Building Materials - Other

Top Building Materials and Where to Buy Them in the UK: From Electrical Supplies to Deck Kits

Why the right building materials matter

When you’re planning a home improvement, garden upgrade, or a full-blown renovation, the materials you choose make the difference between a project that lasts and one that becomes a headache. I’ve seen cheap fixes give up within a season and smart buys still looking great years later. Picking the right timber, trunking, conduit or deck kit is less about brand loyalty and more about matching product specs to the job at hand.

Meet Expert Electrical — specialist electrical supplies

Expert Electrical is one of the specialist names you’ll come across when sourcing electrical building materials in the UK. They focus on the kinds of components electricians and DIY enthusiasts rely on: cable trays, trunking fittings, conduit, heat-shrink tubing and earthing rods. If you need professional-grade parts rather than general-purpose hardware, a specialist like this is a great starting point.

Key electrical products and what they mean

Let’s break down a few items you’ll commonly see from electrical suppliers and why they matter. A 9 ft 10 in straight cable tray (often sold in 3 m lengths) keeps cables organised along beams and walls. Trunking fittings — like external gusset bends and lid fittings — let you route cables neatly around corners and junctions. Heat-shrink tubing that fits around conductors provides insulation and moisture protection, and a 3 ft 11 in earth rod helps ensure a reliable earthing path for safety.

When to choose a specialist over a general retailer

If your work involves fixed wiring, new circuits or outdoor electrical runs, specialist suppliers win because they stock industry-standard parts and can help with compliance details. For small, one-off purchases you might go to a generalist, but for safety-critical components and larger runs, specialists reduce guesswork and rework.

Buy Sheds Direct — decking, pergolas and garden structures

Buy Sheds Direct focuses on garden buildings and decking solutions. Their product mix includes ready-made deck kits, pergola-deck combos and treated timber boards — perfect if you want to speed up installation without sacrificing durability. Those kits are especially handy when you want a predictable finish and fewer trips to the timber yard.

Deck kits and size options explained

Deck kits often come in familiar sizes. For example, an 8 ft by 16 ft patio deck kit or an 8 ft by 8 ft kit gives you a good footprint for entertaining or creating a cosy garden room. If you prefer metric measurements on packaging, those sizes are roughly equivalent to 7 ft 10.5 in by 15 ft 9 in and 7 ft 10.5 in by 7 ft 10.5 in respectively. Ready kits cut down the guesswork on joist spacing, board lengths, and fixing counts.

Treated softwood board specifications

Treated decking boards you’ll find commonly measure about 3/4 in thick by 4 3/4 in wide and are often sold in lengths close to 7 ft 10.5 in. Those dimensions suit most garden decking patterns and provide a solid walking surface that’s easy to sand and stain. Treated boards help resist rot and insect damage, making them a sensible default for outdoor projects if you don’t want to move straight to hardwood.

Big-name UK retailers you should compare

If you’re weighing options, don’t forget the big generalists: Screwfix, B&Q, Wickes, Jewson and Travis Perkins. Each one has a slightly different advantage — Screwfix and Toolstation are great for fast tool and small-parts needs, B&Q and Wickes for consumer timber and deck kits, while Jewson and Travis Perkins target trade customers with larger-volume timber and structural materials.

What each retailer is best at

Screwfix and Toolstation are great for quick buys like conduit, trunking, screws, and small electrical consumables. B&Q and Wickes often stock DIY-friendly deck kits and garden buildings. Jewson and Travis Perkins are better when you need timbers in large lengths, pressure-treated beams, or delivery of bulk materials to a site. Use specialist suppliers for technical electrical components and trade-focused stores for bulk timber and structural needs.

How to choose between specialist and general stores

Think of it like choosing between a surgeon and a GP. For complex, safety-critical electrical work, go to the specialist — they know the standards and the exact parts you need. For general timber, DIY decks and garden kit buildings, a large retailer often gives you the best balance of price and convenience. If you’re on a tight schedule, the high-street chains usually have reliable stock and local collection.

Planning your deck or shed project: a practical checklist

Before you buy, sketch out the footprint in feet. Allow for a 10 to 15 percent waste factor for cutting, and think about joist spacing — commonly 16 in to 24 in centres depending on the load and board thickness. For example, if you’re working with decking boards about 3/4 in thick, a joist spacing of 16 in centres gives a stiffer finish suitable for seating and planters.

Foundations and substructure basics

Even a modest deck benefits from a solid substructure. Concrete pier pads or adjustable pedestal supports are popular because they keep timber off the ground and allow drainage. The typical approach is to set piers below the frost line in colder regions, but for most UK gardens simply ensuring the base is level and well-draining will prevent sagging and rot.

Bringing electricity into outdoor projects safely

Outdoor and garden electrics need extra caution. Conduits rated for external use protect cable runs, and using IP-rated sockets and fittings helps keep moisture out. An earth rod is often used to improve earthing for outbuildings; a 3 ft 11 in rod driven into firm ground gives a good start, but local regulations and soil conditions influence the final arrangement.

Conduit, trunking and cable management

Rigid conduit around 13/16 in in diameter is commonly used for protecting single runs of cable, while heavy-duty rounding conduit in longer coils is useful for larger installations. Trunking systems with external corner fittings let you keep runs neat and accessible, which is a big plus if you plan to add or change wiring later. For tidy termination points, heat-shrink tubing and weatherproof junction boxes are worth the extra cost.

Sustainability and timber treatment considerations

Choosing pressure-treated softwood is a balancing act between cost and longevity. Treated timber resists rot and insect attack, but it still benefits from good ventilation and regular maintenance. If you want to avoid chemically treated wood, consider thermally modified timber or sustainably sourced hardwoods — they cost more upfront but can reduce maintenance and last much longer.

Finishes and maintenance tips

Apply a penetrating oil or decking stain within the first year for the best protection, and then recoat as needed — typically every 1 to 3 years depending on exposure. Sand down rough edges and remove debris from between boards to reduce trapped moisture. For metal electrical fittings, check for corrosion and replace any damaged sealing to maintain weatherproofing.

Budgeting and buying smarter

Buying in packs or bundles often lowers the per-unit price, especially for boards and trunking. Compare the total linear feet you’ll need to avoid buying too many short lengths that create more waste. For electrical parts, buying a complete kit (trunking plus fittings, conduit plus couplers) tends to be cheaper than sourcing each item separately, and it reduces the risk of missing the odd connector when you’re mid-job.

Common installation pitfalls and how to avoid them

Don’t underestimate drainage and ventilation under a deck — trapped moisture is a deck’s worst enemy. Check joist spacing against your chosen deck board thickness and expected loads. For electrics, avoid running low-voltage and high-voltage cables in the same trunking and follow local codes for safe separation. Finally, measure twice and cut once — especially with expensive treated timber.

Final thoughts before you buy

Whether you’re leaning toward a specialist electrical supplier for reliable trunking and conduit, or a garden-focused company for an easy deck kit, the right purchase comes down to matching product features with long-term performance. Take time to convert lengths into feet, consider waste factors, and if a product spec uses metric on the label, translate it to imperial in your plan so you don’t over- or under-buy.

Conclusion

Building a durable deck, installing outdoor electrics, or fitting a new garden structure is entirely doable when you choose the right suppliers and materials. Specialist electrical suppliers offer the technical parts and compliance knowledge you need for safe wiring, while garden and timber specialists deliver user-friendly deck kits and treated boards that speed up installation. Compare prices across large retailers and specialists, plan with imperial measurements in mind, and don’t shortcut foundations or electrical safety. Do that, and your project will be the kind of smart investment that keeps paying back season after season.