Cedar continues to be the king of cladding, thanks to its durability and good looks. But larch, Thermowood, modified timbers and factory-finished products are also achieving some inspiring applications in the cladding sector.
"We are currently noticing a shift of taste from clients demanding higher quality products – clearer products in the CSH and Class 1 grades with the requirement of factory finishing and secret fixing systems," said Andrew Goto, Brooks Bros’ group cladding manager.
He reported that despite the expectation that the Chinese slowdown would push prices down on products coming in from North America, clear cedar prices had actually firmed while products from Scandinavia, the Baltics and Russia (including larch) have softened.
Mr Goto said the trade needed to guard against a trend of some clients/architects specifying composites in panel form as opposed to solid timber.
Snows Timber said cedar claddings were benefitting from the snowball effect: the more these products are seen, the more they inspire others to use them.
"Amongst our specialist claddings range, cedar now accounts for around 60% of sales, with our own machined ThermoWood claddings making up much of the balance," said Andy Jones, northern regional manager at Snows Timber:
"Our 25x150mm sections are the most popular. Larch cladding seems to be losing ground to these two strong performers. "Cedar’s longevity and low maintenance properties are now helping it to filter down even to smaller one-off building projects. "Garden rooms and offices are also using more cedar claddings. This reflects the more buoyant market in general: with more security being felt across the economy, consumers are willing to go for a perceived up-market cladding like cedar for their outdoor rooms. "
Timbmet has rebranded its fully factory finished exterior cladding product – previously known as Timclad – with the name Siparila, which is the name of the product manufacturer in Finland.
The end-matched exterior product has a 10- or 15-year manufacturers’ warranty and is made to order, with a lead-time of about three weeks. It takes up a position in the midpriced section of the timber cladding market. One application is a private housing development in Sandbanks by Fresh Developments (UK) Ltd.
Trimax, made from Tricoya modified MDF, is also being pushed by Timbmet, mostly in the fascia and soffit board markets.
Meanwhile, Brooks Bros said its acquisition last year of Sewstern Sawmills added native UK grown timbers to its cladding species in various profiles.
The company has also seen success with supplying products to award-winning projects, such as Channel 4’s programme ‘Grand Designs’, which featured its Kebony Southern yellow pine at The Invisible House on the Isle of Wight
In 2016 Brooks Cladding has launched its "Complete Package" showcasing its wide selection of cladding timber species, finishes and fixing systems available, as well as support for the Grown in Britain campaign. Its key cladding products are Kebony, larch, Thermowood & Western red cedar, with the ability to factory finish in its own coatings facilities.
Snows Timber says this winter it has seen no let-up in sales of softwood claddings to traditional garden building producers. "Manufacturers are generally busier than last year," added Snows’ Andy Jones. "Our sales are helped by our ‘one stop shop’ approach: supplying shed producers with everything from framing to flooring, alongside traditional softwood cladding. Our best-sellers in softwood claddings are ex 16x125mm in various profiles."
"Builders merchants are becoming increasingly confident with this product category – more comfortable in offering it to local architects and self-builders, added Snows’ Andy Jones.
Accoya modified wood continues to be used for landmark projects, such as the facade of the Royal Arena in Copenagen. The venue, which features 250m3 of Accoya, will be able to accommodate 27,500 people. To complement the façade, Accoya "fins" give the building a wave-like semitransparent style.
Another Accoya project is a Japanese train station at the foot of Mount Takao, with the station’s cladding and exposed roof area utilising the material. Architects chose Accoya due to its durability in humid and wet conditions, its dimensional stability and to reflect the densely wooded mountain landscape around Mount Takao.
