Telford company looks set for boom

Telford-based Faux Wood sells hand-made reproductions of English oak planks, which have been developed for replacing high-maintenance timber used on mock Tudor homes.

The product has been created and developed in Telford by former soldier Shane Borlase and his business partner Mark Jenkins, and came about after receiving an inquiry while on another job.

Mr Borlase said: "A few years ago whilst replacing fascias and soffits with uPVC, our customer asked if we could replace the rotten mock Tudor planks with a maintenance-free alternative, that better resembles timber than PVC.

"At the time we couldn't find anything that met her needs, which got us thinking. Now after three years of research, development and considerable cost we have a product that meets the requirements of the market."

The lightweight planks are moulded from oak originals using high-density rigid polyurethane and come in a range of colours, and are designed to be as realistic as possible.

Now the product is taking off, with a number of big-name firms beginning to show an interest in selling Faux Wood, and bosses are in the process of establishing shipping routes to sell it overseas.

Already the business has moved premises three times as the manufacturing operation expands, and is now based at Trench Lock while interest in the product, which retails at £29.95 for a 10ft plank to trade, and £39.95 for sale, continues to accelerate.

At present the firm, which developed the machinery to build the products as well as the product itself, is turning out approximately 500 planks per week.

While oak beams on the front of houses require treatment and maintenance every few years, the Faux Wood planks are currently going through a rigorous testing process lasting three months, which recreates the long-term effect of weather condition on the product.

So far, testing has shown no signs of decay in a 20-year weather cycle, but bosses are confident of extending that.

"There are many thousands of mock Tudor houses throughout the UK whose planking is rotting and needs to be replaced. Our product is the perfect, maintenance-free solution," Mr Borlase added.

"The home improvement companies that we currently supply are giving wonderful feedback and are getting regular repeat business from referrals. It is an ideal product for such companies – small or large because it gives them a very profitable, extra string to their bow.

"We are now getting many inquiries worldwide and are looking into the export market."