Timber Cladding – What is everyone choosing?

The number of UK residents using timber cladding is rising.

And rightly so, as it is an incredibly appealing material, it is durable, environmentally friendly and sustainable. Using exterior timber cladding is a great simple way to give a building a facelift.

We’ve decided to take a look into what the UK is choosing in regards to timber cladding.

There are three popular timber cladding woods that all share the same qualities: they weather beautifully and fade to a soft, stylish silver after five or so years.

Western red cedar timber cladding

This particular cladding is a softwood, and notably, one of the most popular choices of timber cladding in the UK. When using the wood from the centre of a tree (heartwood), you are saving yourself a little bit of initial maintenance, as it possesses a naturally occurring chemical transformation, thus making it more resistant to decay.

The wood holds natural oils which can corrode iron-rich metals, so it is advised to use galvanised or stainless steel fixings. Be aware that the wood should be used in places where heavy damage is unlikely.

European oak timber cladding

European oak is a hardwood which is ideal for external cladding projects. Green oak is best used when you want to achieve a rustic, wavy-edged finish. In comparison to dry oak there is much better value for money. Note that green oak can shrink up to 7% once it has dried out, thus why it is often used in short lengths and requires a fast installation.

A common use of dry oak is for profiled cladding sections. The wood is frequently used untreated as it is quite rugged and hardwearing. However, in wet conditions, it is prone to water stains and can leak tannin. You may want to use stainless steel fixings with this particular wood.

Sweet chestnut timber cladding

Another hardwood, sweet chestnut will not need any initial treatment as long as the heartwood is used.

This external timber cladding is popular because of its durable and satble nature. Also, as the tree has a fast growth cycle, the wood is particularly sustainable, taking only 20-25 years to mature in comparison to oak and larch which takes up to 50-100 years.

Similar to European oak, sweet chestnut will stain when wet and leaks tannin, so it s wise to use stainless steel fixings.

Timber Shiplap Cladding are able to provide you with timber cladding solutions for all of your needs.