Cladding support

Firstly, calculate how many square metres your project will require, then add at least 10% onto the figure calculated. This allows for wastage, e.g: cutting back to fit onto battens at corners or accidental damage on site. It is worth noting that the inconvenience and extra costs incurred of not ordering enough timber can be significant. Under-ordering is a very common issue.

The cladding is usually fitted once your windows have been fixed in, as this allows the ingo dimensions to be determined. However, the ideal stage to fix the cladding can vary depending on the type of construction – advice on this should be provided by your project architect.

We offer individual drawings and recommended systems for each species, profile, and layout combination. Please contact our Specification Team for advice.

• Fixings – stainless steel nails and screws will ensure that no rust/ink staining of the timber occurs. We have partnered with Austrian timber fixings experts, Sihga, to offer a range of innovative fixing systems designed to make your cladding look better and last longer. Advice on quantities required can be given at the time of purchase.
• Cavity fire barrier and retardant – in modern buildings, these options can be insisted on by Building Regulations. Cavity fire barriers are installed with the cladding to prevent the spread of fire behind the timber, and fire retardant treatments can also be applied. Consult your local Building Control department to discuss your particular requirements.
• Russwood Battening System –  an environmentally friendly, engineer-assessed, method of fixing timber cladding. It is easy to install and dismantle at end of life, supporting the circular economy of materials.

On bearers, placed in line with the stickers in the pack. The top of the pack should be left open at the sides in order for air to circulate, and out of direct sunlight. Please ensure that the straps and stickers (smaller pieces of timber going cross ways at certain layers) are still in place until you’re ready to use the cladding – this ensures adequate airflow throughout the cladding. 

We recommend installing your cladding as soon as possible after delivery, ideally within two weeks. Even with suitable storage conditions, factors such as, external environment and climate can affect your cladding if it’s left too long before fitting. If storage is unavoidable, our experts can advise when you place your order.

Generally 600mm centres will be the recommended distance, but this distance can on occasion be altered based on the thickness of cladding board or location of your project.

Pre-drilling may be required when nail fixing certain species. Our L-GoFix® screw does not require pre-drilling (except when using hardwoods) due to it’s unique design characteristics, saving time on-site.

3.2.1 Can I use a screw fixing?
Yes. A screw generally gives better results in that more care is taken in positioning and finishing the screw head flush with the timber surface. As screws do not bend when they hit a knot in the fixing batton, from our experience, it takes the same amount of time to fix a facade with screws as it does with nails.

Yes, providing it is the appropriate stainless steel nail. It is also important that the nail is not overdriven into the board, as this will produce a “bullet-hole” effect which may compromise the durability of the board, and D head nails may negatively impact the aesthetic appeal. The nail must be finished flush to the timber to prevent water ingress at the point of fixing which can severely shorten the longevity of the facade.

All fixings must be stainless steel in order to eliminate corrosive leaching which can be very unsightly. Our recommended fixing systems are detailed on our fixings page. 3.4.1 What is likely to happen if stainless steel nails are not used? Unsightly iron rust stains will occur when non-stainless steel nails used to fix naturally durable timbers. 3.4.2 How can I remove iron stains? A solution of oxalic acid is ideal for removing stains after they occur, but prevention is infinitely preferable. 3.4.3 Can adhesives be used? We would always recommend using a mechanical fixing method, as seen on our fixings page.

Secret fixing has evolved as a design solution, and should only be used with the relevant profiles. The main difference between face and secret fixing is an aesthetic one. However, secret-fixing with FassadenClip® will increase the longevity of the facade by improving ventilation.

Yes there is. It is important to ensure that, if a T&G profile is used, the groove faces down to avoid holding water. All of our profiled boards have a stress groove on the rear of the board, and will be printed to ensure that the front and back are not mixed up. In the non-profiled timber cladding, for board on board, any sapwood present (the lighter wood) MUST be placed at the rear of the cladding to maintain the natural durability of the wood.

There are numerous options for detailing corner and window/door reveals. It is important to choose the right one in order to ensure timber longevity, performance and the aesthetics. This is generally decided at the design stage as the detailing you choose must permit rapid drying of the end grain of your boards.

A moisture gap (or cavity) behind the cladding is the single most important factor in the success of the cladding installation, and a 20mm gap between the cladding and wall is the minimum that we would advise. The purpose of this cavity is to ensure air circulation behind the boards. This prevents a build-up of moisture from occurring which, if allowed, would compromise the durability of your cladding and cause unsightly staining of the timber.

No, the timber cladding we supply is inherently durable, meaning no protective coating is necessary if detailed and installed correctly. The decision to coat timber cladding is purely an aesthetic one.

Coatings can be applied onsite manually, weather permitting, however Russwood strongly recommend factory-coating. Russwood apply coatings under factory conditions to timber which is dried to the optimum moisture content of 16-18% (+/- 2%), meaning weather conditions are irrelevant, while on-site application means dry conditions are needed for a number of days in order to avoid the effects of excess moisture. In addition, with factory coating, all 4 sides are coated, completely enveloping the timber.

It depends on various factors such as weather patterns, situation, location and aspect. As a general rule the more exposed to wind, sun and rain the cladding is, the quicker it will weather. Generally, weathering on exposed cladding will become noticeable within six months. For further information, go to our weathering page.

To see some examples of how cladding samples at Russwood have weathered over time, please have a look at our cladding gallery.

Yes. SiOO:X is a patented silicon technology which is a major step forward in offering timber with a consistently weathered, long lasting appearance. From our factory coating facility we can produce pre-coated cladding which is ready to be fixed as soon as it arrives on-site, regardless of weather conditions. Alternatively, for on-site brush application we supply SiOO:X in 3 or 5 litres which can be purchased through our online shop. Read more about SiOO:X, here.

This depends entirely on the nail. The appearance of stainless steel will remain constant, whereas galvanised and copper nails will change colour over time. We offer a variety of fixing systems which are designed to achieve optimum timber performance. Click here to learn more.

There are no absolute rules, as in both instances the requirements will vary according to external parameters. These parameters include, but are not limited to, the location of the project, how the cladding has been fitted and the type of coating used. Factory coating cladding is proven to last longer than onsite painted cladding owing to the regulated consistency of the coating achieving greater than a 90 micron (dry coating) thickness. We would advise that monitoring of your coating is an ongoing process, and that preventative measures are taken promptly as this will prolong the life of the existing coating.

Like all external finishes, timber cladding/decking will require periodic cleaning and maintenance to preserve its optimal condition and appearance. Download our handy Cleaning And Maintenance Information.

If your cladding has been treated with SiOO:X, please download our Cleaning And Maintenance Of SiOO:X Coated Timber Information here. 

Prices displayed on our on-line shop are all inclusive of VAT. Prices given in quotations are indicative, and exclude VAT.

Lead times can vary significantly from just a few days for stock items to several weeks for custom profiles and factory-coated cladding orders, depending on various factors. Please also allow for delivery time thereafter. We recommend enquiring about current stock levels and/or lead times before ordering to ensure your cladding arrives at the appropriate stage of your project.

We deliver throughout the UK. Click here for more information.

It depends on the location but it is always best to have someone on-site to sign for the goods. Our haulage team can discuss further with you when arranging your delivery.

Delivery charges are dependent on your location – please call us for a quotation.

FSC® and PEFC sustainability certifications and Environmental Product Declarations are available on our downloads page.

Class B certificates of conformity for fire retardancy can be provided on request. 

Yes, please give us a call so that we can discuss your cladding requirement and provide you with appropriate samples. Customers may order up to four cladding samples. 

We can provide a cost for making large sample panels for pre-construction assessment on site. Our standard size is 650mm x 650mm but larger sizes can be produced.

Yes, all of our timber is either PEFC or FSC certified*.

Timber is a renewable resource with significant carbon capture properties and low embodied energy, making it the only truly sustainable mainstream building material – that’s why we take a timber-first approach to construction.

*We can provide certification if required.   

Backed by years of expertise, our team offers expert advice as standard with every order. We’re happy to write the NBS specification for your project, and our specialists can advise on the fixing, fitting and detailing your project requires, helping you avoid costly errors and achieve a flawless finish.