Garden Room Cladding Options
11 Oct 2024
At Outside In Garden Rooms, we frequently receive inquiries about the possibility of using different cladding materials for our garden rooms. The answer is a resounding "yes!”
For many years, our primary choice for cladding was the exquisite Siberian larch, but sadly due to the Ukraine conflict, this lovely timber cladding was understandably removed from the market and we had to source an alternative product that offered as close a visual style, robustness and was obviously FSC certified.
FSC Certified Thermowood
To this end, we install FSC Certified Thermowood as standard, one of the best sustainable claddings on the market.
Thermowood is made from Scandinavian softwood, which has been thermally modified using just heat and steam; a process that enhances the wood throughout, and not just the outer surface. Thermowood boards are stable and durable in every sense and will gradually silver down over time. Primarily, we use what's called "rough sawn" thermowood to provide a more rustic feel, like in the below example.
An alterntative to this is a sawn finished product which is a far smoother finish that really brings out the grain in the timber.
IRO Cladding
IRO cladding is a product manufactured right here in Britain, utilising a meticulously crafted seven-step process. This unique range of architectural cladding is designed to elevate the exteriors of all types of buildings, including our garden rooms. Drawing inspiration from the Japanese technique of Yakisugi, IRO, which means 'colour' in Japanese, encapsulates the essence of this cladding.
What makes it even more impressive is its commitment to environmental sustainability. IRO cladding is 100% eco-friendly, ensuring that it leaves a minimal ecological footprint. Furthermore, it's UV stable, meaning it retains its vibrancy and aesthetic appeal even when exposed to the harshest sunlight. Importantly, it is also HVOC-free, making it a safe choice for families and pet owners alike.
The use of IRO cladding in our garden rooms offers you not only a visually captivating addition to your outdoor space, but also the peace of mind that you're making an environmentally conscious choice. This cladding option not only enhances the aesthetics of your garden room but also contributes to its durability and resilience in various weather conditions. Whether you're looking to create a cosy home office, an artistic studio, a serene yoga space, or any other purpose you have in mind for your garden room, IRO Cladding can play a pivotal role in making it a reality.
Specially Coated Timbers
As an alternative to the natural timber look, we also clad with specially coated timbers to order. Not all clients want to go through the natural weathering process with timber, therefore we appreciate the importance of offering something different.
We work closely with selected partners to offer just such options. Russwood provides stunning examples of claddings, pre-treated in their factory to provide a stunning, treated, uniformed finish on FSC certified timbers.
The example below is clad using their Abodo Vulcan treated in SiOOx Mid Grey (sawn finish) and applied with a shadow gap.
We also created a beautiful gate from the same cladding to create a seamless attachment to the house.
We fix our cladding with a shadow gap as opposed to tongue and groove style, as it allows the timbers to expand and contract in all weathers and displays an alternative look seen here in a garden room coated in Minchin Grey.
What happens to the timber cladding over time?
Thermowood (and larch) is a natural timber product that will weather over time. We always advise treating timber cladding with Osmo Oil to protect against the elements.
Below is an example of Thermowood cladding before and immediately after the Osmo application. The timber initially appears much darker but will settle back down to the lovely warm timber colouring.