Month: November 2018

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Timber Cladding – Specification And Choices

Product specification guide: advances in treatment and preservation are increasing timber’s sustainability
Increasingly timber is being specified as a rainscreen cladding system for external walls. It is commonly thought of as a sustainable option due to being renewable, recyclable, biodegradable and having minimal embodied energy. This can, however, sometimes be counteracted by the treatments needed to protect it from excessive weathering.
Often when used outside, timber can deteriorate quickly.

The main cause of this is usually moisture. As the moisture content of timber used externally for cladding often exceeds 20 per cent, it may need to be treated with a preservative; this can outweigh the sustainability benefits of the material. BS 8417, covering the preservation of timbers, draws on a number of European standards to facilitate the selection of timbers and the type of preservative treatment necessary for lifespans of 60, 30 or 15 years in different hazard classes.


Timbers that do not require preservative treatment include: Western red cedar, European larch, European oak and Douglas fir. These woods are naturally resistant to insects, moisture and rot. Spruce, fir and pine have to be treated, which involves impregnating them with chemicals such as boron. Spruce has been used extensively for cladding applications especially in Scandinavia as it takes external coatings very well and you will see it as black or white featheredge cladding in the UK.

Black Painted Exterior Timber Cladding

A preservation method that is becoming increasingly popular is one that involves heating the wood. Originating in Finland, the process thermally modifies the properties of the timber improving its lifespan, strength, durability and stability.


The design of a building can make a large difference to the durability and lifespan of timber cladding. The cladding should be protected from exposure to high levels of moisture but designed with the presumption that water will penetrate it. When using other natural materials, the ‘good hat and boots principles’ is often cited. This should be the same for timber cladding: it should be raised away from the ground by a minimum of 250mm to avoid excessive damage at the splash line at ground level, and a good roof overhang should be provided to minimize the impact of weathering.

Fire Retardant Treatment is one area that is very critical especially if required by building control, The supplier of the fire retardant timber cladding to Euro Class B MUST be able to supply a third party audit certificate fire retardant certificate through an Independent Notified Body from the NANDO organization. EN13501-1. In the UK only, a few companies can bring or sell to market fire retardant timber cladding and one of them is Timber Focus Ltd through its partner Puidukoda OU. You will unfortunately see many organizations including big organizations trading or selling timber breaking the law in terms of fire regulations and supplying fire retardant timber cladding issuing fake documents due to lack of knowledge. We keep fire retardant timber cladding in stock or you can buy online.

With the introduction of the government’s Green Deal scheme there is likely to be an increase in thermal upgrades, with solid-wall properties being insulated externally and additional rainscreen cladding added. This could see a rise in the use of timber cladding.

ThermoWood

Thermowood Horizontal cladding Redwood D S/F Excl 6th PMV
Thermowood Horizontal cladding Redwood D S/F Excl 6th PMV


ThermoWood is heat treated, making it more stable than untreated wood. Thermal modification can be applied to several timber species either to make them more stable or durable or both e.g Thermowood D or Thermowood S. Species that are common include Ayous, Ash, Tulipwood, Whitewood (spruce), Pine (redwood)
Thermowood Redwood Pine softwood is the most common type of thermowood available on the market for decking and cladding applications. The heat treatment changes the chemical make-up of the timber, so it is less able to absorb moisture. This restriction of moisture movement limits any potential for swelling, shrinkage or distortion.

Type of cladding Horizontal and vertical


Profiles available Tongue and groove shiplap, channel cladding, tapered cladding, battening and cornering
Wood species Scandinavian Redwood
Treatment Heat treated at 200°C
Life expectancy 30 years
Country of origin Finland
Maintenance Annual inspection recommended
Certification PEFC certified

1. Accoya

Accoya by Accys Technologies
Accoya wood is made from softwood but has the qualities of hardwood, produced via a process called acetylation. Acetylation transforms the free hydroxyls in the wood into acetyl groups, reducing the wood’s ability to absorb water, making it more dimensionally stable and more durable. We supply Accoya profiled and prepainted in various tones from our factory in Estonia.


Manufacturer Accys Technologies
Type of cladding Horizontal and vertical
Wood species Softwood, for example Radiata pine
Treatment Acetylation
Life expectancy 50 years
Maintenance Low frequency due to increased dimensional stability as coatings do not stretch and shrink
Certification FSC, PEFC certified and cradle-tocradle gold standard
Recyclability Can be reused or used as a biofuel to produce heat and power
www.accoya.com
Imported External Cladding System

Imported External Cladding Panel System by BCL Timber Products
This external timber cladding panel system allows the cladding to be prefabricated, which means large areas can be constructed in a fraction of the time of traditional site-fix methods. All BCL cladding panel systems have concealed fixings, creating a smooth and continuous finish.
Manufacturer BCL Timber Products
Type of cladding Horizontal and vertical
Profiles available Horizontal: open harfield, shiplap, feather edge. Board on board
Wood species Western red cedar, Siberian larch, European oak, South American hardwoods
Treatment Protim or similar
Finishes Translucent or clear lacquer, paint
Maintenance Lacquer: 5-7-year repaint cycle Paint: 15-year warranty
Certification FSC or PEFC certified
www.bcltimberprojects.co.uk

Homegrown External Cladding System

Homegrown External Cladding Panel System by BCL Timber Products
These prefabricated cladding panels minimise the amount of work that must be done on site when installing the cladding. They are produced using home-grown timber species, thereby reducing their carbon footprint and environmental impact.
Manufacturer BCL Timber Products
Type of cladding Horizontal and vertical
Profiles available Horizontal: open harfield, shiplap, feather edge. Board on board
Wood species Sweet chestnut, cedar, larch
Treatment Protim or similar
Country of origin UK
Finishes Translucent or clear lacquer, paint
Maintenance Lacquer: 5-7-year repaint cycle. Paint: 10 year warranty
Certification FSC or PEFC certified
www.bcltimberprojects.co.uk

2. Siberian Larch Cladding

Siberian larch is a sustainable old-growth timber, which is durable, dimensionally stable and long lasting. It is naturally resistant to decay, meaning it has a long lifespan and requires minimal chemical treatments. Siberian Larch Cladding  supplied by Timber Focus data sheet


Manufacturer Timber Focus products are available to buy from the Timber Focus online shop
Type of cladding Horizontal or vertical
Profiles available Rabbeted bevel
Treatment
Life expectancy 25 years
Country of manufacture Russia
Finishes Factory applied clear stain or custom solid paint colour
Www.timberfocus.com

3. Certigrade Western Red Cedar Shingles

These cedar shingles are produced from waste from British Columbia’s main logging and sawmilling industry, providing a sustainable and environmentally friendly product. The natural effects of aging and weathering will give the product a silvery grey colour in time.
Manufacturer Timber Focus
Type of cladding Tiled cladding and roofing
Length of shingle 405mm
Width of shingle 75mm-365mm
Butt thickness 10mm
Wood species Western red cedar
Treatment Natural oils act as preservatives against decay and insect attack
Life expectancy 50 years
Country of origin Canada
Certification FSC certified

4. Western Red Cedar Shingles

Shingles can be laid in straight lines, giving a clean regular appearance to the roof or wall; alternatively, random butts can be used to give a much more irregular aspect. The shingles are light, reducing both the carbon footprint of transportation and the structure required to support them. Cedar shingles are available in a number of quality timber grades the top grade is blue label 5x followed by red label and the lower grades are the black label grade.

Type of cladding Tiled cladding and roofing
Length of shingle 400mm, 450mm, 600mm
Width of shingle Random
Wood species Western red cedar
Treatment Untreated or treated with Osmose Naturewood preservative treatment
Life expectancy 40-60 years
Country of origin Canada
Certification FSC and PEFC

5. Western Red Cedar Shakes

Shakes differ from shingles in that they have a split, rather than a sawn, face and have a low-carbon footprint. When used, they create an aesthetic akin to that of traditional log cabins, and have a low carbon footprint.

Type of cladding Tiled cladding and roofing
Size of shake 600mm x 19mm
Width of shake Random
Wood species Western red cedar
Treatment Untreated or treated with Osmose Naturewood preservative treatment
Life expectancy 40-60 years
Country of origin Canada
Certification FSC and PEFC certified

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Preparing Timber Cladding For Painting

Timber Focus is a leading supplier of prepainted and painted timber cladding. All the painting is done in a factory environment and comes with a 5 or 10 year warranty. If you want to do it yourself below are some good tips on how to prepare your cladding for painting.

We supply a wide range of factory finished cladding such as;

Opaque and Translucent

White Wax

Contrast finish

Rustic finish 

Black featheredge, Barn cladding

Fire Retardant Painted Cladding

Painted Siberian Larch and stained

Preparing Wood Cladding for Painting
by Don Vandervort

Proper preparation is key to painting wood cladding successfully. If the existing cladding is in good shape, the only preparation necessary may be thoroughly washing it. But if the existing paint is cracked and peeling, you’ll need to remove it to a point where the surface is flat, smooth, and free of the old, failing paint.
When hosing down the cladding, be careful not to force water into the joints between siding boards. In some cases, you can use a power washer to clean the surface, but, if you do this, be very careful not to drive water into the wood or the joints between cladding boards, and don’t erode the wood’s surface with the powerful blast. (Washing alone is often not enough to remove mold or mildew from the surface. For more about dealing with this, see How to Remove Mildew From Cladding.)
Power sanders can be used to smooth the edges of scraped areas or to clear an entire surface of paint. For big jobs, such as sanding down an entire home’s siding, a commercial-grade, 7-inch sander works best. You can buy one at a home improvement center or rent one from an equipment rental company.
Sanding is accomplished in two stages. First, the paint cover is completely removed with coarse sandpaper-60-grit is recommended. This will leave cuts in the wood, so these must be smoothed with medium sandpaper (100-grit).
Sanding is a meticulous process that requires the following precautions:

• Make sure the sander is running at full speed before touching the wheel to the surface.
• As you bring the sander into contact with the wall, lean on the tool slightly until you hear the motor slow, and then keep moving it along the surface so you do not gouge the wood.
• Keep the sanding wheel at a slight angle (5 to 10 degrees) to the wall; otherwise, the wheel will spin out of control across the surface.
• Discard sanding disks as they become clogged with paint; otherwise, they will actually burn the surface.
• Do not use a power sander in the rain.
To scrape small areas of peeling paint, a paint scraper, putty knife, or molding scraper is sufficient. If you are using a power sander to remove an entire finish, use these tools to scrape areas that the sanding wheel cannot reach, such as corners and other tight spots.
To be sure you loosen as much paint as possible, scrape areas of loose paint from every direction; sometimes old paint that’s scraped from left to right seems solid but comes off easily when scraped in the opposite direction or up and down.
Place two hands on the scraper and keep it flat to avoid gouging the wood. If you do happen to create gouge marks, sand them down or fill them with a vinyl exterior spackling compound so they will not show through the new paint job.
If the paint that remains after scraping has high or rough edges, sand, or “feather,” them with coarse sandpaper to make them less noticeable.
Damaged sections of cladding will need to be repaired or replaced. (For more about repairing wood siding, see How to Repair Wood Siding.)
Upon completing the steps shown here, dust off the sawdust and caulk any open seams. Prime any bare wood with a latex primer that is tinted toward the finish color, and allow the primer to dry thoroughly before starting to paint.

1. Scrub surface with stiff-bristle brush

Hose down the siding, and then scrub it with a stiff-bristle brush mounted on a pole. Clean the area with a solution of water and tri-sodium phosphate (TSP). Because this solution is caustic, do not use it on bare wood, and always wear rubber gloves and safety goggles when using it.

2. Scrape and sand the cladding

Scrape any loose paint, and use a power sander to remove large areas of paint. When using a sander, work in 3-foot sections at a time. Move the sander horizontally across the top of a board, in a wave-like pattern across the middle, and horizontally along the underside of the lip.

3. Fill holes and gouges

Fill any holes or deep gouges, using a putty knife to apply vinyl exterior spackling compound. (Use a matching wood-toned filler if you intend to apply a semi-transparent stain.) Allow the spackling compound to dry.

4. Sand until smooth

Use a sanding block or a palm sander with 100-grit sandpaper to sand each patch until it is smooth. Finally, sweep away residual dust and scrapings.

Exterior Painting
Timber Focus, painted cladding London, painted Siberian larch can be ordered online.

You can order painted timber cladding from timber focus online such as light oak, black painted featheredge, weathered oak, stained decking in the Puidukoda Range.

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Product Range Supplied By Timber Focus Puidukoda

Reclaimed Timber - Barnwood Shabby Chic
Reclaimed Timber – Barnwood Shabby Chic
  • Machined Timber Profiles these include; standard or bespoke softwood timber profiles such as planed square edge PSE or Planed All Round, timber cladding, timber flooring, softwood Decking (Whitewood, Redwood and Siberian Larch).
  • Factory Finished Timber Products – Factory Pre-painted Timber products for both internal and external applications. The Rose Group and Puidukoda have some of the latest timber finishing technology and they work with some of the leading timber paint, wax timber treatment brands such as Akzo Nobel (Sikkens), Teknos etc. They work and support Architects and Specifiers for projects requiring finishes, colours, tones, lustre and will supply many wood tones and not just limited to the RAL number reference system.

  • oiled and lacquered floorings from Timber FocusThe range of factory prefinished / pre-painted products include;

  • Arktik flooring Range (Textured flooring available in various colours with a hardwearing top layer making it more scratch resistant softwood flooring). Timber flooring is supplied kilned to a special kiln dried (KD) low moisture content for use internally to minimise the risk of movement and distortion.
  • Viking cladding Range, this is the largest range of products of factory painted cladding the a detailed and insured 10 and 5 year  cladding performance warranty that is supplied in a secret fix, concealed nail or screw profile these products are supplied with a coating warranty for external applications which is better than most 15 year warranty products.
  • White Wax – this is an internal cladding product used for internal walls and ceilings it gives a white wash look.
  • Contrast Range – this is a product supplied with multi-colours giving a modern shabby chic look mainly supplied for internal applications. The Contrast range is produced various techniques e.g brushing, texturizing etc.
  • Rustik Range – this is supplied as a fine sawn surface for internal and external applications the common look is to give a rustic look to on new timber in various tones or colours.
  • Featheredge Painted this supplied in various finishes and tones but mainly in black and white featheredge like cladding used in the South East and South West of England some products also known as the Dutch Cladding or Essex Barn Cladding this is supplied in teknos exterior coatings.
  • Fire Retardant timber cladding, Puidukoda is one of the few companies that can supply fire retardant timber cladding fully certificated this is applied as opaque for external applications and translucent for Internal application. Fire treated timber cladding is supplied to meet the European Fire Classification of timber cladding and ceilings EN13501-1 Euro Class B. Puidukoda is independently inspected by a Notified body to supply fire retardant timber cladding which makes it a unique supplier and preferred supplier by various clients e.g. architects, specifiers and contractors.
  • Painted Larch cladding and decking – Puidukoda / Timber Focus have a range of Siberian Larch which is factory finished. Siberian Larch is one of the common claddings timber for exterior applications that is difficult to coat, vanish, paint and use externally due to its high resin content and density to solve this problem Puidukoda has worked very closely with the leading paint producers to be able to supply factory painted – prefinished cladding and decking.
  • Pre-weathered, aged or old look Siberian larch timber cladding and decking, Puidukoda and Timber Focus manufacture and treat Siberian larch to give a product that is delivered already looking aged or rustic with a more uniform aged or rustic silvery grey colour. This special process alleviates some of the cladding customers cladding issues such as large uneven colour, water marks, water stains, as the treated cladding is supplied with a grey tone which quickly oxidises to a silvery grey colour with exposure to the elements this has proved to be a very popular product at Grand Designs for exterior decking and cladding.
  • Sundeck – painted decking, Timber Focus supplies painted decking in various colours with more modern tones from the light oak sand tone to a deep red rosewood tone this is supplied in redwood or whitewood.

Timber Focus does not only limit its products to the Puidukoda Core product range but works with other partners such as;

Premium Wood Plastic Composite Decking

• WPC-Wood plastic Premium European Wood Composite Range Solid with a 25 year extended warrnty secret fix profile.
• Shou Sugi Barn, burnt charred, scotched timber cladding in Douglas Fir and Siberian larch
• Reclaimed Old rustic shabby chic timber from barns in Austria and Pennsylvania in hardwood and softwoods
• Reclaimed aged engineered timber panels for kitchen doors, cabinets available in a grey, light and dark brown
• Barnwood in a box internal rustic feature walls a good grey rustic product for DIY users
• Salzburg reclaimed tongue groove cladding available in a grey, light and dark brown
• Thermowood- Pine / Redwood D and Thermowood S , Thermwoood Whitewood Spruce, Thermowood Ash, Thermowood Ayous, Thermowood Aspen, Thermowood Alder
• Accoya premachined and painted for joinery use and cladding

We have additional capacity to machine large runs of softwood timber decking and cladding including pre-painted products. If you are looking for full loads of decking or part loads of painted products please give me a call.

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Knotty Problem: When Cladding Goes Bad

Every man and his dog seem to be using timber for cladding. Well, it does look great. But without proper installation and maintenance, you could be in for a nasty surprise
Look at the new buildings in almost any city in the UK these days and you will be struck by the amount of timber cladding on show. Whether it is the flamboyant design of York St John university’s quadrangle, the hip mixed-use Bermondsey Square development or even common or garden social housing schemes, timber seems to have replaced terracotta rainscreen as the cladding of choice.
“There are always fashions for materials,” says Peter Caplehorn, technical director of Scott Brownrigg. “And timber, along with render, seems to have become ubiquitous over the past few years.” But given timber’s vulnerability to ageing, staining, shrinking, expanding and decaying, could this trend be storing up problems for the future?
The rise of timber
Christian Brash, managing director of specialist timber importer John Brash, says the demand for timber cladding is growing markedly in new-build and recladding projects. Its rise in popularity is in part simply because architects like to have another material in their palette. “It provides great diversity and a variety of colours and textures, offering lots of possibilities to the designer,” says Caplehorn.
It also suits a variety of sectors. AMA Research’s report on the UK wall cladding market found that the commercial sector accounted for most of the timber installed, but high-rise mixed-use, residential developments, Building Schools for the Future and healthcare all use it.
But perhaps the most important factor in the rise of timber is that it is seen as a statement of sustainability. External softwood cladding achieves an A-plus in BRE’s Green Guide to Specification, and international initiatives such as the Forestry Stewardship Council scheme and the Programme for the Endorsement of Forest Certification reassure specifiers and clients that the timber is sourced from responsibly managed forests. This in turn has helped it gain credits under the BREEAM energy rating and the Code for Sustainable Homes, Yet despite its popularity, there are some reservations about timber. Caplehorn says: “Aesthetics is driving the use of timber and it is not always appropriate. I’ve come across examples where bad detailing or poor quality timber has led to remedial work before the project is handed over.”
Part of the problem, says Caplehorn, is that the industry always has to go through a learning curve when it comes to using materials in unfamiliar applications. “I’d consider that in about 10 to 15 years’ time all the poor examples will be attracting expensive repair or replacement costs,” he says.
Graham Fairley, head of facades at consulting engineer Aecom, thinks expertise on using timber needs to be disseminated to the designers and subcontractors carrying out the work. “There is a lot of inherent knowledge, but it tends to be embedded in literature,” he says.
So what are the issues? To start with, there is the question of durability. Although timber rainscreen cladding may be well drained and vented, they can still become damp for long periods and at risk from fungal decay and insect attack.

Most external timber cladding is softwood, and there are “moderately” durable examples, such as red cedar, Siberian larch, thermowood or douglas fir that can be used without preservatives. There are lot more other species that can be used for cladding such as Nordic spruce that can be painted and fire retardant treated very well at very affordable prices. Timber Cladding is available in a number of profiles and patterns.
Cheaper, less durable timber such as European redwood should only be used if treated. And, depending on the location and exposure, recoating will be necessary. This, believes Caplehorn, is a real issue. “We have timber cladding that will need inspection, maintenance and possibly repair in ridiculous locations – you just need to walk down any major city street to see that.”
Fairley points out that, from a sustainability point of view, the energy required to transport the timber needs to be taken into account. European timber has obvious advantages here, but for cladding, which needs a moderately durable species of timber, this means the choice open to the specifier is restricted.
One of the properties of timber is that its dimensions can shrink and expand as it gains and loses moisture. Green oak, for example, can shrink by up to 7%, or 10mm over a 150mm wide board. Detailing needs to take this movement into account through the use of overlapping boards, oversized holes around fixings and open-jointed designs.
Staining and weathering
One of the most obvious issues with any cladding is staining from the fixings. “If it’s properly detailed and maintained, it will last a long time,” says Fairley, “but if done poorly you can end up with unsightly staining as a result of the wrong type of fixings. Inconsistent weathering can also be an issue, which is something that the client needs to be made aware of.”
In timber with a moisture content greater than 20%, aecetic acid is produced that will corrode mild steel and galvanized steel fixings such as screws or nails, and can lead to staining on the face of the cladding. More corrosion-resistant fixings are recommended, such as stainless steel or austenitic stainless steel in coastal locations; non-ferrous fixings such as silicon bronze are often supplied with Western red cedar.
However, according to the Timber Research and Development Agency, weathering should not be regarded as a problem but rather as a natural process. Indeed, architect Feilden Clegg Bradley made use of the weathering on the cladding of the Longwell Green leisure centre near Bristol to create a random finish for a stronger architectural statement.
The problem is that, if left unfinished, many of the popular softwoods will bleach out to a grey colour, which might not be uniform. This depends on the exposure and orientation of parts of the facade, says Caplehorn. Also, where there are high levels of pollution, say from traffic, the timber surface may absorb the dirt and become discoloured.
“That’s not to say that timber cladding is bad – far from it,” says Caplehorn. “Correctly installed and used appropriately, it can last and look good for decades, but it will need to be maintained. It may seem obvious, but it’s not brickwork.”

We at Timber Focus have a Team of dedicated cladding specialists that help clients with all their timber and decking cladding concerns please contact us for all of your timber cladding and timber decking requirements.

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Painted Cladding Supplier

PROTAC-Bardage-COULEUR-ChoixB_UK Prepainted. Timber Cladding Timber FocusPainted Timber-Focus-Brochure. We have seen the rise in the use of Painted Timber Cladding in the United Kingdom and Ireland, a tradition that had predominately been very popular in the Scandinavian Countries has now become very popular with architects and specifiers now understanding the benefits of using painted cladding.

Puidukoda OU is one of the few companies that offers full insured credible painted timber cladding with 5 or 10 year warranty covering product replacement costs.

We also see a large number of timber distributors and manufacturers now supplying the UK market with the popular reputable brands being Protac, Puidukoda.
Additional information the painted ranges is available from Protac, Puidukoda.
The most common timber that is supplied painted is Norway Spruce Picea Excelsa
Which is from Scandinavia Yellow-white colour, slight grain. Straight, fine and regular grain
Painted cladding is supplied in various profiles and to order e.g shiplap, tongue and groove, board on board, Yorkshire boarding, square edge, microline the most popular being the secret fix hidden fixing system in the Viking and Inca.

Black Painted Timber Cladding

A number of colours and tones of painted timber are available from stock e.g planed smooth, sawn featheredge; for example in the Puidukoda Timber Focus Range.
Light Grey RAL 7035
Pure White RAL 9010
Oyster White RAL 1013
Light Ivory RAL 1015
Grey Beige RAL 1019
Red NCS S5040-Y80R
White Oak
Red Oak
Light Oak
Grey
Jet Black RAL 9005
Black RAL 9004

Sawn black painted KD treated Nordic Spruce Featheredge 1xTeknol 1410 (UC3 Treatment) +2×3 sides Teknos NORDICA EKO 3330-03 Opaque black RAL9005 Sawn 22 – 7mm x 175mm

Sawn rebated black featheredge treated Nordic Spruce Featheredge 1xTeknol 1410 (UC3 Treatment) +2×3 sides Teknos NORDICA EKO 3330-03 Opaque black RAL9005 Sawn 28 mm x 175mm

Low pressure preservative coating – Teknol 1410 with 20% Teknol 1881 Primer
4 sides painted black with Nordica Eko 3330

Viking Painted Cladding

Other colours available in the Protac Range include
Lumiere
Mineral
Graphite
Ruby
Mercury
Taiga
Tundra
Canopy
Sirocco
Cirrus
Azure
Lagoon
Iceberg
Platinum
Baslat
Intense Black

It key properties include dimensional stability which is average, easy adaptation to ambient humidity; quick drying properties and easy to machine.
Other uses of this timber is for
Cladding
fencing
Panelling
Flooring
Structure
Framework
Shutter slats, etc.
The Painted cladding is supplied either as FSC or PEFC Certified and has extended coating warranty for 10/15years.
Some of the other common colours in painted cladding include
Black RAL 9005, RAL 9004, Grey 7016, RAL 5014, RAL 1013, RAL 7035, RAL 1902010, RAL3013, RAL 7031, RAL 7042, RAL 9010 these can all be supplied by Timber Focus.

We work closely with most of the leading painted timber cladding suppliers such as
Teknos for Nordica Eko 3330 for industrial painting, forest inspiration, Cotswold etc, Sikkens Akzo Nobel, Sikkens Cetol BL, Sadolin, Dulux, Tikkurila, Teknowax

White Wax Internal Timber Cladding white wash look

We do not just supply spruce painted but we also offer other timbers such as Accoya, thermowood, and to a lesser extent redwood pine.

All products used are water based and Low VOC content

Timber Focus also supplies fire retardant timber cladding on a fast or quick turnaround delivery period additional information and support is very important on this product. Fire Retardant Timber Cladding 

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Arnold Laver & Co. Limited And The National Timber Group

Cairngorm buys Arnold Laver

Arnold Laver & Co. Limited and The National Timber Group are pleased to announce that they have merged, to create the largest independent timber distribution business in the UK. With combined revenue approaching £250 million, the new enlarged Group has 52 distribution and processing sites extending from the north of Scotland to London and the South West and over 1300 employees. The transaction is being supported by further investment from Cairngorm Capital Partners LLP.

The National Timber Group is a collective of market-leading added-value timber distribution companies, which include Thornbridge Sawmills, North Yorkshire Timber and Rembrand. Together they serve a diverse and varied customer base including joiners, regional housebuilders, commercial companies and infrastructure projects. As a specialist supplier of timber, sheet and joinery products, with substantial warehousing, processing and distribution capabilities, it is able to provide a broad range of high quality products on short lead times, supported by comprehensive timber knowledge and expertise.

Headquartered in Sheffield, Arnold Laver is the timber division of Arnold Laver Holdings Limited, a family run company first established in 1920. It imports, distributes and manufactures a wide range of timber, panels, decorative surfaces and joinery products. With its annual turnover in excess of £130 million, it has 13 strategically located distribution and processing depots across the UK, providing national coverage; a national production centre at Mosborough near Sheffield and a highly skilled and experienced workforce of over 750 employees.
The enlarged Group will be led by Rob Barclay, Group Chief Executive, who joined The National Timber Group in June.

The Group will have three divisions: a Scottish division that is headquarted in Grangemouth and led by Alex McLeod, who joined the Group as Managing Director, Scotland, in September; one headquartered in Sheffield led by the Arnold Laver management team and a third headquartered in Northallerton and led by Nick Kershaw, Managing Director. With strong, highly trusted regional brands, each of the underlying companies will retain their trading names.

This transaction was led by Neil McGill, Investment Director at Cairngorm Capital, who added, “The UK timber market remains highly fragmented and offers many opportunities for well, organised, high quality businesses such as The National Timber Group and Arnold Laver. As investors, we have been working hard to find opportunities to scale our timber interests rapidly so we are delighted to be able to support this partnership. We believe we now have a great platform for further growth under the leadership of an exceptional management team”

Andrew Laver explained, “Once we had taken to decision to consolidate our interests, our priority was to find a partner with shared goals and values who would help our timber business to fulfil its potential. Both companies have much in common in terms of heritage, outstanding product quality and a commitment to the highest standards of customer service, which makes this merger a very good fit. I am confident that the business is in very capable hands and that it will continue to thrive and prosper.”

The National Timber Group and Cairngorm Capital were advised on this transaction by PwC (financial and tax), Addleshaw Goddard (legal), CIL (commercial) and JLT (insurance). Arnold Laver shareholders were advised by Rothschild & Co. (financial) and DLA Piper (legal). PNC Business Credit and HSBC provided bank facilities to support this transaction.

www.buildersmerchantsjournal.net

About Fiona Russell-Horne

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Cedar Cladding Reasons To Choose Real Cedar

When you’re deciding on timber cladding , there are many factors to consider when need to choose cedar cladding – aesthetics, value, durability, versatility and environmental sustainability we supply our cedar as The Programme for the Endorsement of Forest Certification  (PEFC) Certified a copy on our PEFC Certificate  occasionally we supply Forest Stewardship Council (FSC) Certified Cedar for specific projects  a copy of our FSC Certificate. Now, many plastic imitators may claim to rank high in all these categories. But how do they really stack up against Real Cedar? According to most experts, synthetic materials pale in comparison. Here’s why.
Popular Western Red Cedar  Cladding Topics

CEDAR CLADDING  PROFILES
Don’t know the difference between weatherboard, shadow gap, rhombus, tongue and groove, shiplap channel and bevel cladding? This is a great place to start.
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PRE-INSTALLATION TIPS
From wall construction tips to fasteners to moisture control, this is a must-read before installing cladding.
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SIDING INSTALLATION
Find general and pattern specific tips on how to install Western Red Cedar cladding.
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TYVEK® DRAINWRAP™
Thinking about using Tyvek Drainwrap? See why Real Cedar recommends Drainwrap for cedar cladding installation.
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HOW TO FINISH Timber Cladding
Extend the longevity of your cedar cladding project by learning more about surface preparation, application techniques and more.
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SELECTING A FINISH
Not sure what type of finish is right for you? Learn more about the various finishes for cedar cladding here.
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So why choose Western Red Cedar for your next cladding project?
IT’S NATURALLY BEAUTIFUL

Real Cedar siding instantly elevates your home to another level of warmth and beauty. You can’t get that with the plastic substitutes. Try as they might, the look, the feel and the scent of natural wood just can’t be duplicated in a chemistry lab. That’s why synthetic siding always ends up looking a little on the cheap side – odd, considering composite materials actually cost more than Real Cedar.
IT LASTS A REALLY LONG TIME
Western Red Cedar is naturally resistant to rot, decay and insect attacks. Which makes it incredibly low maintenance whereas the so-called “low maintenance” composite materials require more upkeep because they don’t have any natural defenses against things like mildew. As well, plastic substitutes are susceptible to fading due to sun exposure – only unlike Real Cedar; composite materials can’t be restored or refinished once their color has faded. So if you want a real wood cladding that lasts decades and just keeps getting better with age, then Real Cedar’s the way to go.
IT’S A GREEN CHOICE
Concerned about the environmental footprint your siding product will leave behind? With Real Cedar, you can take heart in knowing you’re using one of the most sustainable building materials available. It produces the least greenhouse gas, air pollution, water pollution and solid waste. Not only that – Western Red Cedar wood is harvested from the most sustainably managed forests in the world. So you can feel good about wood cladding.
THERE’S LOTS TO CHOOSE FROM
Western Red Cedar is free of pitch and resin, which means it takes to stains, oils and finishes exceptionally well. So your siding color options are pretty much limitless. The same goes for the style options. So for example, you can go for the warm traditional feel of layered bevel or you can streamline your home’s look with some super sleek, tongue & groove siding or you can get creative with your own board & batten pattern – the list goes on and on. And then there’s texture – with Real Cedar, you can work with a clear grade for a crisp, contemporary look. Or choose knotty for some added rustic charm – trying achieving that look with a synthetic or cement product!
IT’S A SOLID INVESTMENT
Cha-Ching! That’s the sound of money you can save with Real Cedar Cladding . Not only does it cost less up front than composite materials, but thanks to its low density, Western Red Cedar is a natural thermal insulator. So if you want cladding that doesn’t just look great, but also keeps your heating and AC bills down, the choice is clear.

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Fire Retardant Timber Cladding – Timber Buyers – Look Closely At The Fire Treatment Certificate You May Be Breaking The Law.

Did you know that if you are buying fire retardant treated timber cladding e.g Euro Class B EN13501–1 the manufacturing company needs to be independently inspected and certified by an Independent Body NANDO. There very limited companies  in Europe or UK that can legally issue this Fire treatment  Certificate and one of those organisations is Puidukoda OU  distributed in the UK and Ireland by Timber Focus. Do not be fooled with false Fire treatment certificates, as a starting point you need to request fire retardant treatment factory production control certificate like indicated here Fire Retardant Timber Cladding Euro Class B EN13501-1 with Fire Retardant Performance from Timber Focus available from stock

Black Painted Timber Cladding

We can supply fire retardant cladding translucent or opaque for internal applications delivered in 3-4 weeks and opaque for external in 3-4 weeks.

Why so many questions on fire retardant cladding ?
• Lack of knowledge in the supply chain on the fire-retardant treatment requirements
• False fire-retardant certificates being issued

We can also provide fast order delivery for Fire retardant treated timber cladding from stock.

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Timber UK – Timber Industry Leaving The EU – BREXIT Or No BREXIT DEAL

Environment Minister David Rutley MP yesterday committed to “strengthening the timber trade” during a parliamentary debate on the implications of Brexit on the timber industry.

Describing the industry as a “real priority” for Government, the Minister also pledged to make sure that timber importers face as “few additional costs as possible” after Brexit.
The comments came after Martin Whitfield MP, the Chair of the All-Party Parliamentary Group for the Timber Industries, urged the Government to ensure that after we leave the EU, timber imports can continue clear customs the same way they do now.
“Without frictionless trade, I believe we face a clear challenge to build the number of homes the Prime Minister has committed to providing over this parliament,” said Martin Whitfield MP.
“This challenge exists because the supply of timber is essential to meeting housing demands. This sector, which contributes £10bn to the UK economy each year is still hugely reliant on trade with EU countries. Incredibly, 90% of the timber used to build homes in the UK is imported from across Europe.”
“We welcome the Minister’s commitment to minimise the additional costs of Brexit on the import and export of timber,” said David Hopkins, director of the Confederation of Timber Industries (CTI).
“I am glad that the Government understands the indispensable role our industry plays in the UK construction sector and the wider economy.”
“It is encouraging that David Rutley MP has agreed to meet with the APPG for the Timber Industries to further discuss how the Government can support the timber sector and, therefore, ensure the Government achieves its house building targets.”
The Confederation of Timber Industries has already secured a number of concessions from Government in relation to the sector‘s future after the UK leaves the European Union.
Earlier this year Government committed to protect timber businesses from up-front payments of VAT in the event of a no-deal Brexit. This followed earlier Ministerial commitments to retain the EU Timber Regulation (EUTR) and the EU’s Forest Law Enforcement, Governance and Trade (FLEGT) after the UK leaves the European Union, following pressure from the industry.
A full transcript of the Westminster Hall debate on Leaving the EU: Timber Industry is available here.

source TTJ

Timber Focus is in a very strong position to having a sound source of timber and looking forward to helping other timber importers and merchants. Timber Focus is a partner of The Rose Groupe and Puidukoda OU  both companies based in Europe that will ensure consistent supply of timber decking and cladding if there is no deal in the BREXIT.

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Machined Softwood Timber Supplier Of Decking, Cladding And Flooring

Timber Focus is a partner to Puidukoda OU which is part of the France based Rose Group. Rose Group is one of the largest independent timber producers in Europe for machined standard softwoods, premium machined softwoods factory treated Tanalith or Koopers AC500 and factory pre-painted cladding.

In the UK most of the products supplied by Puidukoda are available through timber merchants and Do it yourself retail shops (DIY Chains). These are customers would who buy large volumes as part or full truckloads in packs of machined timber. Puidukoda / Timber Focus tend to supply direct to timber merchants or as agency contracts for softwood timber manufacturers especially joinery, decking and cladding suppliers.

Puidukoda is looking to further develop its market share in the UK and Ireland with the partnership with Timber Focus Ltd. Puidukoda has made a lot of effort to develop these 2 markets by providing fast and reliable delivery services from its factory in Estonia or with landed stocks in the UK.

The main species supplied by Puidukoda OU and Timber Focus are Redwood (Pine), Spruce Nordic Whitewood and Siberian Larch. Puidukoda with its factory based in the Baltics gives it a strategic location to receive raw material. Puidukoda have a very good source of timber which supplies slow grown quality softwoods from Scandinavia and Russia.

Treated Softwood Decking

The Rose Group is already one of the leaders supplying pre-painted timber cladding and fire-retardant treated timber cladding to Euro Class B due to advanced automated production technology.

The Rose Group has 3 main subsidiaries these include;-
• Rose Charpente (Lambelle France) which began trading in 1949 based in Northern France
• Protac (1995) France which began trading in 1995
• Puidukoda OU Estonia which was acquired 2013
o Timber Focus UK
o Poland
o Czech Republic
Volume 300 000m3 traded
Employees 204

Rose Charpente ( Lambelle France)1949

Protac (1995) France
Puidukoda OU Estonia (Acquired 2013)
o Poland
o Czech Republic
Timber Focus UK
Puidukoda and Timber Focus has been supporting a number of timber merchants, timber suppliers and DIY chains in a number of ways to ensure that their position as leading wholesale timber producer is maintained these include.
• Free Display boards (Wall hang or free standing)
• Free Timber Samples
• Product Promotions and New Product Launch Events
• Regular Training/Meetings with its customers
• Wide range of products available in a wide range of profiles
• Large Stock holding
• Quick turnaround on bulk orders
Timber Focus and Puidukoda ensure that all their products hold the appropriate certifications and conformation to International (ISO) , Regional (European Standard EN) or National Standards (British Standards BS) these include, voluntary environmental certifications and legal or mandatory requirements;
• FSC Certification
• PEFC Certification
ISO 9001
• CE Marking its timber cladding, strength graded timber, flooring etc (Health and Safety, Fire, Structural performance, durability etc) as required by CPR Construction Products Regulation.
Copies of certifications are all available to download.
• Puidukoda OU and Timber Focus have also been involved in several Sponsorships activities such as Sponsoring training and conferences for the UK Timber IWSC Conferences (Society of Wood Technology) formally known and the Institute of Wood Science. They have also been sponsoring youth football teams and charity events.
• Puidukoda OU and Timber Focus has been actively promoting its products and supporting its distributors through various publications and events e.g. in the Timber Trade Journal (TTJ) the leading timber voice in the UK Timber Industry, Exhibiting at the Timber Expo during the UK Construction Week and the Grand Designs Live in Birmingham.