Not only is timber a sustainable material, it also can transform the look of a building from an eyesore into a structure that looks great. This versatile material adds visual appeal and ticks the sustainability box. Used as a cladding material for years, timber is fast becoming a go-to material for external cladding of commercial and residential buildings.
In this case, our customer was looking for a cost-effective solution to enhance the look of an unattractive old turkey shed cheaply built with breeze block walls and a corrugated sheet roof. The building was located close to the entrance to the property and looked quite an eyesore compared with the attractive refurbished stone-built house and new extension. After mulling over a number of samples and options, a painted softwood timber was chosen to over clad the block walls.
The PEFC* certified softwood was machined with a rough sawn face to our BEN SN 3A profile, which is a secret nail/fix profile, meaning that any fixings are hidden, with a shadow gap. The profile is shown below, although in this case a 100mm board was used which gave a face cover of 88mm once fixed in place.
Once machined, the timber was sent to our trusted partner for painting. The Anthracite Grey colour choice was applied through a specialist vacuum coater with one base layer and two topcoats, we offer colour matches on most paint colours. On completion of the painting and drying process and in conjunction with the contractor, the timber was collected and delivered direct to site by our efficient delivery team. A range of delivery options are available from HIAB drop, or customer off-load or by hand.
The cladding was then installed by the customer’s contractor, cutting to length where necessary around the window and door openings. In this case the cladding was run vertically, but a BEN SN 3A profile can also be fitted horizontally, making it a versatile pattern. The shadow gap gives an almost two-tone effect to the building and, depending on the light conditions, this can change during the day.
We think that the transformation of the building is stunning and shows just what a difference retrofitting timber cladding can make. Our customer is similarly delighted with the result.
What about cost? Well, this painted softwood cladding is currently on offer at just £3.06 per linear metre. For further information or to order call us on 01472 350151 or order directly through our website.
At Bennetts Timber we are also able to supply timber cladding in a variety of species and types including European Larch, Western Red Cedar, Thermowood D, Frake and others.
To summarise, this project highlights that timber is a versatile, aesthetic, cost effective and sustainable material to use for exterior cladding on a wide variety of new build or existing buildings.
*PEFC = Programme for the Endorsement of Forest Certification, a non-profit, non-governmental organisation which promotes sustainable forestry management through independent auditing.
