Cost and supply issues in the timber industry are turning in favour of concrete fencing products, according to Supreme Concrete’s Sales Director Tim Wright.
Supreme Concrete has announced that with timber prices continuing to increase and with the news the industry could be hit by a £1billion bill if Britain leaves the EU Customs Union, more builders and homeowners are turning to concrete as a long-life and sustainable alternative, particularly for fencing.
Described as the ‘timber tax bomb’ by the Timber Trade Federation, these post-Brexit concerns are said to be combined with a much-publicised rise in timber prices in the last 12 months.
However, the message from Supreme Concrete is that these concerns can be allayed by opting for concrete alternatives. As much of the timber used for fencing is imported from Europe, concrete fencing posts manufactured in the UK are said to provide a more economically viable option as they can be delivered with shorter lead times and are not subjected to changing EU tariffs.
Tim commented: “This is a cost-sensitive industry. The latest increases in price are clearly the result of a global demand for timber from emerging economies and of course as the fuel-source for biomass energy plants. These factors, coupled with the news that EU timber imports will cease being VAT free if we leave the EU Customs Union, mean the rising tide of people choosing concrete over timber is set to continue.
“As well as concretes cost effectiveness and vastly increased durability over timber alternatives, products manufactured here in the UK offer shorter lead times and guaranteed availability – the net result is a much more reliable and sustainable solution.”
