TIME TO DITCH TIMBER AND SWITCH TO COMPOSITE
Composite panels are an increasingly popular alternative to timber. Offering a combination of lasting looks and low maintenance, they are the ultimate fit-and-forget solution.
Here, Patrick Guest, Managing Director at Birkdale, discusses the advantages of composite solutions and why the new DuraPost VISTA® panels have made it easier than ever to ditch timber and switch to composite.
Timber panels have been a firm favourite amongst fencers and homeowners for some years. Their relative ease of installation, aesthetics, and a low upfront cost have made them synonymous with quick and easy fencing solutions across the country. However, with these positives come a distinct set of drawbacks, such as their short lifespan, their relative fragility, and the amount of maintenance they require. As a result of this, and significant developments within the industry, composite now offers a longer-lasting, lower-maintenance option that is just as affordable as a timber panel.
Lifespan
A significant drawback with a timber fence panel is its limited lifespan. With regular treatment and maintenance, you can hope to get a maximum of 10 years out of a timber panel—assuming it isn’t damaged by strong winds and doesn’t succumb to rot.
A composite panel, on the other hand, is far sturdier, being engineered to resist the worst of the wind, rain, and sun. Birkdale’s panels are made from either a mixture of virgin and recycled high-density polypropylene (HDPE) mixed with rice husks, or wood-plastic composite (WPC) in the case of the DuraPost VISTA® panel range. These sustainable solutions won’t rot like traditional timber and aren’t susceptible to damage from insects. For these reasons, Birkdale guarantees its composite products for 15 years.
Fragility
Damage to a timber fence panel is particularly likely during storms or periods of heavy wind and rain. This is because, in order to make fence panels light and cost-efficient, the timber is often cut very thin, making them highly susceptible to wind and impact damage.
Alternatively, composite is created with the intention of maximising its strength-to-weight ratio. Galvanised steel railsabove and below the panel are nano-coated and powder-coated for extra protection and provide the necessary rigidity, enabling the panel to withstand the worst of the British weather.
Low Maintenance
To improve the lifespan of a timber panel and counteract its natural fragility, regular treatment is required. This could take the form of reapplying stain, paint, or a protective seal. As a result of these necessary processes, timber is quite a labour-intensive solution, because failure to properly maintain it will significantly affect its lifespan.
Composite, on the other hand, does not need to be treated because the WPC or recycled HDPE used to make it won’t warp, rot, or splinter. Products such as the DuraPost VISTA® panels offered by Birkdale are also UV stabilised, meaning the colour of the panel will not fade over time, keeping the fence looking fresh and new year after year.
In addition to providing all the benefits of composite, Birkdale’s new DuraPost VISTA® panels also deliver on price, providing a highly competitive, cost-effective, and long-lasting fencing system. Available in three different colourways—Oyster, Teak, and Graphite—you can be sure to find an option that complements existing architectural features of a customer’s home. As a result, the high-end, clean, and modern aesthetic of composite is now available to a much larger percentage of the population, meaning that homeowners, installers, and commercial contractors alike can reap the benefits of this contemporary fencing solution.
To find out more about Birkdale’s range of composite alternatives to timber, including the new DuraPost VISTA® composite panels, visit www.durapost.co.uk.
