The cladding sector may be a natural target for Canadian timber, but a journey through Finland will demonstrate that the market is equally strong in the Nordic countries. UPM-Kymmene, for example, has just launched WISA-Pro Facade, its new pre-finished weatherboard which is suitable for use in all exterior cladding applications.
The product is billed as a time saving solution for exterior claddings and is primed in a factory setting, giving it a longer life cycle and reducing the need for maintenance.
Added savings come from the installation process. First of all WISA-Pro Facade is end matched which means savings in raw material. Secondly, as the product is primed, only the final coat of paint needs to be applied.
“WISA-Pro Facade is quick and easy to install and once installed correctly, the product has low maintenance costs, long service life and excellent insulation properties,” said Jarkko Taskinen, sales manager at UPM’s wood products sales office in the UK.
WISA-Pro Facade has been produced by UPM’s own sawmills in slowly grown Nordic whitewood from PEFC-certified forests. The raw material is kiln-dried specifically for outdoor end use.
Durability
“WISA-Pro Facade is aimed at the most demanding end-use applications where durability is an important factor,” said Mr Taskinen. “Actual thicknesses of 21mm and up are recommended to reach the best durability, but the product can be supplied to customers’ own specification starting from 18mm actual thickness.”
He added that all standard profiles, DIN-standard, rebated shiplap, loglap and so on are available and UPM also offers custom products. In addition to normal lengths of 3.6-5.4m in 30cm modules, the weatherboard can be supplied in finger-jointed lengths up to 6m.
WISA-Pro Facade is planed inner side up, which means the more weather-resistant heartwood is on the visible surface. There are unfinished, primed (with a water-soluble, environmentally friendly alkyd paint), primed plus top coated and pine oil-treated options available and the product can also be delivered finished with a top coat. Bespoke colours are also available in addition to the nine standard shades.
According to UPM’s UK marketing manager Esa Mikkonen, currently only about 5% of exterior claddings are wood based. But he feels that the growing availability of engineered and factory finished wood options will increase interest among architects, specifiers, self-builders and consumers.
“The market is huge both in volume and value terms,” he said. “And the new options will definitely lead to market growth for wood based cladding.”
