There’s a lot to consider when choosing the right colour for your artificial lumber project. The location, design goals, and how the space will be used will all play a part in which colour is best. At British Recycled Plastics, we’re expanding our colour range, offering lighter tones for sunny, public-facing areas, and darker shades to provide a modern architectural finish for urban and commercial projects.
We’ve launched Sand and Dark Grey options for our artificial lumber, designed to suit different environments and design styles
Black and Brown are still available
Recycled plastic lumber offers zero maintenance, long life, and a 25-year guarantee
Why Colour Choice Matters For Artificial Lumber
While artificial lumber typically comes in just a few standard colours, contractors, landscape architects, and local authorities now need materials that perform well while looking good. Public spaces, schools and housing developments are expected to look consistent and use carefully considered materials.
Which is why British Recycled Plastic has launched two new colours, Sand and Dark Grey, to sit alongside our existing Black and Brown ranges.
Jason Elliott, Founder of British Recycled Plastic, explains:
“We’ve seen a clear shift in recent years towards projects where durability alone isn’t enough — clients also want materials that support the overall design vision. Introducing Sand and Dark Grey gives specifiers more flexibility to achieve the right aesthetic while still benefiting from the long-term performance recycled plastic lumber is known for.”
Plastic Lumber: Our Colour Options
We now offer recycled plastic lumber in four shades, all offering a slightly different style.
*NEW* Sand: Light Neutral Tone for Outdoor Comfort
Artificial lumber in our Sand shade is designed for outdoor spaces where exposure to sunlight and user comfort are key. It’s best suited to coastal paths, playgrounds, holiday parks and visitor centres, as it reflects more sunlight than our darker options, helping to keep surfaces cool on hot days. The neutral plastic wood has a more natural appearance that’s ideal for blending into sandy environments and open landscapes.
*NEW* Dark Grey: Modern Architectural Finish
Our new Dark Grey plastic lumber is aimed at projects where appearance and clean lines are crucial. Think urban public spaces, contemporary schools and new housing developments.
The dark grey lumber delivers a modern, specification-grade finish so often required for large-scale projects, and provides a strong contrast when placed in plant-heavy, green spaces. It pairs well with contemporary building materials such as steel and concrete to create a consistent, professional look that lasts.
Brown: Traditional, Natural Look
Brown artificial lumber has a more traditional appearance, mimicking that of classic timber. It’s ideal for boardwalks and pathways in the countryside, and signage or fencing within heritage sites where structures should blend neatly into the background.
Black: Discreet For High-Traffic Areas
Our classic black plastic lumber is practical, versatile and perfect for hiding dirt in high-traffic areas. It’s popular for subframes, edging and other structural uses. Black is often combined with other colours to create striking designs; Black works for substructures, while Sand or Dark Grey can be used for visible surfaces in the same project.
Choosing the Right Colour for Your Project Type
Different sectors tend to favour different finishes. Below, we’ve broken down what you should consider when choosing your artificial lumber:
- User Interaction
Will people be sitting, walking or playing on the surface?
Lighter colours like our Sand plastic wood could help deflect the sun, improving overall comfort for users. - Surrounding Materials
What colours are used in the surrounding areas?
Do you want to match or contrast with nearby paving, steelwork, or planters? - Maintenance Expectations
Is the lumber to be used in a high-traffic, dirt-prone area?
All our artificial lumber is incredibly low-maintenance and typically wipes clean with just water. However, to ensure a cleaner look for longer, our Black plastic wood may hide dirt better in high-use areas. - Planning Requirements
Does the project require a more nature-inspired feel?
Some projects, for example, in nature reserves, heritage sites or rural settings, may require more natural tones such as Sand or Brown. - Visual Impact
How large is the structure?
In open landscapes, larger lumber structures can dominate the visual space. These projects will benefit from our lighter tones, allowing structures to blend more into the background.
Based on our previous customers, we recommend the following shades for different sectors:
Schools and Playgrounds
Our recycled plastic lumber in Black is ideal for schools and playgrounds because it hides dirt in high-traffic areas. Using black plastic lumber for raised beds and fencing coordinates effortlessly with our colourful picnic benches and buddy benches that are so popular in school spaces, too.
Parks and Local Authority Projects
Brown and our new Sand and Dark Grey shades are ideal for natural settings or urban public spaces currently being upgraded to suit modern day styles.
Housing Developments
For a clean, modern finish, a combination of Dark Grey plastic lumber and our new Stainless Steel benches aligns with contemporary architectural styles.
Healthcare and NHS Environments
Calm, neutral tones like our new Sand recycled plastic lumber create a clean, welcoming feel for patients and staff in outdoor spaces and gardens.
Contractors and Installers
Black remains a practical choice for structural elements, often the go-to for contractors and installers.
New Colours, Same Durable Plastic Lumber
Long before choosing a colour, you’ll first need to decide on a material. It’s worth understanding why recycled plastic lumber is such a great choice for outdoor spaces.
Unlike traditional timber, artificial lumber is forever rot-free. The non-porous material can’t absorb water during downpours, allowing its shape and appearance to stay the same through all the seasons. This also means there’s no chance of cracks, splinters or degradation, which can be common with wood alternatives.
Our recycled plastic lumber comes in a variety of shades, designed to suit the needs of your project. There’s no painting, treatments or staining required, so there’s very little ongoing maintenance. In fact, we’re so sure of the quality of our plastic wood that we offer a 25-year guarantee.
With all the benefits of using artificial lumber, it’s perfect for schools, parks, NHS estates, and public access areas where maintenance budgets are limited.
If you are in the process of selecting materials for an upcoming project, explore our full range online, or contact us for help with choosing the right recycled plastic lumber colour to improve both performance and visual impact. You can also find out more about how to use artificial lumber over on our YouTube channel.
Our friendly and knowledgeable team are on hand 5 days a week by phone or email: 01422 419 555 info@britishrecycledplastic.co.uk
Written by the British Recycled Plastic Team
March 2026
The best fixings for plastic lumber, and the only fixings we recommend at British Recycled Plastic, are stainless steel bolts and screws. Whether that’s for boardwalks, platforms or anything else. Nails, staples and other fixings won’t bite into the material, correcting and will quickly need replacing.
We advise against burying a screwing plastic lumber directly because stainless steel screws are relatively soft for the extremely dense plastic. Driving a screw straight in without a pilot hole could cause the screw to strip, snap or bind too tightly, making it difficult to remove later down the line. A simple pilot hole removes this risk, making installation far easier.
How To Properly Size A Pilot Hole
When you drill plastic lumber, the pilot hole should match the diameter of the screw shank – not the thread. This ensures the screw goes in smoothly without excessive force and provides a clean and consistent result every time.
You can find out more detailed information on cutting, drilling and screwing plastic lumber in our British Recycled Plastic guide.
Yes, British Recycled Plastic can cut your material to your specified sizes for a small charge (see price list).
Recycled Plastic and Composite materials typically combine different elements, like wood fibres and plastics, for enhanced strength and durability. However, due to their composition, composites can’t be easily recycled. On the other hand, recycled plastic, like that from British Recycled Plastic, originates solely from reused plastic, making it fully recyclable and a more sustainable choice. It lasts longer, offers eco-friendly benefits, and can be continually recycled, minimizing environmental impact. Choose British Recycled Plastic for durable, sustainable solutions that make a lasting difference.
British Recycled Plastic is made from 100% uk plastic waste.
Our recycled plastic is made with a wide variety of plastic waste products from industrial, commercial, agricultural and domestic sources. These materials are shredded, melted and mixed together to create our incredibly strong plastic lumber.
The most common plastic types used are High Density Polyethylene, Low Density Polyethylene, Polypropylene and Polythene. These are all members of the Polyolefin family, so mix well together at the same temperature.
These materials form 99% of the content. They are mixed with 1% masterbatch, for colour control, which is also made from entirely recycled material.
Recycled plastic lumber is a sustainable alternative to timber is is typically just as strong, if not stronger than wood. It is widely used in applications where timber would traditionally be used however, due to its dense, non-porous composition, it is longer-lasting and low maintenance. Unlike wood, British Recycled Plastic lumber won’t rot, splinter, split or warp.
British Recycled Plastic provides plastic lumber to a wide variety of businesses. Plastic lumber is used in landscaping and construction applications, including raised beds, retaining structures, outdoor seating, edging, and decking substructures. It provides a durable alternative to timber, particularly in ground-contact or wet environments.
British Recycled Plastic lumber can be cut and drilled like hardwood, but please be aware that this means you will go through blades and drill bits more quickly than if you were working with treated pine.
