Choosing a Timber Solution for Your Next Cladding Project
From renovating and refurbishing to building a new project from scratch, creating an attractive exterior is critical in improving the home's curb appeal. If you want to stand out from the crowd, then there is no greater choice than timber cladding. From rustic country home to modern masterpieces, cladding can be used across a wide range of architectural styles and in almost all environments.
When choosing a cladding material, there are a number of things you need to keep in mind. These include:
· The climate that you build will be exposed to. The exterior of any project is not the place to cut corners – instead, invest in durable materials that can withstand constant exposure to the elements.
· Consider the direction of the timber itself! Though this will only affect the aesthetics of the build, it can have a huge impact on the appearance and presence of the finished project! Traditional horizontal weatherboards are a classic option, whilst vertical beams can be ideal for creating a contemporary façade.
· The budget you are working within should always be an important consideration. With options available to suit every project, from stunning hardwoods to fibre cement or cedar.
Common timber products that are ideally suited to cladding projects
There are a number of materials and species that lend themselves particularly well to exterior cladding. These include:
· Weathertex: Using innovative technology to create a virtually maintenance free cladding solution, look no further than Weathertex! Using pulped hardwoods pressed with natural wax, these boards are chemically free and eco-friendly. They are also termite resistant and easy to cut using standard tools.
· Hardwoods: For a finish that is truly spectacular, Australian hardwoods are a stunning solution. From Spotted Gum and Ironbark to Silvertop Ash or Blackbutt, you can be confident that the finished product will be attractive – whether it is left to weather naturally or stained or oiled to highlight its organic characters.
· Weatherboard: The ideal solution for those hoping to achieve the look and feel of natural hardwoods without the price-tag. These timbers can be painted or left to age naturally and are easy to work with for a fast installation process.
· Fibre Cement: Unlike timber products, fibre cement cladding will not rot, and is resistant to moisture, termites and fire when installed correctly. Available in a wide range of styles, this material can be used to recreate the appearance of hardwood boards without any ongoing maintenance.
· Cedar: Traditional and incredibly popular, Cedar cladding is lightweight, easy to use, long-lasting and durable – an ideal material! Used across Australia for decades, it is dimensionally stable in most weather conditions and can be painted, stained, oiled, or left to weather natural.
As you can see, each unique project comes with its own timber solution – what is best for one build may be completely unsuitable for another. This can be due to the location and the elements that it will face on a day-to-day basis, the budget of the build, and of course, the architectural style of the home! Due to the wide variety of cladding materials available on the market, there truly is an option for every building, whether it is a rustic seaside escape or an inner-city contemporary masterpiece.
Whatever you’re hoping to achieve, we recommend partnering with an experienced timber supplier; this is critical regardless of whether you’re undertaking a DIY renovation or you’re an experienced sub-contractor. A good supplier will be able to direct you toward the option that is best suited to your needs, taking into account the broad range of factors that we have mentioned above.