Which Wood Is Best For Cladding?

When planning to build your dream property there are many things to consider, from the right material to your budget and schedule. To get your project underway in an organised and efficient manner, we have devised some important things to consider when purchasing your cladding for your project.

All types of cladding commonly known as rain screen cladding will protect your home from the elements. Some have qualities to improve thermal insulation, as well as offering high fire ratings. Different species vary in terms of grading quality, knot content, colour and graining, service life and upkeep. In fact, timber is one of the few natural materials where in most cases price will reflect quality.

If you are looking for a natural timber product with minimal maintenance, a durable and rot-resistant material that is also dimensionally stable, meaning that the product is not prone to cupping, swelling, or shrinking, ThermoWood softwood or hardwoods will provide that performance over others. So what timber options are out there?

If you are looking to add a traditional, rustic aura to your project, knottier woods can reinforce this style. We suggest looking at softwood timbers like ThermoWood Pine, British Grown Larch, British Grown Douglas Fir, British Grown Cedar and Coastal Redwood.

* The above image uses our ThermoWood Pine softwood cladding and fence screening.

For a clean, crisp look, species that are naturally knot-free will do the trick. If this is what you want then we suggest taking a look at hardwood timbers like ThermoWood Ash, ThermoWood Iroko, ThermoWood Ayous and ThermoWood Tulipwood. Or select a clear-grade softwood like ThermoWood Radiata Pine. This is the same material used in the Accoya and Abodo brands.

ThermoWoods our dimensionally stable, durable and 100% recyclable with a low water absorption rate allowing the product to be resistant to decay, fungal growth and insects, which would usually damage other, lower-quality wood species. Its uniform colour takes to glueing, oiling, and painting far better than other woods. ThermoWood products are 30% more fire resistant than regular wood with a Class B Certification. With added heat and sound insulation, and a lifespan of 25-30+ years, this product is beneficial to your personal health and the environment. Like our other products, there is minimal ongoing maintenance. The technology used to thermally modify timber causes permanent and structural changes within the cell structure, with an outcome of superior durability and stability.

Timbers that would normally perish once machined and used in an outdoor climate can now be used successfully without having to harvest Amazonian tropical timbers, using our bespoke process to produce ThermoWood. A great environmental benefit! Thus, relieving the pressure on these species by using less threatened and more readily available species. Therefore, allowing you to build a dream property that ticks the environmental responsibility boxes and will last for decades.

* The above image uses our ThermoWood Iroko hardwood cladding.

We also offer finishes for your timber, from charred cladding to painted timber. Which we have seen an increase in popularity over time.

AtelierClad®

The AtelierClad® range offers boards with a textured brushed grain surface available in 11 different colours to suit your personal preferences. A 100% recyclable, FSC - certified ThermoWood Softwood and Hardwood product. The coating applied to these ranges is flexible, UV resistant and Class 0 fire-rated, providing an extremely stable and durable finish. Our AtelierClad® range offers a 2-coat system with a washable topcoat which will not flake, crack or peel. A composition that will not fade, and due to every board having a different enhanced grain structure, no two boards are the same.

* The above image uses our AtelierClad® in the colour Mocha.

ThermoChar®

This labour-intensive process of charring the outer surface of the ThermoWood brings out the richness of the different wood species' grain structures. Making the wood 30% more fire resistant than standard wood species’ like Cedar and Larch. The ThermoWood process removes all resins, sugars, and tannins and closes the cell structure with only a 7% moisture content within the timber. This ultimately provides a very stable platform to char the board's surface without any surface disruption under intense heat that would otherwise cause long-term issues. This heavy charring process allows the wood to become resistant to UV fading.

All charred boards are sealed for external use. A different sealer is used if the charred boards are purchased for interior use. Our ThermoChar® products offer minimal ongoing maintenance, offering you a beautiful, low-maintenance product to incorporate into your project.

* The above image uses our ThermoChar® in the finish Ebony.

Budget

With any project, no matter how big or small, it generally comes down to budget and depending on your project, we would be able to offer you a variety of products to satisfy your price point.

Our high-end range of AtelierClad®, ThermoChar® and ThermoWood cladding come in at a slightly higher price point. This is reflected in their added durability, stability, eco-credentials, and overall product quality.

At the lower end of the budget spectrum is our chemically Pressure-Treated Softwood cladding in a natural finish or a variety factory coated colours, these timbers have a slightly reduced lifespan of 15-20 years in comparison to our ThermoWood’s which have a lifespan of 25/30+ years.

Once you have considered all of the factors stated above, the time has come to contact our dedicated team to get your quotes drawn up, order samples and get your project planning and finalising underway!

If you get that feeling of being overwhelmed don’t panic, we have all been there! Just give us a call or drop us an email as our technical team can put those fears to rest and guide you through all of your project essentials.