The Ultimate Guide to British Timber Cladding
Timber for cladding can be sourced all over the world, with many species grown within Britain. If you would like to find out more about British timber cladding, the species grown in the UK and the benefits British timber presents, this guide is for you.
At NORclad, our specialist team have over 40 years of experience in sourcing and supplying high quality timber cladding to a variety of projects, working closely with architects, contractors and project managers to elevate buildings, create impressive cladding facades and much more.
British Grown Timber Species
British woodlands are home to a range of timber species, however not all are utilised for timber cladding. Wood has long been used in Britain as a building material, with its uses now extending to fencing, cladding, decking, packaging and more. Timber grown in Britain is majority softwood (75%), from ‘evergreen’ trees.
See more: Timber Species Guide: Characteristics of Different Timber Species
Here are the timber species used for cladding grown in the UK:
Oak
Oak is a traditional building material in Britain, renowned for its toughness and strength. Although a hardwood – less common for timber cladding – Oak is popular for timber cladding due to its appearance and desirable characteristics. As well as being an attractive golden/yellow brown, Oak weathers naturally over time to a silvery-grey.
Here at NORclad we supply UK, European and American Oak timber, to suit all requirements. Read this blog to find out everything you need to know about Oak timber.
Larch
Larch is indigenous to Britain however it is also commonly exported from Siberia, where the trees grow in higher altitudes in harsher environments. Larch is a softwood, classified as a moderately durable species it is recommended that NORclad supply with either NORclad Lite, or NORclad Brunnea preservative treatment to offer resistance to decay. As with many timber cladding species, Larch weathers over time to a striking silvery grey from a warm brown with rich heartwood colour.
Find out more about British Larch.
British Western Red Cedar
British Western Red Cedar is a very popular timber cladding specie, although usually imported from Canada. Western Red Cedar has become increasingly grown in the UK due to demand and has been growing in Britain for almost a century. The appearance of Western Red Cedar is very attractive, and as the name suggests, is a warm colour with light sapwood and darker heartwood. The finish of British grown Western Red Cedar has a much higher knot content that its Canadian namesake, and like British Larch is classified as a moderately durable species it is recommended that NORclad supply with either NORclad Lite, or NORclad Brunnea preservative treatment to offer resistance to decay
We supply both UK and Western Red Cedar at NORclad; see our Red Cedar products.
Sweet Chestnut
Similar to Oak, Sweet Chestnut timber is hardwood with a light golden colour, however Sweet Chestnut has a more pronounced grain and a more characteristic grain. Sweet Chestnut also presents desirable attributes such as being hardwearing, suiting outdoor cladding applications.
As Sweet Chestnut shares many qualities of Oak but is usually priced cheaper, Sweet Chestnut can be a popular alternative, with the added advantage of a faster growth cycle, meaning it can be replenished faster.
See more: British Sweet Chestnut – Everything You Need to Know
Benefits of British Timber Cladding
- Reduced Carbon Footprint – as homegrown timber does not have to be transported overseas, the carbon footprint of homegrown timber is far lower than imported; significant for those looking for particularly eco-friendly timber cladding. This also presents additional reduced shipping costs benefits.
- FSC and/or PEFC Certification – it is important timber comes from well-managed, sustainable forests, proven by UK government recognised certifications. Many timber producers in Britain are certified, demonstrating the timber is grown and harvested in sustainable ways to keep up with demand without compromising the environment. Find out more about FSC and PEFC certification here.
- Trusted Chain – timber supplied with a reliable Chain of Custody certificate can be trusted, as its origins and journey are clearly outlined. Using a trusted British supplier to source British timber will help ensure the quality of timber, sustainability of forest management and assurance of worker wellbeing.
- Quality Timber – a wide range of timber species are grown in Britain, meaning choosing British timber doesn’t result in having to compromise on specie.
British Timber Cladding with NORclad
NORclad are leading timber cladding suppliers in the UK, members of the Timber Trade Federation, with exclusive product partners across the world, helping our customers find the perfect timber cladding, wherever it’s from. As per our environmental promise, we supply FSC and/ PEFC certified timber, ensuring sustainability and responsible management in benefit of the environment.
If you have a timber cladding project in mind, get in touch for a free no-obligation quote, whereby our knowledgeable team will take into account all aspects of your project, from quantity and type to specific requirements.
