Homeowners are increasingly looking for products that provide practical yet aesthetically pleasing options for their home. Graham Barton, Key Accounts Manager at ACO Building + Landscape, discusses how merchants can capitalise on this increasing trend, and help builders deliver both style and function to outdoor projects using exterior drainage.
With more homeowners than ever aspiring to achieve their dream garden, many builders and landscapers are turning to their local merchant for advice on how they can create an outdoor space that their customers can enjoy spending time in. While drainage may not be at the forefront of homeowner’s minds when designing a garden, it’s vital that effective surface water management is considered throughout the project.
Landscaping accessories are a valuable and profitable asset thanks to the increasingly popularity of using a garden as an extension of the home entertainment space, and this should not be overlooked by merchants.
The downpour of rain during June, for example, caused numerous flash floods throughout the UK. With this in mind, it goes without saying that we should be implementing effective exterior surface water management systems in order to ensure the longevity of garden spaces and buildings.
Careful consideration of drainage will prevent rainwater collecting and potentially causing damage to the structural integrity of a property, whilst also allowing gardens and patio areas to drain water freely to avoid long-term damage associated with excess standing water.
Aesthetic ambition
Desirable properties offer outdoor spaces where homeowners can entertain guests, or sit outside and enjoy being in an aesthetically-pleasing landscape. In fact, some figures suggest that a well-maintained garden can increase a property’s value by up to 20%. Indeed, many housebuilders and homeowners are willing to treat it with the same aesthetic ambition as traditional entertainment spaces, such as the lounge, kitchen and dining room.
The range of aesthetic drainage solutions have vastly improved in recent years, and homeowners are quickly becoming aware of the options open to them. For merchants, including a variety of channel drainage options in different materials and finishes as an optional upgrade for customers not only helps secure the sale, but also offers an opportunity to make extra margin.
Moreover, profit can be far greater on high-end finishes compared with a standard plastic or galvanised steel grating.
The ‘Complete the Look’ offering from ACO is one such grating package which merchants can use to upsell the finishing touch to contractors. Available in a variety of finishes, including Polished Stainless Steel, ATec coated Intercept and Mosaic cast iron, Stainless Steel Wedge Wire and Anthracite, all gratings are compatible with ACO’s HexDrain and RainDrain channels.
They can add an aesthetic finish to any garden or patio improvement project, and retain its professionally-finished look and feel for a number of years.
Further to the idea that homeowners and property developers are now keen to use gardens as an extra space for entertainment, there is a rise in demand for outdoor paving designs that consider appearance, such as porcelain patio tiles. Porcelain tiles provide a cost-effective alternative to natural stone paving whilst still giving a trendy finish to an outdoor space.
Homeowners may assume that these tiles are easy to maintain, as they are marketed as durable and weather-resistant — however, without appropriate drainage this may not be the case. It’s important to ensure that porcelain tiles, for example, are fitted with an appropriate drainage solution to prevent damage from water pooling and keep surface runoff to a minimum.
This is where an expansive assortment of exterior products can really benefit merchants — a range of bespoke threshold drainage solutions can be offered to builders, helping them improve garden drainage, while also enhancing the overall appearance.
New products such as ACO’s Threshold Drain range create a slimline doorway drainage system which is ideally suited for use around property entrances and patios as it is both stylish and efficient. The system can be easily fitted into any landscaping project thanks to its additional system connection and corner unit pieces, making it a great asset to any builder who may be working with unique garden layouts.
Essentially, drainage can now offer both practical and aesthetic benefits and merchants play an important role in providing the right advice and range of stock to meet the needs of every project. Whilst water management systems have traditionally been viewed as a commodity product, a keen awareness of the market trends gives merchants real opportunities to upsell more stylish finishes and increase their profit margin.
