Selecting the best timber cladding, how do the latest choices compare?

Written in collaboration with Jak Soppet, Director – Wychwood Forest Products

29th March 2023

When it comes to selecting timber, with the number of options available it is easy to feel overwhelmed by choice. Over the last couple of years changes in the marketplace have led to fluctuations in price, availability and several up-and-coming timber species being thrown into the spotlight.

At Millworks all our products are continually monitored and carefully curated to enable easier decision making when it comes to specifying timber for your project based on aesthetic, desired finish and budget.

The UK market leader for many years has been Western Red Cedar from Canada which despite increasing geopolitical restrictions in recent years, continues to underpin the durable cladding species market. With its proven performance and striking appearance, it is an excellent addition for the majority of cladding applications.

Price increases of late have started to reduce the viability for Western Red Cedar in the ongoing market and Thermowood is a readymade alternative. Nordic Pine is knotty in appearance and from the most sustainable, well managed and regenerative forests in the world. Adding a low cost and enhanced performance in application with coatings, it makes Thermowood a very tough product to compete against other than with appearance.

Siberian Larch had been the intermediary product to bridge the gap here in recent years but new imports are now prohibited since the Russian conflict in Ukraine. Larch was distinctive for its punchy grain pattern and at an attractive cost point gained a significant share of the market. A suitable alternative product in terms of aesthetics and cost is Canadian Douglas Fir which also has an improved sustainability profile. Grandis offers a timber species to rival the stability and density of Siberian Larch. Although the appearance is one of a finer texture, Grandis offers an excellent clear grade alternative with impressive sustainability credentials.

Douglas Fir | MW6 Profile | Whitewash Factory Coated

Thermowood | Custom profile – triple shadow | Charcoal Black Factory Coating

Recently, coated cladding has surged in popularity with shades of black and grey seemingly in fitting with more contemporary builds and UV coating prolonging timbers natural appearance. Newer products such as Grandis and other thermally modified species offer sustainable and consistent substrate species which aid this modern cladding trend. Both offer enhanced performance with paint and with an ever-growing range of finishes now available to assist in coating adhesion, these high performing products are offering a clear path forward for many projects in terms of their versatility for end use and appearance.

For those projects looking for a more unique and distinctive finish then Mill Grade Western Red Cedar and the ever-broadening range of Thermally Modified Timber species may have the key. Cedar when produced with a surface texture, especially Mokuzai burning, shows off its grain pattern to great effect and can really catch the eye in a striking way, even when left uncoated. Red Oak, Radiata Pine, Poplar and Ash once thermally modified, show off their natural characteristics which are further enhanced when coated. Thermowood can be put in this category too with a strong grain appearance offering a great foundation for surface textures giving a particularly contemporary feel.

Inevitably there is always too much choice available, whether that be species or finish, for every size of project. As one of the UK largest timber specialists Millworks aim to manufacture quality products sourced from the world’s finest timber. Below are highlighted timber species to be aware of for this year and beyond…