future of timber lies not only in how it’s engineered but in how it’s preserved. That belief is reinforced by the latest figures from Timber Development UK (TDUK), which show that while overall timber and panel product imports dipped slightly in the first half of 2025, engineered wood products (EWPs) grew strongly.

For fencing and landscaping professionals, this signals a significant shift. Engineered wood – from LVL to CLT and laminated beams – is no longer niche. It is becoming a core material of choice, offering consistency, sustainability, and design flexibility. But growth also comes with responsibility: these materials must be protected against decay, insect attack, and weathering if they’re to fulfil their promise in outdoor applications and with the colder months approaching, now is the perfect time to ensure timber is winter-ready.

The EWP surge: Opportunity and responsibility

The TDUK data tells a clear story. While imports of softwood, hardwood, and MDF saw year-on-year declines, EWPs grew, underlining how specifiers and clients are turning to modern timber solutions that balance strength with resource efficiency. For the fencing trade, this is both an opportunity and a challenge.

Fences face some of the harshest conditions in the built environment: prolonged wetting, UV exposure, ground contact, and physical stress. Even the most precisely engineered products are vulnerable where they are cut, drilled, or exposed. Without targeted preservation, service life is shortened, reputations suffer, and customers are left disappointed. This is particularly true as winter approaches, when frost, snow, and increased moisture can accelerate decay in untreated timber. Proactive protection ensures installations are ready to withstand the cold months ahead.

Protecting engineered wood

This is where Koppers comes in. Our advanced timber preservation technologies are designed to extend the service life of EWPs and safeguard their structural integrity.

Take Protim WB7 Endcoat, for example. This water-based protective solution is specifically formulated for freshly cut or exposed timber surfaces. When a contractor trims a post or rail, the exposed end grain becomes a moisture pathway. This vulnerability is magnified in winter, when moisture can seep in and freeze, causing cracks and accelerated decay. Protim WB7 Endcoat quickly seals these vulnerable areas, providing a vital line of defence against fungal attack and decay. It’s a small step with a big impact — ensuring that on-site adjustments don’t undermine the performance of the treated product.

When combined with Koppers’ broader range of preservative treatments, Protim WB7 Endcoat helps fencing professionals deliver installations that not only look the part on day one but continue to perform year after year. Winter or summer, treated EWPs are ready for whatever the UK weather throws at them.

Why it matters for the fencing trade

For contractors, using preservation solutions isn’t simply about compliance, it’s about protecting their reputation. A fence that weathers well and lasts longer means fewer callbacks and happier customers. For clients, it represents better value and a more sustainable investment.

EWPs make efficient use of raw material, but their environmental value only truly shines when they stay in service for decades, not just years. By prolonging timber’s lifespan, Koppers treatments reduce waste and support the circular economy principles that are increasingly shaping procurement decisions. Ensuring timber is preserved before winter adds another layer of protection, giving contractors peace of mind through the wet and frosty months.

Looking forward

The fencing industry is at a turning point. With engineered wood gaining share in the UK market, professionals need to adapt by not only embracing these products but also ensuring they are preserved to the highest standard.

At Koppers, we’re proud to support that journey. Whether through end-grain protection like Protim WB7 Endcoat or through deep-penetrating preservative systems, our solutions help ensure fences are ready for winter and beyond, maintaining strength, appearance, and longevity no matter the season.