The Complete Guide to Timber Cladding for Commercial Buildings
When it comes to designing a commercial building, it can be easy to fall into the same pattern of a generic modern design. Timber cladding can prevent this by offering unique benefits for staff and clients, both functionally and aesthetically. It can provide a one-of-a-kind visual effect that sets your business apart from your competitors.
At NORclad we have over forty years of experience providing high-quality, durable, and practical timber cladding solutions for commercial clients of all sizes. We have put together this guide to provide information on:
- What timber cladding for commercial buildings is.
- What the benefits of it are.
- How modern buildings make use of it.
We have also included some of our favourite timber cladding materials to provide inspiration for your next commercial project.
Utilise timber cladding for your commercial building; contact us now, or request a quote.
What is Timber Cladding for Commercial Buildings?
Cladding is the act of applying materials to the façade of a building for a variety of reasons, including visual enhancement and increased functionality. This can be done with a number of materials, but timber is a beautiful and renewable option that creates a distinct visual while still providing sustainability.
Commercial timber cladding provides functionality and natural visuals to commercial buildings and structures in an urban environment. It is incredibly versatile, with diversity and variation in appearance and properties that enables numerous possible applications.
Timber cladding can help architects to push the boundaries of their innovations. It can be utilised to produce cladding profiles like tongue and groove or shiplap; it can be shaped to suit the creative vision of the designer.
Other building materials like brick, render, or metal don’t provide the same level of creative freedom nor the same benefits as timber cladding, making it a favourable option for builders, architects, and designers when enhancing a commercial building.
Should You Use Timber Cladding for Your Commercial Building?
Timber cladding is a great material for commercial buildings – it creates a memorable appearance that separates you from competitors while providing a number of other functions that can reduce costs and increase comfort. More people are adopting timber cladding as time goes by, making it a popular choice you should consider for your next commercial building project.
See the impact and effects of timber cladding for commercial buildings with some of our case studies:
- Tesco HQ Car Park – a multi-story car park cladded with European Redwood that has undergone the Brunnea treatment to provide thirty years of protection against rot and fungal decay.
- Market Rasen Leisure Centre – a Lincolnshire leisure centre with A-Grade European Redwood timber cladding.
- Pool Innovation Centre – Siberian Larch (A-Grade) providing future proofing for internal comfort and an evolving appearance as the cladding weathers to provide a contrasting aesthetic.
See more uses and applications of our timber cladding with our full range of case studies. >
Benefits of Timber Cladding for Your Commercial Building
The exact benefits of the timber you use to clad your commercial building depend on the type of wood you use. However, there are some benefits that are applicable no matter the type; we have put together our top three advantages of using timber cladding for your next project:
1. Insulation Properties
Timber cladding can help regulate the temperatures in your commercial building. This can be done through an increase in insulation due to their heat-retention properties, or through the use of Brise Soleil features.
An increase in insulation means better comfort year-round as the internal temperature will be easier to regulate, keeping it cool in the summer and warm in the winter.
This will also cut down on costs for electricity used for heating and air conditioning, providing efficiency and sustainability for your business.
Find out more about heat-regulation and light-dispersion with our Brise Soleil guide. >
2. Ease of Maintenance
Compared to other convention building products like brick, render, and metals, timber offers easier maintenance. This is due to its high durability, which enables it to withstand weather, temperature, and the hardships of time.
Other materials are likely to deteriorate over time, reducing the visual impact of your commercial building. This can be covered up with paint, but this costs time and money. Using timber cladding prevents this, offering upwards of sixty years of life to your building’s exterior.
Some timber cladding materials are also designed to weather over time, improving their visual effects and giving character to the façade of the building. This creates a distinct aesthetic that shows an established history for the building and the business.
3. Intentional Design
Timber cladding offers intentional design, showcasing the sustainable practices utilised by your business. By cladding your building in timber, you allow it to blend in with any natural surroundings or stand out as a bastion of nature within an urban space.
People that see your building are more likely to perceive your business as eco-friendly due to association of wood and nature, promoting your image while providing actual increases in sustainability as well.
There are many other advantages that come from timber cladding as well, such as a unique aesthetic or reductions in climate impact when compared to other materials like brick or render. With timber cladding from NORclad, you can ensure a bespoke design with a holistic integration into your structure.
Get in touch to start benefitting from timber cladding for your commercial building.
Timber Cladding for a Modern Commercial Building
Building designs have evolved with the needs and preferences of staff, clients, and the general public. For the modern building, there is no better option than timber cladding to provide an aesthetic and practical enhancement for visitors and occupants.
Old vs New Timber Cladding
Old timber cladding, or reclaimed timber, can help provide character to a building due to its established and weathered look. However, this may be less preferable for a commercial building as the longevity and sleekness of old timber cladding may be diminished compared to a newer variety.
The appearance of modern timber cladding can be improved further with stains or painting, offering complete control over the exterior façade of your commercial building. This helps it to integrate with its surroundings and can give prospective clients an idea of what your culture is like. These functions can also serve to improve the longevity of the cladding, furthered by treatment to prevent rotting and degradation.
Find out more about the sustainability of cladding with our article on timber renewability. >
External & Interior Modern Timber Cladding
While a common use for timber cladding in commercial buildings is external, modern structures may also make use of interior timber cladding.
This can provide feature walls or stylistic finishes that help add character to your indoor space. Clean, precise lines can be used for designs that utilise the unique benefits of timber cladding to produce a desirable interior.
Timber cladding defines the space it is in. It is diverse in its application and can be moulded to fit the room design as required. The only limits for interior design using timber cladding are the space available and the creativity of the architect, so it is a great material to help realise extravagant ideas.
Find out more about timber cladding for modern commercial buildings. >
Best Timber Cladding Materials for Commercial Buildings
The range of timber cladding materials can be overwhelming as each has individual benefits that can provide an edge in specific circumstances. We have put together some of the best materials for cladding commercial buildings, which include:
- European Redwood. This is a popular species for cladding, with a light colour that provides aesthetic excellency. It can also be easily protected against rot, fungal growth, and decay, providing a long-lasting benefit.
- British Sweet Chestnut. A beautiful golden colour, sporting natural beauty that can be suitable for a variety of projects and purposes. It is naturally resistant to knocks, scrapes, and scratches, providing a hard-wearing durability that triumphs over many alternative materials.
- Canadian Western Red Cedar. The longevity of this species is not to be underestimated – lasting up to sixty years, this type of timber cladding provides unparalleled durability and resistance to decay.
- Siberian Larch. With a stunning colour and texture, this material begins its life golden brown but eventually weathers to a strong silvered colour. With unique patterns and growth rings, this evolving material provides character to a commercial building.
While these are some of our favourite timber cladding materials, we at NORclad offer a number of other products that can help you realise your exact creative vision for your commercial building. Each has unique properties and looks to provide tailored results which can be further enhanced by the introduction of paints, staining, treatments, and weathering.
Browse our other products to find the most suitable option for your requirements and aesthetics.
Timber Cladding for Commercial Buildings from NORclad
Enhance the longevity, visual impact, and sustainability of your structure by using timber cladding solutions from NORclad. Perfect for commercial buildings of any size and scale, our products provide many benefits that can improve almost every element of your interior or exterior façade.
Consider using our timber cladding solutions for your next commercial project. To find out how, get in touch or request a quote. We have a wide range of products and services, so you can be sure to find something that matches your vision. Continue learning more with some of our related articles.
Check out our guide on commercial architecture and how to design commercial buildings. >
Inspire yourself with design ideas for leisure buildings and facilities. >
