Demand for cladding is reported to be rising in the RMI, self-build and new build housing markets, plus commercial construction, leaving many developments resembling a slice of New England in the UK countryside.

At the same time, competition for timber and wood-based cladding is becoming more intense, with cement weatherboarding, PVCu and, increasingly, wood-based composites all vying for market share. But suppliers say the market is far from saturation point.

AMA Research’s study, Wall Cladding Market Report – UK 2016-2020, bears this out, estimating the timber cladding sector had already doubled in size over the last 10 years, reaching 1.2 million m2, worth £40-45m, in 2015 .

“I think the 2016 acquisition of timber shingles supplier John Brash by Marley Eternit, best known for its cement board, highlighted recognition of the central place and potential that wood-based products have in the cladding sector,” said a distributor.

The market position of timber cladding is also being bolstered, and new application possibilities accessed, by the increasing variety of wood type, aesthetics and, notably, improved durability and lower maintenance.

Medite SmartPly has seen its Medite Tricoya Extreme (MTX) modified MDF cladding taking off fastest in the Netherlands, where consumers have “really bought into” its guaranteed long-life, minimal care benefits. But product manager Peter Clifton says it is making inroads into the UK, selling both through merchants and via processors to end-users.

“Applications include housing, schools and, also increasingly, garden offices and beach huts,” he said, “and new surface effects, and finishes are broadening its appeal.”

Manufacturer SAM has bought particularly strongly into MTX, manufacturing its own Trimax brand cladding.

“They started producing smooth strips and V-grooved panels, but have now perfected a sanding technique to give it a textured, more timber-like finish, which makes it even easier to paint,” said Mr Clifton. “Applications include top-end beach huts going up to 50m2 and £25,000.”

MTX is also being wrapped by manufacturers in PVC foils and vinyl veneers, with wood veneers another surface option. “It is also being used painted white, then printed with UV hardened inks for display panels and hoardings and by Armourcoat, with its polished plaster finish, and Matchboard using vinyl foil on a vacuum press to create relief surfaces,” said Mr Clifton.

The next goal is upping MTX’s fire performance.

“Post Grenfell this is even more of a focus across the industry,” said Mr Clifton. “Treating MTX, which is currently Euroclass D, is a challenge because of its moisture resistance, but our aim is Euroclass C or B.”

Tulipwood cladding

The new Maggie’s cancer care centre in Oldham highlights another direction in cladding that’s gathering pace. Architects dRMM specified bespoke tulipwood cladding in thermo-treated timber form (tmt).

The cladding is also machined in a unique deep corrugated profile, designed by the architect, which aids water run-off and provides a large surface area for rapid drying. Produced by Northland Forest Products in the US, the tmt was imported and machined by Morgan Timber.

“We’ve stocked tmt tulipwood and ash for a while, with end uses covering a variety of exterior products, such as windows and garden furniture,” said Robert Morgan.

“Cladding is also an excellent application and it’s great to see an abundant, sustainable, but non-durable species like tulipwood transformed into a durable material for this sort of use. It also looks good. It’s very clear with few knots, and it machines well.”

dRMM was so pleased with the results it is now considering patenting the cladding profile and putting it on the market. Further underlining the strength of the market, Vandecasteele said that of the 56 timber species it exported to the UK last year, larch for cladding was its biggest seller.

“We’re seeing strong demand for western red cedar and Oregon pine for cladding too,” said export manager Geneviève Standaert, “and we’ve also expanded our range of thermo-modified products, which now include radiata pine, ayous, ash and redwood, with more to follow.”

Looking at the shakes and shingles business, Marley Eternit stressed its commitment to the future development of its premium 100% clear western red cedar Blue Label range.

“We’re keen to further establish Marley Eternit’s reputation within this sector as a premium product supplier and we’ve been building our understanding and knowledge within the timber industry,” said product manager Andrew Jenner-Dyer. “We’ve developed our technical department knowledge base and established a timber customer service centre. The plan is to further progress market penetration of the Blue Label range under the Marley Eternit brand name.” James Latham reports its cladding sales ahead by 40% in 2017.

“We’re seeing continued interest in Accoya, and we’re now starting to drive it through the specification sector,” said Richard Mosson, group product manager – cladding and decking. “Interest is so high we’ve now created a dedicated Accoya cladding website, which is generating further interest, including from homeowners and self-builders.”

Lathams is also supplying cladding to several large housebuilders and seeing new-build demand increasing, he added. Accoya accounts for 50% of its cladding sales but demand for Western red cedar, larch and Thermowood is also rising.

Demand is up too for textured, coated and semi-matt finished products and interest is also growing for Shou Sugi Ban Charred Accoya and MTX.

Post Grenfell challenges

The market, says Lathams, has not been without its issues.

“FR has been a challenge in some respects post Grenfell, with one large residential project, where we supplied a contractor with FR-treated iroko, being cancelled,” said Mr Mosson. “This was a direct result of NHBC changing guidance relating to cladding for high-rise residential buildings.”

However, the company is very positive about cladding’s prospects.

“We see Accoya continuing to grow, as well as our new Red Grandis hardwood cladding, which offers a cost-effective, great looking, FSC-certified product suitable for coating that’s much cheaper than western red cedar and not too far from larch or thermowood redwood,” said Mr Mosson.

“We’ve recently added a siparila coated cladding too and will launch a new Latham exclusive at this month’s Surface Design Show, called Shou Sugi Ban Charred Yukari.”

Modified wood specialist Kebony has also worked with the UK specialist timber finisher Shou Sugi Ban, which uses ancient preservation techniques of brushing, pre-weathering and burning wood.

“The charred effect emphasises the detailed grain of Kebony,” said a spokesperson, adding that Kebony’s credentials were further validated in research by consultants.

“This demonstrated that it had a substantially lower carbon footprint than some tropical hardwood equivalents. One tropical species was rated as having carbon impacts totalling 7,500–15,000kg/m3 against Kebony’s 459kg/m3.”

Brooks Bros also describes charred/brushed timber as popular and is offering a range of finishes and textures to suit the application. Western red cedar, larch and thermowood also remain top sellers, said the company.

“We’re also seeing high demand for our UK-grown timber cladding from Welsh and Scottish forests, including waney-edged larch, oak and Douglas fir,” said cladding and clear softwoods sales executive Joe Hunter. “Our home-grown timber division in Sewstern can produce large feather-edge cladding sections from native logs and bespoke products.”

Brooks is also seeing growing demand for its thermowood wood range, primarily in Scandinavian FSC/PEFC redwood pine or whitewood/spruce.

“It’s an environmentally-friendly, mediumcost alternative to traditional pressureimpregnated wood and ideally suited to outdoor applications like cladding,” said Mr Hunter. “The timber is not only resistant to rot and fungi and more durable, it’s less prone to cracking, consistent in colour, free of any harmful chemicals and finally can be burned or recycled like regular wood.”

One of Brooks’ latest projects is Stoneywood School, Aberdeen, which will feature 36,000 linear metres of treated FSC Siberian larch when finished.

Howarth Timber also saw “definite growth” in cladding in 2017. Partial and feature cladding in new build and major developments, such as Mercia Marina in Derbyshire and the Richmond Witney Retirement Village, were big drivers for the product, but the garden room sector was the company’s largest growth area.

“Western red cedar remains our most in-demand product,” said cladding specialist Phil Barman. “But fraké is fast-becoming our most popular thermally-modified timber. It’s benefiting from increasing customer understanding of the built-in longevity and whole-life cycle benefits of thermally modified cladding and it’s every bit as aesthetically pleasing as western red cedar.”

Howarth has further underlined its confidence in the market with its newly expanded ArborClad collection.