Oak Frame Building Cladding
Timber cladding is an attractive and sustainable option for external walls. We can supply and fit a variety of cladding to suit your needs. The heartwood of timbers which are classed as ‘durable’ do not need preservative treatments, these include Western Red Cedar, European Larch, Douglas Fir and European Oak. Timbers that are ‘slightly durable’ do require preservative treatments, these include all sapwoods, Spruce, Fir and Pine, thermally modified timber, Lodgepole Pine and European Whitewood. Design strategies can enhance the durability by reducing the risk of wetting and removing moisture promptly. Our designed structures take these considerations into account in a number of ways:
• Our eaves overhang the cladding to protect it from rainwater
• The cladding is held at least 150mm above ground level to reduce contact with groundwater
• We ensure the cladding is not directly in contact with porous materials
• A cavity is left behind the cladding to encourage ventilation
• The moisture content of the timbers should be between 13–19%, and less for heat treated timber
• We seal the end grain
• A sufficient gap is left between cladding sections to prevent capillary paths
