Why Timber Cladding is Great for Coastal Locations
When taking on a new project, be it construction or restoration, it’s vital to consider the finishing of the building. Coastal locations tend to be more exposed to wind, rain and salty air, meaning extra protection should be specified. Timber cladding offers a practical, sustainable and aesthetically pleasing solution.
Although steel cladding is commonly recommended for coastal locations, it is also subject to corrosion from sea spray – the robust timber cladding at NORclad offers the perfect solution. In this blog post, we will explore why timber is a better option, focusing mostly on why it provides a more natural look and blends in with the environment.
Timber Cladding Compliments the Natural Environment
Some coastal areas have specific regulations for construction work to ensure finished buildings blend well with the surrounding environment. Timber cladding is a great choice, as even a stained or painted option looks more natural than an alternative material such as steel or concrete.
An additional benefit of timber cladding is it can also be left to weather naturally – a popular choice for many coastal locations. In time, the wood will change in colour and texture, blending in. Although wood can develop fungal decay in damp conditions like seaside locations, this can be avoided when the cladding is treated, graded, and installed correctly.
At NORclad, we supply a wide variety of cladding from different trees that can change the look of a finished building. To achieve a more natural, rugged look, perhaps for an older property, opt for a European Redwood, offering an interesting finish with knots running through it. Or, if you’re wanting a cleaner, more modern finish, a Canadian Western Red Cedar can be a great choice.
Our knowledgeable sales team are on hand to help you make the right choice for your project. Get in touch today!
What are the Benefits to Timber Cladding in a Coastal Location?
Practical Benefits
Timber cladding is often the most cost-effective option to finishing a building or structure, as the materials can be easily grown and sourced from all over the world.
Since the cladding provides protection and stability, installation can also save costs in the long run, with less overall building maintenance required. Importantly, timber cladding can be easily upgraded with factory grade fire retardants, ensuring all modern building regulations are met.
Timber cladding is also incredibly durable, even when faced with the elements of a coastal location. NORclad timber comes with warranties of up to 30 years, so you can be assured that you are receiving a quality, long lasting product.
Aesthetic Benefits
With a wide choice of woods, finishes and colours, there’s an option for all styles and tastes. Timber cladding can also be easily sanded, stained, or re-decorated if you change your mind. It’s a flexible choice that can stay in place for years, taking on different looks as your styles or priorities adapt!
Sustainability Benefits
Timber is a renewable source, and largely considered a carbon neutral material. There are a great number of environmental benefits to opting for timber cladding or decking:
- Trees capture carbon from the atmosphere, producing oxygen in return.
- For every tonne of CO2 a tree absorbs from the atmosphere, nearly ¾ of a tonne of oxygen is produced.
- Timber is a naturally renewable, non-toxic, and organic building material.
- 75% of the energy used in the production of wood products comes from recovered wood or wood residues.
- Using wood saves an average of 0.9 tonnes of CO2 per cubic metre, and every timber-frame house saves up to 4 tonnes of carbon dioxide.
At NORclad, we take our responsibilities seriously, and aim to source our products from legal and environmentally sustainable sources. We’re committed to protecting and maintaining our natural environment, ensuring we only use suppliers that use sustainable sources and eco-friendly methods of protection.
Learn more about our environmental practices and commitments >
The Best Types of Timber Cladding and Decking for Coastal Locations
While most timber cladding offers unique benefits and high performance in coastal locations, there are certain aspects to be considered when making your final choice. It’s key to select a hard wood like Thermal Ayous, Argento, Thermowood. These types of wood are considered to be some of nature’s most durable, and as such are less prone to rot.
Alternatively, opt for Accoya, a product that is the result of years of research and development to create an aesthetically pleasing, durable, rot resistant cladding material. Accoya high-performance wood is suitable for wooden cladding and façades, offering benefits such as:
- Aesthetics
- Less frequent maintenance
- Dimensional stability
- Durability
- Insulation value
These key factors make Accoya an ideal choice for an exposed coastal location.
Composite cladding is also considered a great choice, it will not warp, bend or splinter, and rot and decay will become a thing of the past.
Enhance Your Next Project with NORclad
With resistance to the elements, unique aesthetics, and weathering over time that makes your build truly become part of the environment, timber cladding is the perfect choice for coastal locations. What comes next is making the right choice for your project.
Our experienced sales team are well versed in recommending and specifying the right choice for the environment you are building in. With a wide range of approved products, we offer decking and cladding options suitable for coastal locations, providing long-lasting, sustainable and cost-effective finishes to your building or structure.
We operate throughout the UK, providing and efficient service for both commercial and domestic projects. For more information about our services, or to receive a free, no-obligation quote, don’t hesitate to get in touch with our team today.
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