But MPs’ recent vote in favour of a smoking ban in enclosed public spaces could provide significant impetus to a decking industry whose growth has seemingly slowed during the past 12 months. This is certainly the word on the street as far as decking suppliers are concerned.

The logic behind the optimism is that pubs, restaurants and other facilities will not want to lose their smoking customers and therefore will invest in outdoor spaces. Of course, they may find that non-smokers are tempted back by the smoke-free environment.

There is evidence that it is not merely wishful thinking, according to the Timber Decking Association (TDA), which has already communicated to members the potential business benefits of the ban.

TDA general manager Steve Young said: “If we look at what happened in Ireland we saw a massive increase in demand for outdoor rooms. Decking rose dramatically. We believe there will be a similar increase in the UK.”

Ireland banned smoking in enclosed public spaces and the work place in 2004, with the UK now scheduled to follow in 2007.

The TDA believes the ban will boost commercial decking work by about 20% in the next three years and not just in pubs, but also hotels, restaurants and leisure clubs.

Several decking suppliers agree that the ban can only help the product. International Timber commercial director Tony Miles said: “We are anticipating a further upswing in decking sales as the new smoking bans come into force across the UK which follows the pattern seen in Ireland.

“This year, the leisure industry will gear itself up to be ahead of the game and we will be looking to capitalise on the sales opportunity this presents.”

Hoppings Softwood Products plc also acknowledged the ban represented future growth potential, together with a general awareness to use external spaces.

Smoking bans aside, there are many other drivers to the industry, including growing consumer attraction to timber garden products and the potential represented by the London 2012 Olympics.

Mr Young said there was also a trend emerging, similar to the US, where people are becoming more ambitious and are remodelling/refurbishing existing decks.

“We’re beginning to see signs of a similar market emerging in the UK, with people making extra enhancements to the decking with a pergola, arbour or hot tub. It’s a definite trend.

“What people have begun to realise is when you live with wood, you are living with a natural material. It’s lovely to walk on in bare feet and creates a lovely environment.”

Mr Young also said the market was becoming more segmented, with increasing knowledge among consumers that decks can be built to match any budget.

He said hardwoods were becoming popular for their colour, durability and density.

Typical hardwood species being offered include the staple yellow balau (bangkirai), massaranduba, ipe and itauba. Yellow balau prices have soared due to various factors, including log shortages and increasing oil costs.

Catriona Nicholls, decking product manager for Richard Burbidge Ltd, said up to a third of deckboard sales in value terms were now hardwood, reflecting a new niche to meet the requirements of more aspirational homeowners. But she thought softwood decking would remain popular for its versatility and cost-effectiveness.

Mr Miles noted that as the decking market matures, there is increasing demand for certified hardwood species. “The trend for the consumer to trade up to higher value products for the home generally is now translating itself into decking,” he said.

“Just as with flooring, second-time buyers and the more affluent are trading up from laminate to solid timber, in decking there is a shift from softwood to hardwood, which represents a higher quality, added value, long-term investment for the home.”

Adam Pulfer, marketing director at Hoppings, said the market now required new products and innovation. The company has introduced a range of powder-coated aluminium balusters and a range of short 500mm high “column” style balusters, so people can appreciate their garden while still defining the edge of the deck – a need relayed to Hoppings via its Q-Deck stockists.

“We have also seen a very gradual shift away from the traditional turned spindle to a sharper look, hence our new contemporary range of spindles and newels.”

Burbidge also predicts a growth in demand for more design-led balustrade systems that will add value to garden decks, as consumers seek to differentiate their outdoor living spaces.

Burbidge’s new Fusion outdoor balustrade range comprises different materials, including round hardwood top rails, modern metal newels with co-ordinating aluminium rails and connectors, plus a choice of three contemporary panel and baluster designs.

The company said customer feedback showed a gap in the market for contemporary off-the-shelf balustrade systems which could complement modern garden design trends, including metallic water features, plant containers and outdoor furniture.

SCA Timber Supply is seeing increased demand for privacy panels to give a different look to decking installations.

It is also launching a 900mm decking quadrant, which allows the creation of a 1.8m decking circle, plus 600mm-wide roll-out portable deck path for protecting lawns, pathways or for use away from home.

A growing number of timber companies are now offering wood-plastic composites including Finnforest, Howarth Timber, and Brooks Bros (UK) Ltd, while International Timber also plans to join the ranks.

International Timber describes composite decking as an emerging market and believes it is “vital” to offer customers a solutions-based approach that draws together product choice, quality, service and experience.

Chris Rose, of Brooks Bros, said architects viewed composites as an environmental product for its recycled plastic and woodchip content, especially as there was not enough FSC-certified decking to meet demand. Its stability is also seen as attractive.

But composites are certainly not maintenance-free – Dutch timber company Felix Clercx has just launched its FelixTechWood Finish to avoid colour fading in composites.

Brooks Bros tips western red cedar decking for big things this year, a view shared by The Deck Supply Co and Western Red Cedar Export Association.

Cees de Jager, of the Western Red Cedar Export Association, said no man-made decking product was able to capture the all-natural warmth and beauty of a cedar deck. “Nature still knows best,” he said.

Recent advancements in cedar manufacturing allows western red cedar decking to be offered pre-finished on all sides, improving coating consistency, longevity and resistance to moisture.

Effective promotion

A key factor remains the ability of merchants to promote decking and this means stock availability, merchandising and displays, knowledgeable counter staff and a good range of products to satisfy an increasingly diverse market.

Burbidge’s Ms Nicholls said: “With more and more consumers now venturing into builders merchants, stockists need to have displays that will inspire the end user. Our experiences have shown that stockists who devote similar levels of space to that afforded to paving slab displays, for example, have the greatest levels of success.”

The TDA continues to support the industry by fighting against decking “cowboys”, and to promote its Deckmark quality assurance standard. Last year it persuaded the NHBC that decks on new properties should be built in accordance with TDA guidelines.

It is also backing the Wood Protection Association’s “Make Sure Its 4” campaign, designed to encourage the correct specification of treatment for wood in Use Class 4 (ground contact) applications

Architects and designers have also been asking the TDA to write deck specifications for them.

Mr Young added: “Builders are beginning to realise that by adding a deck to a house it adds significant kerb appeal to the property.”