Scotlarch®
Our Scottish Larch (Scotlarch®) is sourced locally and a cost-effective cladding solution.
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Designing for multi-generational living in the Scottish Highlands
Building a future-proof home is a consideration for many of our customers, but in the case of this annexe project in the Scottish Highlands, it was the starting point. When a retired couple applied to build a standalone dwelling in the garden of their grown child’s house, it didn’t meet planning regulations. The resulting one-bedroom extension, designed by Eòlas Architects, is a clever alternative, providing accessible ground-floor accommodation that links through to the existing cottage. Family support is quite literally on the doorstep should the couple require it over the coming years. And uninterrupted views over Loch Rannoch – from the comfort of a modern space – beautifully finish their new abode.
A challenging location in which to build
This annexe is situated at the foot of Craig Varr, a craggy bluff that projects from the high hillsides to the north of Kinloch Rannoch village. The en-suite bedroom overlooks sheep grazing on the hillside, while French doors at the end of a vaulted kitchen and living area frame views of Loch Rannoch and the valley beyond. While the build was relatively straightforward, the remoteness of the location and the site’s exposure to the full range of Scottish weather required the contractor, SQ Contracts, to be on point with planning.
“The scheduling for the build had to be done around heavy snow showers and battering wind and rain,” says Andy McDonagh, Associate Architect at Eòlas.
Designed to fit in, built to stand out
When briefing Eòlas on the design for the annexe, the client was keen to reflect local architectural trends in its shape and external finish. Eòlas took inspiration from the farm buildings found dotted around Loch Rannoch, selecting our brushed-finish Scotlarch® cladding for the majority of the extension. On the northern elevation, they also brought in our RW119 Thermopine® cladding, coated in black RAL 9005, to break up what would otherwise have been a fairly blank elevation.
“Striking a horizontal line at eaves level helped to break up the mass of a pitched roof and single window opening,” explains Andy.
While the Scotlarch – which has been left uncoated, allowing it to weather to a silver/grey colour over time – complements the roughcast render of the original house, the black Thermopine cladding and corrugated metal roof provide an effective contrast. Both cladding profiles are lightly brushed to accentuate the timber’s natural textures. Choosing the right combination of cladding, finishes and colour was made easier thanks to our helpful architect liaison team and the free visualisation tool on our website.
“Samples were delivered promptly upon request, and the website helped greatly in pinpointing the desired surface finish, profile arrangement and widths, using the visualiser tool to assess the visual aesthetics at cladding interfaces,” says Andy.
Specifier Tip: Our Cladding Visualiser is a free online tool that lets you experiment with different cladding finishes, switching between orientations, coatings and profiles, helping you to narrow down your choice.
The customer service from Russwood was fantastic from start to finish. The quotation process was very straightforward and when additional cladding was required, the Russwood staff coordinated swiftly and communicated well even when lead times were longer.
Andy McDonagh, Associate Architect at Eòlas
Precise finishing for cladding that will stand the test of time
We provided the client with SIHGA L-Go Fix® A2 screws to deliver a smooth, neat finish on the Scotlarch. Similarly, F-BohrFix® screws have been used for the Thermopine RW119 tongue and groove profile, for a clean, fix-free appearance.
To ensure a low-maintenance building into the future, the client also opted to use our KompeFix® ventilation strips. Using these creates a ventilated gap between the timber elements by offsetting the cladding from the substructure, avoiding moisture trapping and allowing freedom of movement in changing atmospheric conditions, such as humidity.
The weather, planning conditions and remote location may have thrown up some challenges along the way, but it was all worth it for the result: a sleek, thoughtful home built around family and the local environment.
Check out our Scotlarch® cladding here and our Thermopine® cladding here.