Specialised Building Products has provided Birmingham and the surrounding West Midlands with landscape and building materials for nearly 37 years. 12 years ago, they brought Liniar onboard by offering the company’s uPVC fencing and decking products to their trade customers.
In 2017, SBP’s carpark needed a face-lift, and they came up with an ingenious way to not only fix it but boost sales as well. After a meeting with Liniar’s Mark Sims, a plan was hatched to revamp the carpark with the range of Liniar uPVC fencing – in all its colour options and finishes – as well as an oversized gate. It was a double-edged idea. The six-foot panels would not only achieve the refurbishment of their carpark fencing, but because they sit on one of the busiest roads in Birmingham city centre, it was a brilliant opportunity to showcase the products to the thousands of commuters which pass by each day.
Why Liniar?
Nurin Hoque of SBP explains, “There were many reasons we chose to install and sell Liniar’s outdoor uPVC range.
“Liniar offers abundant availability compared to competitors, but also the decency of the products aligns with the standards that we like to provide in our own business.
“We found that many uPVC manufacturers sell to all levels of the market. With Liniar, we didn’t need to worry about our customers asking why they shouldn’t just buy from the factory. Liniar doesn’t compete against its fabricators and installers,” states Nurin.
Previously, SBP purchased their uPVC products from other suppliers but found that with Liniar you get more quality for your money. Nurin tells us, “We tell our customers that while it might be more expensive than the timber alternative, in ten years time the product will still look amazing instead of rotting and requiring a lot of maintenance.”
The Project, the Challenges and the Outcome
The Specialised Building Product’s carpark project began in 2017 and still has some work to be finished. While SBP is experienced in the installation, the job wasn’t without its challenges. The company installed the fencing themselves and explained, “We like to know how to install all the products we offer and how to resolve any problems our clients could encounter.”
The initial challenge was the stock and availability of the standard colour variants that were on longer lead times. Once that issue was worked through, the work began, and SBP ran into their first hurdle.
The posts needed to be secured within the concrete, at least two feet deep. The installers achieved this by burying the steel inner support of the post, instead of the full post. “This hasn’t affected the fence’s performance,” says Nurin. “It’s held up through all the wind and storms we’ve had throughout the year without any issues.”
When it came to the installation of the oversized gate SBP required, some thinking outside the box was needed. While Liniar stocks steel components for their decking and fencing, SBP needed something with more surface area to affix hinges and handles. They achieved this by reinforcing the uPVC panels of their gate with timber.
So far, the company is pleased about their new fence and look forward to the addition of the signs, which tell about each piece of fencing and how the customer can get the look in their garden.
Nurin Hoque of SBP explains, “Liniar’s fencing system is at the heart of SBP’s easy maintenance garden. We tell our customers: ‘Enjoying your garden shouldn’t mean spending hours each week maintaining it!’”
