Choosing cladding: oak, larch or cedar
How we help clients choose between oak, larch and cedar cladding, and how each one weathers over the years.
One of the first questions on any oak framed building is what to clad it in. The frame does the structural work; the cladding decides how the building looks on the day it is finished and, more importantly, how it looks in twenty years.
Oak
Oak cladding ages to the deepest silver of the three and lasts the longest. Left untreated it weathers slowly and evenly, and it suits buildings where you want the cladding to match the frame. It is the most expensive option, and the one we most often recommend where budget allows.
Larch
European larch is the most cost effective cladding we use, and it weathers beautifully, moving from a warm honey tone to silver grey over five to ten years. It is a good choice where you want the character of natural timber without the cost of oak.
Cedar
Western red cedar sits between the two. It is stable, lightweight and naturally weather resistant, with a slightly warmer tone than larch. It is a good choice for cladding that has to span larger areas or where weight matters.
There is no single right answer. It comes down to budget, the look you are after, and the setting of the building. We will walk through samples with you at the first design stage so you can see how each one behaves before you commit.