External Timber cladding refers to the use of wood on another surface, usually walls and exterior of a place. The use of timber adds strength, durability and natural beauty to the exterior walls.
If you are looking for the best wood for your next cladding project, you are at the right place. Here’s everything you need to know about it, including the best wood species for cladding.
It is a type of popular finish for the exterior of buildings. It refers to attaching wood slabs to a primary structure (wall, etc.), generally to increase its strength and appearance.
It is made by processing wood to a certain profile. Depending on the type of timber used in cladding and the profile, it can be of many types, such as v-groove, shiplap, shadow gap, half-lap, and others.
Since one of the reasons to use cladding is durability, lumber species with good natural durability and beauty are preferred for external projects. And thankfully, there are many options to choose from. A large number of timber species, such as European larch, have been found to be useful in building cladding for building exterior.
Though cladding is made from many other materials, wood is preferred because of its high durability as well as aesthetic appeal. Not just homeowners and public properties, many commercial properties are also increasingly using it as a great way to add both protection and appeal to their building exterior. On top of everything, it is also favourable to the environment as compared to many other building materials, which is another reason why people are being inclined to them.
Benefits of Using External timber cladding
- One of the primary reasons why people choose timber cladding is that it adds beauty and a natural look to the place.
- Also, it is sustainable and environmentally friendly as opposed to other construction materials.
- It’s easy to install, change, customise or replace.
- It can fit any budget, as cladding is available in a wide range of timber species.
- And last but not the least, it is also known to provide outstanding insulation against temperature, sound, etc.
Now, let’s come to the main point. What’s the best wood for cladding?
Top 5 Woods for External Timber Cladding
Depending on your budget and needs, you can choose from a variety of lumber options. Red Cedar, considered the most stable of the softwoods, is a good choice for cladding boards. Exterior wood cladding must not only match your building style and look but also should be durable enough. Depending on your location, the wood cladding must be strong enough to withstand natural elements like rain, sun, snow, wind, etc.
At the same time, it should have decent resistance to insect and fungal attacks. In addition to this natural durability, dimensional stability is key to ensure that the timber remains structurally sound and maintains its shape over time.
If you are looking for the best wood for your external cladding project, here are some of our best options.
Iroko
Native to the west coast of tropical Africa, iroko wood is extensively used for decking, flooring, furniture, and cladding. It’s often called African teak because of its teak-like look and properties. The hardwood looks beautiful in its yellowish-brown colour and has extraordinary strength and durability. It’s naturally resistant to insect attacks.
Iroko is one of the oldest wood species in Africa. Did you know many iroko trees live up to 500 years or more? The slow growth rate of these trees is one of the reasons why the timber is so strong and dense, making it a perfect choice of wood for exterior cladding.
Oak
Oak is highly durable and dense, including european oak, and can withstand a variety of insect attacks as well as natural phenomena. It is very tough and strong and lasts for decades, which make it a good choice for exterior cladding as well as a range of other exterior projects like furniture and flooring. Oak cladding, including european oak, also looks beautiful and has a unique appearance.
Sapele
Sapele is a West African hardwood found exclusively in tropical rainforests. It is primarily used in flooring, furniture, panelling and cladding. Being an exotic wood, Sapele can be expensive depending on where you buy it from.
Sapele looks somewhat like mahogany and gives a wonderful appearance when used in exterior furniture and cladding. It’s also exceptionally durable and has good resistance to rot and insects.
Zebrano
Famous for its unique, zebra-like appearance, Zebrano is a highly durable wood that not only looks good but is also quite strong. It originates in West Africa and is commonly used for flooring, furniture making and cladding. The wood is dark brown with natural zebra-like stripes. Zebrano is highly durable and can withstand all kinds of natural phenomena. It’s also naturally resistant to insect attacks.
Wenge
Wenge is a premium lumber like Zebrano. It grows in central and western tropical African and is widely used in furniture, flooring, cladding, among others.
Not only wenge wood looks exceptionally good in its natural dark brown colour with black streaks but also it’s extremely durable. The lumber is very hard, dense and naturally resistant to termite attacks.
Where to Buy Quality Wood for External Timber Cladding?
CameroonTimberExportSarl is a wholesale exporter of lumber in 20+ countries. We deal in a large variety of wood species, all produced, sawn and processed locally in our Cameroon mill. Contact us to buy the best quality wood for external cladding at the best price in the market.
