Restaurants and bars have faced many new challenges over the course of 2020, with a common concern being how to safely accommodate customers when indoor dining was restricted or unavailable.
With increased demand for alfresco drinking and dining options, businesses have realised the importance of having outdoor spaces for customers to enjoy while staying socially distanced. This continues to be an important area of development as hospitality venues are likely to face restrictive measures for the foreseeable future, and with Ecodek composite decking, businesses can maximise capacity without compromising on safety,
What Is Ecodek Composite Decking?
Ecodek solid composite decking is a safe and sustainable solution for outdoor hospitality spaces that is simple to install and more hardwearing than a wooden outdoor floor surface.
Manufactured in the UK and supported with a 25-year guarantee, Ecodek has been designed with outdoor leisure and dining in mind. With slip-resistant boards, the composite decking is ideal for commercial purposes in both wet and dry conditions, making it a logical choice for bars and restaurants that want to develop outdoor areas.
The composition of Ecodek is intended to prevent water and moisture from rotting the decking from within and is designed to be long-lasting and low-maintenance with an increased resistance to impact damage. Its solid structure gives it greater noise absorption properties, so it’s quieter underfoot which helps to reduce noise levels in dining environments.
Thanks to its polymer content, Ecodek limits moisture absorption to less than 1% compared with more than 25% for untreated timber. This means there is no need to stain, paint or treat the decking to prevent warping, swelling or distortion and gives Ecodek its ‘fit and forget’ properties.
How Ecodek Protects The Environment
Ecodek composite decking is initially manufactured using 95% recycled and sustainable sourced materials and production has even achieved ‘carbon negative’ status, making it an ecologically sustainable product that is a great alternative to plastic decking. Ecodek can be recycled repeatedly which also makes it as green as it is long lasting and as decking is manufactured to bespoke lengths at the fabrication stage in the UK, this not only limits waste, but also helps to reduce installation time, customer costs and environmental impact.
How It Can Benefit You
Creating an attractive and comfortable outdoor space is an essential aspect of encouraging customers to safely revisit your restaurant or bar meaning capacity can be increased, but also provides future event space and ample opportunities when larger scale gatherings are feasible again.
With the importance of maintaining safety guidelines likely to continue for the foreseeable future, a requirement to make outdoor surroundings as relaxing and attractive as indoor areas has become a priority within the hospitality sector; and with colder months approaching , the need for these spaces to remain safe and comfortable is ever more relevant.
What Ecodek Has To Say
Felicity Hodgkinson, Marketing Manager at Ecodek, knows the challenges faced by business owners have led to a re-think and re-imagining of the space they are working with and the options they can offer to patrons.
“Alongside premises’ safety priorities sits the importance of diners and bar patrons feeling relaxed whilst eating and drinking out of doors; enjoying everything an alfresco experience affords, from the food and drink, to the atmosphere and surroundings. Similarly, at a more corporate level, company canteens restricted by diner capacity numbers, are progressively seeking out effective solutions to better utilise outdoor areas for safer staff dining.
“To increase patron numbers, premises need to make as much safe space available as possible. As expectations for additional outdoor hospitality areas continue, creating that welcoming environment for customers to enjoy eating and drinking outside could well become key to the hospitality sector’s onward success.”
Why Ecodek Is An Investment For The Future
“It’s everyone’s hope that the hospitality and commercial sectors will be operating as normal sooner rather than later,” Felicity continues, “however with current circumstances as they are, maximising premises’ potential to increase customer capacity within an outdoor space makes a lot of sense.
“Ensuring that area is attractive, inviting and safe, using materials designed to last for the long-term as opposed to the moment, presents proprietors with a business-building spatial solution that customers can enjoy and return to, months and years from now.”
For further information about the Ecodek composite decking solution, including design ideas, environmental credentials, and recommended installation partners, why not speak to a product specialist on 01978 667840.
