Timber Cladding Questions Answered

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Timber Cladding Questions Answered

Timber Focus is a leading timber cladding supplier for the Merchant and Construction sectors. We work closely with Architects and Specifiers.

Thousands of calls a year are handled by TRADA’s Technical Helpline on how to design and build with wood.

Well designed and installed timber cladding provides a great-looking, long-lasting low-maintenance rain screen. But when mistakes are made, the result can be visible.

Cladding with horizontal western red cedar boards. Photo: Paul Riddle

How can I prevent my cladding from leaching out extractives?

Some wood species commonly used as uncoated cladding are prone to extractive staining. As these boards weather, they can leach out extractives that can stain other boards, or the surfaces of other materials adjoining them.

To mitigate this unsightly problem, care should be taken with the design of a building. Measures include water-shedding details to divert rainfall away from the cladding and protect absorbent surfaces around it from the runoff during the initial weathering process.

I want to clad onto a curved surface, what should I consider?

It is preferable to use vertical boards with horizontal battens that curve, rather than horizontal boards, which cannot easily be bent around tight radial curves – particularly if they have a tongued and grooved profile. This curvature can be achieved, for example, by building the battens up in layers thin enough to be bent cold, before fixing them into position by gluing and screwing.

Cladding on a curved surface should be designed to mitigate water runoff collecting in cavities and capillary action, causing high moisture content at joints.

Stanbrook Abbey Sawn Oak Cladding

What type of fasteners should I use with timber cladding? Stainless steel or non-ferrous fasteners are preferred to prevent long term corrosion and possible chemical reaction with some timber species.

Softwoods can generally be fixed with suitably sized ring-shank nails but we recommend hardwoods are fixed with screws and washers through oversized holes, where double fixings are used. There are options for discreet fixing but specific advice.

Does my timber cladding need fire retardant treatment :There are building regulations in place which aim to restrict the spread of flame. It is important to check with your local building control department or refer to building regulations (The Building Regulations 2010 Fire Safety Approved Document Volume 2 Buildings other than dwellings ) or (Building Regulations 2010 Fire Safety Approved Document Volume 1-Dwellinghouses) , if you need fire retardant treatment on your timber cladding to Euro Class B or C – or Class 1 or Class O, Timber Focus will be in a position to assist.

 

How can I remove staining that has developed on timber cladding ? there are a number of ways of removing staining depending on the cause of the staining and if it will reoccur, normally wood revivers are used to remove staining.

What board sizes are profiles are recommended ? This mainly depends on the customers preference the board widths tends to range from as small as 50mm wide to 144mm wide (Ex150mm) for external cladding. visit our common timber cladding profiles page.

What species should I used or which species is best for my cladding- this depends on the customers preference and cost as cladding for external applications can range from as low as £15/m2 ( in spruce or home grown species) £28/m2 for ( Siberian Larch, Thermowood- Factory Painted Claddings with valuable paint warranty) close to £100/m2 for SetriWood, Charred-Burnt-Scorched-Cladding etc

Contact Timber Focus for all your timber cladding questions on current or future projects we will be glad to help you.

Timber Cladding Questions Answered

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