Tips For Getting Your Cladding Project Right The First Time Around

The process involved in choosing the best timber cladding panels and knowing how to properly install it needs extensive preparation if you want to make sure that your project succeeds and provides results that last for a long time. To help you achieve that, here are some important points that you need to consider when it comes to the selection and installation of timber cladding panels for your home or building.

Choose The Right Species

The aesthetics, durability, as well as the cost, are the common criteria when choosing timber products in Australia. The most important of all three is durability. Meanwhile, performance and class assessments are vital to a good specification. There are several types of species used as timber cladding panels and each has different durability. There are some that can last for up to 30 years without a coat while others for only 15 years. So the first thing to good cladding is always having a good understanding of the durability of your chosen wood, whether it be natural wood, composite wood., or co-extrusion timber

Moisture Content Is Critical

If you want to make sure that your timber has a long life and performs well, then you need to know how your chosen timber responds to alterations in moisture content. The width of the timber cladding panels is an essential factor. If you limit the width of the board to 150mm at most will allow you to manage the shrinkage as well as swelling of the timber. The maximum width will only be 125mm if you wish to use grooved and tongued boards. With this width, the risk of the tongues will less likely disengage from the grooves whenever the grooves of the boards shrink.

Use The Right Fixings

If you are using a softwood cladding product, stainless steel nails are recommended. The length of the nail also plays an important role. They should be long enough to penetrate the thickness of the timber cladding panels and into the support batten. If you are using hardwood cladding, it is best to use stainless steel screws.

Don’t Forget Ventilation

You should also pay attention to the drainage and ventilation system, which should be placed in the space behind the cladding. Both of these systems are required to guarantee durability, faster drying, and manage moisture content.  The flashing details found around the windows and doors as well as the cladding’s base should be designed in such a way that it channels water away from your home while maintaining proper ventilation. Don’t forget to check with your local building control about the specifications needed for fire-resistant cavity barriers.

Check The Coatings

It is also a good idea to take into account the expected lifespan of the coating of your vertical timber cladding panel and the needed maintenance schedule. A lot of homeowners do not know that it is a must to maintain the coating so that the board’s durability and performance are preserved. Oils, varnishes, and other clear coatings need to be reapplied annually, making this a costly option especially for those who are on a tight budget. In the event that the coating fails, the wood will likely be weather and be discolored. Reapplying the coating during this time will do more harm than good because it will seal trap the discoloration and moisture.

Proper Installation is Key

Before you install your composite timber cladding, don’t forget to check the boards first. Be sure to spread the boards when installed. Apart from having a good design, it must be well ventilated and covered loosely so that it will less likely be exposed to moisture but still allow enough air flow to reduce the possibilities of significant discoloration.

Contact Futurewood now, if you want to check the available range of composite wood and co-extrusion timber products that you can use for your home’s exterior wall.