Mass production joiners are reporting a noticeable improvement in demand after a slow start to 2005, although activity levels in the building and general merchanting sectors appear far from robust and have helped create a somewhat “lethargic” feel to business. Nevertheless, most of the major UK joinery manufacturers contacted this week said that business was pretty much in line with budgets.

Meanwhile, many architectural joiners have decent order books for several months ahead and are reasonably confident about business prospects for the year, even if they were not willing to predict that records would be broken at this early stage.

The snow earlier this month created difficult travelling conditions and disrupted delivery schedules. One contact said: “We carried on working on site but we stopped all deliveries for a week because, with the road congestion as it was, it was not worth putting a lorry on.” Some builders put a hold on deliveries because of the weather and joinery suppliers were now playing “catch up”, another added.

At the same time, timber stocks in the UK appear adequate despite the January storms in northern Europe and difficulties in obtaining vessels. In general, timber prices have been static to slightly firmer, while rising steel, glass and paint costs are clearly a source of concern, as is the ever-increasing transport bill.

Windows buoyant

Turning to the individual joinery products, a leading industry spokesperson confirmed that the timber windows market was still “very buoyant” and was continuing to grow. At the same time, the sector remained “very competitive” and significant price increases had been difficult to implement. But a number of manufacturers said that they had managed to push through some increases of, typically around 3-5%.

One producer said that the sliding sash market remained a case of “feast or famine”, while increasing demand was noted for flush sash windows because of the greater flexibility offered on sizing. Several other manufacturers reported a steady improvement in tilt and slide timber window demand.

Hull and Newcastle City Councils’ specifying windows certified under BM TRADA‘s Q-Mark quality assurance scheme is being seen as a reflection of the growing interest in high-quality timber windows, particularly among local authorities. It is hoped that this move will encourage other councils that high standards are being achieved in timber windows at a price that is within their budgets. According to BM TRADA, a number of timber window manufacturers are close to completing the necessary scheme requirements, which cover design, performance and production.

Another indication that timber windows are competing more effectively against uPVC counterparts came recently from South Kirkby joinery manufacturer Carey & Fox (TTJ January 22/29). Pointing out that the company was increasingly providing timber replacements for uPVC, a spokesperson reported a growing realisation that timber windows can be repaired whereas failure of a uPVC unit calls for total replacement.

Door sales

Door sales have been satisfactory although “some hairy offers” have reportedly been seen at the commodity end of the market. Many customers were increasingly “realising the on-cost of doing business”, according to a leading producer. “The winners are the ones who are prepared to buy in bulk and stock the product.”

&#8220I could swamp my business with apprentices: we have six positions to fill and have received over 100 applications. The problem is that, as our highly-skilled people retire, they are very difficult to replace”

Major housebuilders are increasingly favouring doorsets while substantial year-on-year growth in the security doorsets market is being driven mainly by strong demand from local authorities, it was suggested this week. At the same time, strong demand for fire doors is being attributed in large part to the growth in multiple occupancy dwellings.

Stair manufacturers have reported steady demand for their products and a continuing trend towards pre-finishing and pre-assembly. Furthermore, customers are increasingly looking for a higher specification product, including hardwood stairs featuring typically oak or ash.

In common with the mass joinery producers, several architectural joiners also reported a slower pace to building industry activity. One commented: “For the first time in a while, we have had subcontractors asking us if we have any work.” However, most joiners appear to be relatively busy, not least because many appear to have carried work over from last year. The flow of tenders was described as “very lively”, leaving many firms confident of securing a decent workload well into 2005. “By April, we will be manic,” said one.

The top end of the residential market has remained particularly busy and demand has focused increasingly on achieving “something a little bit different” through, for example, the use of heavily-figured veneers. By contrast, the flow of office and shop fit-out projects has been relatively patchy.

Favoured timbers remain the temperate hardwoods – including maple, oak, sycamore and walnut – although some clients are continuing to specify more exotic, tropical hardwoods without realising the cost and certification implications. “There is still an education process to be gone through,” said one contact.

Despite reasonable demand, architectural joiners have struggled to raise their prices in what remains a highly competitive market, with several sources suggesting that attempts to build a decent margin into project quotations has generally led to the business being placed elsewhere. Some of the companies that have gaps in their order books have been prepared to “buy the work”, TTJ was told.

Skills shortage

Another significant increase in wage costs taking effect this summer has not prevented the inexorable drift of skills away from the joinery trade. One contact explained: “I could swamp my business with apprentices: we have six positions to fill and have received over 100 applications. The problem is that, as our highly-skilled people retire, they are very difficult to replace.” While site operatives are comparatively easy to secure if the right deal is struck, expert machinists and bench joiners are “like gold dust”.

Tender documents from a wide range of customers are increasingly calling for the use of FSC-certified timbers. The increasing profile of FSC, third-party certification, chain of custody and other sustainability issues is reflected in the programme for TRADA’s Timber 2005 conference on October 10-11, which is now beginning to take shape. Provisionally, the event at the Kindersley Conference Centre near Newbury is set to focus on the sustainability agenda and will include an update on certification of sustainable timber products. Significant trends and drivers in the construction market, how CE marking is likely to affect the timber industry, and trends in off-site manufacturing are also scheduled to be covered.

Meanwhile, the British Woodworking Federation (BWF) has just made its debut as an exhibitor at Glassex. Its decision to have a presence at the show was based on statistics from last year’s event which indicated that 40% of visitors were window installers while 10% were actually looking to source timber windows. A BWF spokesperson said Glassex had therefore provided an opportunity to showcase timber windows from a number of its members to a receptive audience. “The timber industry hasn’t really attacked the replacement route to market, which makes up 70% of the market,” he said. “We see this as a missing link.”

Noting that the BWF stand also featured one of its member’s doorsets, the federation spokesperson added that its TWA Scheme now incorporated entrance doorsets and that criteria are being developed for accrediting such products under the scheme.