How to Order Timber Cladding from a Merchant

Ordering cladding is easy to get wrong in small ways that become expensive: too few boards, the wrong width, a species that does not suit the wall, or a delivery nobody can unload. This guide walks through the process in the order you will actually meet each decision, whether you buy from us directly or through a builders’ merchant.

Step 1: Measure the wall and work out m²

1. Measure the height and width of each elevation in metres.
2. Multiply to get the area of each wall, then add them up.
3. Subtract openings (windows, doors) only if they are large. Small openings are usually left in, as they are covered by the waste allowance and trim.
4. Draw a simple sketch with dimensions. It saves a lot of back and forth when you ask for a quote.

Example: a wall 6m wide by 2.5m high is 15m². A window of 1.2m by 1.0m removes 1.2m², leaving 13.8m².

Step 2: Cover width, not face width

This is the most common calculation mistake. Interlocking profiles such as tongue and groove or shiplap are sold by their nominal size, but the part that shows on the wall (the cover width) is smaller, because the boards overlap or interlock.

• Face or nominal width: the width of the board as supplied.
• Cover width: the width each board adds to the wall once fitted.

Always calculate from cover width. If a 120mm board has a 100mm cover width, you are buying for 100mm. Where a product page does not state the cover width, ask us before ordering.

Step 3: Convert m² to lineal metres

Lineal metres (the total length of board) is what many suppliers price and sell by.

Lineal metres = area in m² ÷ cover width in metres

For 13.8m² and a 0.1m cover width: 13.8 ÷ 0.1 = 138 lineal metres.

Then divide by your board length to get the number of boards. With 3m lengths, that is 46 boards. If you are buying packs, round up to whole packs. Some products come in fixed pack sizes and lengths, so check what the pack contains before you divide.

Step 4: Add a waste allowance

Timber is cut, trimmed and sometimes rejected for knots or damage. A common general rule of thumb is to add around 10% for simple, straight runs, and more for diagonal layouts, lots of corners, or short wall sections. Your installer will have their own view, and we are happy to talk it through.

Round up, and consider a few extra boards for future repairs. Cladding bought later may differ slightly in colour or batch.

Step 5: Choose species, profile and finish

Think about where the cladding goes and what you want it to look like in five years, not just on day one.

• Species and treatment: options in our range include Western Red Cedar, Thermowood, Siberian larch, Accoya and charred timber. Each weathers and ages differently. Our guide to what Thermowood is explains one of them.
• Profile: tongue and groove, shiplap, featheredge, rainscreen and slat profiles all look and behave differently. Browse timber profiles and shiplap.
• Finish: natural, painted, charred, oiled or coated. See finishes and treatments and painted external cladding. Maintenance is part of the decision, as natural finishes need recoating over time.
• Inside or outside: do not use an internal-only product outdoors. Check the external or internal categories.

Step 6: Orientation, cavity, battens and fixings

You do not need to be the installer, but you do need to order the right quantities of fixings and battens.

• Orientation: vertical, horizontal and diagonal boards behave differently with water. Whatever you choose, the board profile should shed water rather than trap it, and the design should let each board dry out.
• Ventilated cavity: external cladding is normally fixed to battens over a breather membrane, leaving a ventilated, drained cavity behind. This is general good practice rather than a product-specific rule. Insect mesh at the bottom and top of the cavity is commonly used.
• Battens: order treated battens, and consider running them in the direction that keeps the cavity open. A vertical batten suits horizontal boards; for vertical boards, a counter-batten arrangement is commonly used.
• Fixings: use fixings that suit the species. Stainless steel is the usual choice for durable and acidic timbers such as cedar and oak, since ordinary steel can corrode and stain the wood. Ask us about the right fixings for your product.

Your architect or installer should confirm the build-up, as it affects the whole wall.

Step 7: Check fire requirements early

Fire performance is a regulatory matter and depends on the building, its height and how close it is to a boundary. For some buildings, in particular taller ones, there may be restrictions on combustible materials in external walls. Check this before you choose.

If fire treatment is needed, see our fire retardant cladding range and our fire-safe timber guide. Do not assume any product meets a given class: ask for the documentation for the exact product, and confirm it with your building control officer or fire engineer.

Step 8: Ask for free samples

Photos and screens do not show real colour, grain or texture. Samples do. We offer free samples; see the free timber samples page for the current list.

Look at the sample outdoors, in the light the wall actually gets. Wet it, as timber looks darker when damp. Hold it against your brickwork, windows and roof.

Step 9: Check moisture content, grade and lengths

Before you place an order, ask:

• Moisture content: what is the delivered moisture content, and is it suitable for external use? Ask for the stated moisture content for each product.
• Grade: what is the grade, and what does it allow in terms of knots, colour variation and small defects? Grade names mean different things for different species, so ask what the description covers.
• Lengths: are boards supplied in fixed lengths, or random lengths? Fixed lengths make estimating easier. Shorter lengths give more joints and more waste.
• Profile detail: confirm size, cover width and whether ends are sealed or cut.

Step 10: Quote versus order

A quote is a written price for a defined list of products, quantities and delivery. It is not a reservation. An order is the point at which you confirm the details and pay.

When you compare quotes, check that they match. Are the species, profile, grade, length, quantities and delivery the same? A lower price may reflect a different product.

Our website prices include VAT and UK delivery. You can request a quote with your measurements and we will price it for you. Bespoke or painted orders take 5 to 7 working days. For other items, we do not give a general dispatch promise on the website, so ask about your specific order.

Step 11: Ordering through us or through a merchant

Direct from Timber Focus: order online, or call 0161 504 0011, or ask for a quote with your measurements.

Through a merchant: many people prefer to buy through a local builders’ merchant, for example for trade accounts or collection. See our merchants and distribution partners page, or ask us, for how buying through a merchant works.

Either way, the principle is the same: give exactly the same specification (product, size, quantity, length) to whoever is pricing, so the quote you receive is for what you want.

Step 12: Plan delivery and offloading

Agree these points before the day:

• Who receives it? Someone must be on site to check and sign.
• Access: can a lorry reach the site, and is there room to turn? Narrow roads, low branches and soft ground are worth mentioning.
• Offloading: is it kerbside or to a specific spot? Is there equipment or help for heavy packs?
• Delivery date and contact number: keep the driver’s number handy.
• Where will it go? Plan the storage place before the delivery arrives.

Step 13: Inspect on arrival

Do this before the driver leaves where possible.

• Check the number of packs against the delivery note and your order.
• Look for obvious damage to packaging, wet wrapping or crushed corners.
• Open a pack, if allowed, and check the species, profile, size and finish.
• Look at a few boards for splits, bent boards and surface damage.
• Photograph any problems and note them on the delivery note.
• Report any problem promptly, in writing, with photos.

Step 14: Store and acclimatise

• Keep it off the ground, on level bearers, with cover that stops rain but allows air to circulate. Do not seal wet timber in plastic.
• Keep it flat so boards do not bend.
• Keep it out of direct sun if possible, especially painted or finished boards, to avoid uneven drying.
• Acclimatise: leave the boards on site for a period before fixing, so they can settle to the local conditions. Internal timber in particular should sit in the room where it will be fitted. Ask us whether a specific product needs a particular period, as this varies.

Step 15: Returns

Returns rules vary and depend on the product, the condition of the goods and the type of order. Made-to-order or painted goods may be treated differently from stock items. Ask us about the returns terms for your order before you buy. Keep the packaging, keep the delivery note, and tell us about any problem as soon as you see it.

Ordering checklist

• [ ] Measured every elevation and made a sketch
• [ ] Calculated m² and subtracted large openings
• [ ] Used cover width, not face width
• [ ] Converted to lineal metres and number of boards or packs
• [ ] Added a waste allowance
• [ ] Chosen species, profile and finish for the location
• [ ] Checked fire requirements with building control
• [ ] Ordered samples and viewed them on site
• [ ] Asked about moisture content, grade and lengths
• [ ] Ordered battens, membrane, mesh and fixings
• [ ] Compared quotes like for like
• [ ] Agreed delivery access, offloading and contact
• [ ] Prepared dry, flat storage
• [ ] Inspected on arrival and noted any damage

FAQ

How much extra should I order?
A common rule of thumb is around 10% for straightforward layouts, and more for complex ones. Your installer can advise.

Why is my m² total different from what the supplier calculated?
Usually it is cover width. Suppliers price by what covers the wall, not by the board width on the label.

Can I order a small quantity through a merchant?
See our merchants and distribution partners page, or ask us, as terms can vary.

Are samples really free?
Our site offers free samples. See the free samples page.

Trends to watch

Before you order, ask each supplier what documentation is available for the specific product you are buying, such as sourcing and certification information, and compare quotes like for like. Ask us what we can supply for your product.

Ready to order?

Send us your measurements and we will help you work out quantities. Request a quote, order free samples, or book a site meeting. You can also call 0161 504 0011.