External Timber Cladding

External wood cladding for every project

Timber cladding is one of the easiest ways to transform the outside of a building. It adds warmth, texture and kerb appeal, helps a new extension sit comfortably beside existing brickwork, and protects the wall behind from the weather. At Timber Focus we stock durable, responsibly sourced external timber cladding for homes, garden rooms, sheds, extensions, schools and commercial buildings, and deliver it free across the UK.

Choose your timber

• Western Red Cedar: lightweight, stable and naturally durable, with rich honey to red-brown tones that silver over time. Ideal for premium homes and garden rooms. Shop Western Red Cedar.
• Siberian and Austrian larch: dense, slow grown and naturally durable softwood with a warm golden colour and great value. See larch cladding.
• Thermowood®: pine and spruce heat-treated for stability and durability, with a uniform brown colour. See Thermowood cladding.
• Charred (Shou Sugi Ban): Japanese-style burnt timber with a low-maintenance black, grey or brown finish. See charred timber cladding.
• Painted and pre-aged: factory painted SertiWOOD® cladding in many colours, or pre-aged larch with an instant silver-grey look.
• Treated softwood: pressure treated UC3 tongue and groove, shiplap and loglap for sheds, outbuildings and budget projects.

Choose your profile

• Tongue and groove (T&G, PTGV): a clean vertical or horizontal finish with a neat V-joint.
• Shiplap and half-lap: overlapping boards that shed water well, ideal for horizontal cladding.
• Rainscreen and rhombus: open-jointed, contemporary boards fixed with gaps for a modern slatted look.
• Featheredge and rebated featheredge: traditional weatherboarding with a shadow line. See featheredge cladding.
• Square edge and shadow gap: crisp, architectural lines.

How to install external cladding

Fix cladding to treated battens at 400 to 600mm centres over a breathable membrane, leaving a ventilated cavity of at least 25mm. Keep the bottom of the boards at least 150mm above ground, fit insect mesh at the base of the cavity and use stainless steel fixings, especially with cedar and larch, to avoid black staining. Allow for small gaps at butt joints and corners to let the timber move.

Maintenance and finishes

Most naturally durable cladding can be left untreated to weather to a silver-grey. To keep the original colour, use a UV protective finish from our finishes and treatments range and re-coat as the manufacturer recommends.

External timber cladding FAQs

Which timber cladding lasts longest?

Western Red Cedar, larch, Thermowood and modified timbers such as Accoya® all offer excellent outdoor durability. Correct installation with a ventilated cavity matters as much as the species.

How much cladding do I need?

Measure the wall area in square metres, subtract windows and doors and add about 10% for cutting waste. Our product pages show the cover width and coverage per pack.

Does timber cladding need planning permission?

Often not on houses in England, but rules differ for listed buildings, conservation areas and flats, and cladding near boundaries must meet fire safety rules. Check with your local planning and building control teams.

Can I order a sample?

Yes. Order a free timber sample with free UK delivery.