For house-hunters who baulk at the idea of getting stuck into gardening then the prospect of acquiring an attractive outdoor space with their new home is highly appealing and worth paying a premium for. Propertyfinder.com one of the UK's leading property websites says that 66% of all house hunters are attracted most to properties with a well tended garden and this is adding up to £30,000 onto the price of an average home; more for higher value properties.

National market research by wood care experts Cuprinol confirms we are a nation that loves our gardens but it also reveals that increasingly we prefer to spend time relaxing in them rather than working in them. The survey of 1000 garden owning adults is supported by the growing popularity of timber deck surfaces as a means to extend the living space outdoors. As a nation, we spent around £130m in 2006 on timber decks and the products to keep them well maintained.

Commenting on the price premium that a well tended garden adds to a property, TDA Director Stephen Young said:

“Properly designed and installed decks are lifestyle enhancing features and they are best used as part of a balanced garden design in which landscaping and planting combine to create a space that meets the individual needs of homeowners. Avid gardeners will have different priorities to those who place an emphasis on relaxing or entertaining in their gardens. Whatever way we prefer to use our gardens it is encouraging to know that if they are well maintained attractive spaces they can add real value not only to our lifestyles but also our bank balances too.”

Check out www.tda.org.uk for sources of quality assessed timber deck products and installation contractors

ENDS

Notes
Cuprinol commissioned its national research to help identify trends on what people prefer to do in their gardens and on gardening expenditure.

It was carried out by GfK NOP and involved 1000 telephone interviews nationwide.

Some of the key results of the Cuprinol research reveal:

 • London is the party capital with 72% of respondents preferring to let their hair down in the garden, rather than roll up their sleeves up to weed, mow, prune or dig (only one third).

 • Only 59% of people from Yorkshire and Humberside are getting down to the gardening, compared to a massive 83% who prefer to relax, unwind.

 • People from Northern Ireland are turning their backs on their gardens in droves, with only 46% opting to look after their lawns.

 • People in Herefordshire, Gloucestershire and Warwickshire are the most avid gardeners (72%) and they also are the biggest spenders with over 5% investing over £1000 a year on their gardens against the national average of 1%.

 • The majority of Scots prefer relaxing but gardening comes a close second. However, like most of the UK, over 50% of them will not spend more than £100 a year on their garden.

Further information:

Contact:     Timber Decking Association: Steve Young 01977 558147
                    Cuprinol: EHPR - Rebecca Gillson 01753842017