Are you making these common mistakes with your timber cladding?
If you’re looking to put the finishing touches on the outside of your home, [timber cladding] gives a really attractive look, will last for a long time and comes from a renewable source. It’s a great choice; timber is a natural insulator, lightweight and environmentally friendly.
But if you’re going to take the plunge and put cladding on your house, you’ll want to make sure you get it right first time! If you don’t, you’ll find that the cladding you hoped would last for years and years will be in a sorry state in no time. There’s a lot to think about when going for a timber cladding finish, and if you’re not careful, here are several traps you could fall into along the way.
If this is the first time you’ve considered getting cladding, and you want to make sure you’re on the right track, here’s our list of things to be aware of…
• Get an expert to install it for you
Installing timber cladding is unlike most other DIY projects, so even if you’re really handy, it might be trickier than you imagine! If it’s not installed properly, it won’t last long; we recommend you chat to your supplier in order to get a goodunderstanding of what it’llinvolve for your home.
• Make sure you buy pressure treated timber
The UK’s damp climate means that any wood left outside could be prone to a build-up of moisture in and on the wood. If you buy timbers that are pressure treated, the chemicals forced in to the wood will help preserve it for much longer. Boards that haven’t been treated might be cheaper in the first place, but long term, you’ll be replacing them much sooner and have to deal with rotting.
• Keep up the maintenance
Once your cladding’s been installed, that’s job done, right? Maybe to begin with — but once those timbers have weathered, you’ll need to ensure that once a year, you add a protective coating that’s both UV and water resistant. Before doing this, make sure the cladding’s clean; a pressure washer, or hose and sponge, should do the trick!
• Don’t go over budget
Like anything, if you’re getting cladding then it’s worth doing your research and shopping around; you can go for hardwood like oak, which will look beautiful and last longer, but comes at a cost. Softwood that is treated properly could end up being cheaper, and if treated properly it can prove to be long-lasting too. Make sure your sums on exactly how much you’ll need are correct too; you don’t want to get caught out and have to pay much more than you expected!
Ruby UK sells three different types of softwood and has plenty of options for your
cladding projects; to find out more about our range visit of cladding click here
