Timber cladding has grown in popularity in recent years, due to its useful contribution to a building’s sustainable footprint.
Despite being a powerful visual signifier of your commitment to the Green agenda, what can be off putting for many is choosing the right kind of timber for a project, due to the finite detailing and specification.
While we’ve already covered what steps you need to consider when selecting a species in a previous blog, here we take a look at the range of species of external cladding we have in stock and discover their best practices.
External Cladding
Western Red Cedar
Western red cedar is one of the most popular species to use in cladding as it doesn’t require any preservative treatment, because it’s naturally resistant to decay and insect attack.
It’s soft, rather brittle and light in weight. If left uncoated, it will season to an attractive silver grey appearance over a period of approximately eighteen months in areas with low air pollution.
Cedar offers superior acoustic qualities too, helping to reduce noise or confine it to specific areas. As such, this species provides the best of both worlds, making it suitable for both external and internal cladding. It is also an excellent material for thermal insulation – in summer keeping the building cool and in winter preventing the heat from escaping.
Another notable quality is that it has a very low shrinkage factor and very resistant to warping, twisting and checking.
Siberian Larch
Siberian Larch is the cladding of choice for many architects, contractors and self-builders, due to the fact that it is extremely versatile – being suitable for most external timber cladding applications – has excellent durability properties and displays attractive figuring.
Thermowood D
Due to the thermal treatment, this cladding is extremely sturdy and versatile, being able to use internally or externally for things like cladding, decking and saunas. As retains its size and shape, and improved thermal insulation.
Not only does it have good resistance against the weather and its resistance to decay, compared to other timber cladding, it’s one of the longest lasting and environmentally friendly solutions available.
Generally it is good and easy to work with and produces an excellent finish.