Type: Softwood
Source: Siberia
OVERVIEW
Siberian Larch has a stunning colouring and texture, starting life as a pale yellow/golden brown. Larch is also unique in that it features the shapes and patterns of its growth rings which give a ‘knotted’ wood effect, this means each cladding panel is subtly different and adds a natural character to a building. Larch is well suited to staining and painting, meaning it’s a good choice if you’re looking for an exterior cladding material that can be customised to suit a particular colour or style. Larch is denser than many hardwoods and it provides plenty of strength and durability meaning it is one of the best solutions for external cladding.
Suitability of Profiles
Wide choice of standard profiles.
| Profile | Cladding Joint | Horizontal | Diagonal | Vertical | Thickness |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Tongue & Groove | Closed | Yes | Yes | Yes | 20mm min. |
| Rectangular | Closed | No | No | Yes | 16-25mm+ |
| Feather Edge | Closed | Yes | No | No | 9mm x 16-15mm |
| Shiplap | Closed | Yes | No | Yes | 18mm |
| Parallelogram | Open | Yes | No | No | 16-25mm+ (up to 50mm) |
DURABILITY
| Desired service life (years) | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Natural durability class | Need for treatment/modification | Occasionally wet | Frequently wet |
| 1 (Very durable) | Suitable without treatment | >60 | 60 |
| 2 (Durable) | Suitable without treatment | 60 | 30 |
| 3 (Moderately durable) | Suitable without treatment except for tall or exposed buildings | 30 | 15 (untreated) |
| 4 (Slightly durable) | Treatment required | 15-30 years treated | 15-30 years treated |
| 5 (Not durable) | Treatment required | 15-30 years treated | 15-30 years treated |
| Common Name | Natural Durability Class BSEN350:2:1994 | Sapwood treatability | Movement | Strength |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Larch (European) | 3 or 4 | Resistant | Small | Medium |
| Larch (Siberian) | 3 | Resistant | Small | Medium |
TREATMENTS & FINISHING
- Suitable without treatments except for tall or exposed buildings
- Difficult to treat
| Cladding Treatment | Notes | For which species? |
|---|---|---|
| Tanalith (Green) | High Pressure Treatment – Green Coloured Finish. Once treated, timber can go in the ground | Soft Wood Only |
| Tanalith (Brown) | High Pressure Treatment – Brown Coloured Finish. Once treated, timber can go in the ground | Soft Wood Only |
| Vac – Vac (Clear – Yellowish) | Low Pressure Treatment – Green Coloured Finish. Can only use above ground | Soft Wood Only |
| Fire Retardant | Pressure Treatment | All Species |
| UV Protection | Vacuum Applied | All Species |
| Full Range of Stains and Colours | All Species | |
| Clear Lacquer | Vacuum Applied | All Species |
SPECIFY
If you have decided that Timber Cladding is going to be one of the materials on your project the next step is to create a specification that will meet the criteria and expectations you, and your client have.
We offer installation guidance, detailing guidance based on TRADA documentation, with a wealth of knowledge and information on how different timbers will perform over the life span of your project.
Considerations that should be made when it comes to weather, along with how elevation and design variations can impact timber cladding.