Timber Cladding: Choosing the Best Profile for Your Home
Depending on aesthetics, sustainability, durability, and price, a wide variety of tree species are available. Softwoods, hardwoods, tropical hardwoods, and modified woods are a few.
Using wood that can endure at least 15 years is always advised. Choose a wood that is either inherently durable or may be made more durable through wood preservation, which includes preservative treatment and modification techniques.
After choosing your timber species, there is a wide range in timber grading depending on various criteria. These apparent characteristics might include knots, grain slope, bark pockets, exposed pith, and resin pockets, to name a few. These should all be discussed with the producer or supplier since they all have the potential to shorten a board’s lifespan.
Selecting the Best Home Profile
Standard board widths and profiles come in various sizes, and suppliers provide different designs and specifications. Manufacturers of architectural timber cladding (Australia) may also offer custom profiles and cutting-edge techniques that, when placed, will produce a particular pattern.
Although it varies depending on the construction of your wall, timber cladding is often installed over a vented and drained hollow. A breather layer separates dry and wet areas, but a breather membrane is unnecessary for cladding attached to masonry walls with cavities.
It’s also crucial to remember that wood shrinks and expands based on the weather, so you need to account for this movement when installing. The manufacturer should be able to provide advice on the types, quantities, and suggested spacing between fixes. Due to how wood grows and is cut, not all profiles can be used in all situations. The list below shows some of the most common profiles that can be used for horizontal wood cladding.
Horizontal Timber Cladding
Examples of some of the most popular horizontal timber cladding are provided here.
Feather Edge
The triangular segment of feather edge cladding is fitted with some overlap. Its form aids in each board’s water-shedding and adds shadow, light contrast, and depth to the facade. It is not advised to install this profile vertically.
Open Gap
Open gap boards have a tiny space between them. Although the fittings will be evident owing to the design, they are highly well-liked by architects because of the clean lines. They can also enable views through the cladding, giving a façade a lot of depth. Consult your architectural timber cladding Australia manufacturer’s instructions on non-staining fasteners, gap widths, insect mesh requirements, and breather membranes when specifying this product.
Typically, a space of 8 to 15 mm is advised between each board. The outer wall structure may be damaged by UV and water if there are larger holes. The use of UV-resistant breather membranes and the specified gap size for the membranes are both always required. Although using this sort of cladding vertically is not advised, it is conceivable with the correct manufacturer’s suggestion, warranty, and finishing.
Shiplap
Similar to open gap boards, shiplap boards have an overlapping junction that keeps water out of the vented cavity and extends the life of the cladding. They are a different kind of profile that architects enjoy because of their precise shadow gap details and concealed fittings. You may also use this profile vertically.
Tongue and groove (T&G)
Shiplap and T&G boards are similar, but T&G boards produce a stronger junction between the panels. You can also apply T&G vertically and diagonally for this purpose. They have historically been utilised for a more traditional finish; however, contemporary profiles and concealed fasteners may also give this profile a modern vibe.
Vertical Timber Cladding
Here are a few illustrations of the most typical vertical timber panelling. It is advised that every horizontal batten has a slope to aid with water drainage.
Board on Board
Vertical boards overlap one underneath and one on top of the other, known as “board on board.” With this placement, you can change the width of the boards or the distance between them to make the shadow gaps bigger or smaller. This cladding doesn’t need a counter batten, but it’s a good idea to ask the manufacturer for advice. It may generate a more profound shadow gap than the open gap. Hence, it’s sometimes utilised instead. The usage of this profile horizontally is not advised.
Shingles
Timber shingles are modular cladding, not vertical or horizontal boards. But they both have a substructure made of battens and counter battens to let air in and drain away any water that builds up. They come in enormous sizes and shapes, which you may occasionally combine to make intriguing patterns.
Conclusion
Since wood is a natural material, maintaining it is crucial to extending the life of the cladding. The type of wood, the portion, the layout, and the finishes will all affect the maintenance requirements. The architectural timber cladding Australia maker or installer should always include a handbook on maintenance. All cladding must undergo routine examinations by a qualified individual to see whether any repairs are necessary or to ensure that the cladding is still doing its function.
