Six Hundred Homes Get the Envirowood Treatment

Six hundred homes in Newton Heath, North Manchester, are benefiting from Envirowood fencing, an environmentally friendly wood-like replacement supplied by Darwen based Octaveward.  Made from high density recycled styrene, the new fencing provides a sustainable alternative to timber and promises a long-term zero maintenance life for picket fences, gates and yard enclosures.

The Newton Heath scheme is part of 13,000 public sector houses managed by Northwards Housing.  In addition to routine maintenance, they also run programmes for wholesale external refurbishment to stop decline and revitalise whole neighbourhoods.

At Newton Heath, wear and tear, weathering and occasional vandalism, had taken their toll on the old softwood fences.  This diminished the appearance of the properties, the security of gardens and yards, and the neighbourhood as a whole.  In some cases, warping of yard gates meant that they could not be closed properly and this was a great concern to residents.  The on-going need for painting and running repairs was also an issue for Northwards Housing.

Envirowood proved the perfect replacement.  The extruded sections replicate standard wood sections and contain up to seventy percent recycled material such as waste packaging.  The sections share many similarities with hardwood.  A hard and dense material, Envirowood can be sawn, drilled and will take screws and fittings in exactly the same way as wood.  Self-coloured and not degraded by sunlight, the material can simulate the appearance of oak, ash, teak, cedar or any hardwood.  

Significantly, Envirowood is stable over the whole range of temperatures and humidity found in the UK.  It does not rot, warp, delaminate, discolour or harbour insects as timber does.   The material does not require periodic treatment; saving manpower, material and the release to the environment of volatile organic compounds (a contributor to global warming) from preservatives.  

Time and cost of installation is always a concern, so to speed site work many of the elements were fabricated off site by Octaveward.  Manchester brown was chosen as the universal colour for both picket and yard fences and gates.  Some properties had single gates and some double.

The completed scheme meets the needs of householders and Northwards Housing.  Private space is properly defined and householders can secure their yards with gates that fit properly and feel secure.  Though slightly more expensive than direct softwood replacement, Northwards Housing will benefit from lower lifetime cost when reduced maintenance and longer lifespan is taken into account.  

Even at the end of an extended working life, the Octaveward material can be granulated and reused as filler in new Envirowood sections.  It is therefore a sustainable product that addresses the need to respect the environment.  In addition to fences and gates, Envirowood can be used for bin shelters, planters and any applications where softwood or hardwood is normally used.  


More information: 
Trevor Williams, Octaveward Ltd, Tel. +44 (0)1254 773300 Fax. +44 (0)1254 773950
info@octaveward.com Web: www.octaveward.com

High/low resolution images are on the web at www.ainsmag.co.uk/oc222/4208oc1a.htm

July 19, 2006