Short history of timber cladding

Short history of timber cladding Timber cladding is one of the most natural building materials out there, but we want to know where it all started.

Timber Framing Timber cladding has been a presence in Europe from the 'Dark Ages' at least, especially in regions that are overrun by forest.

Anglo-Saxon houses would have resembled a little hut with planed timber set upright on stone or wood cills.

The 'Modern' era saw weatherboarding soar to popularity in the sixteenth century, finding its way as a superior cladding material.

Weatherboarding continued to remain popular in areas where timber was easily accessible in contrast to brick.

Softwood framed, timber-clad buildings were unrivalled in terms of speed and economy of construction.

Timber Decking Early weatherboards were split, or 'cleft', from oak or elm, commonly known as 'clapboarding', tis name originating from the dutch word 'klappen' which means 'to split.'

The nature of clapboarding was superceded in the late eighteenth century by the industrially sawn softwood that ad been imported from the Baltic, and then from North America.

Industrialised timber production that had decidedly been combined with technologies such as wire nails enabling timber frame construction complete with weatherboarding to become a go-to choice in building.

However, modernism had its heart set on concrete, glass and steel, near enough avoiding timber cladding entirely...

It's quite difficult to depict when and how timber cladding had returned on to the scene, but a number of factors could be argued, argued: the maturing of the modernist agenda, mavericks in the outfield who had kept the faith, fashions repeating itself etc.

Timber has long been seen as the most natural building material and has even been known to be implemented into more modern designs of buildings to add that eco-friendly appeal.

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Types of Timber Cladding

A timber cladding exterior of a home acts as a form of protection from moisture and air penetration.

Builders have been utilising wood cladding since the late eighteenth-century until they began implementing modern construction techniques.

There are few styles of timber claddings, but those that are offer unique character: Tapered Lap Timber Cladding Tapered Lap Timber Cladding has a certain tapered thickness at the very top of the cladding with a widened bottom.

Cladding is installed horizontally with a 30mm overlap on each of the pieces.

It is then nailed to the walls just above the overlap.

Notched Lap This particular cladding has the same taper to it as lap cladding, however the top and bottom are notched,

thus allowing the pieces to fit together when they are installed.

The overlap will be approximately 15mm and again, the cladding will be nailed to the wall just above the cladding overlap.

Shiplap Timber Cladding Shiplap Timber Cladding has a notched overlap and a slight angle after the notch for that extra touch of character.

This siding would be nailed directly through the face of the siding with two nails with a 25mm overlap.

Chamferbaord Timber Cladding Also known as Dutchlap, the installation design is notched with the top shaped at a long angle of about 10 degrees.

An overlap of approximately 12mm will be integrated into the design and will be nailed through the face of the of the siding ensuring it's secured into the walls.

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