Timber-framed structures have been part of our landscape for thousands of years, and they remain hugely popular today. From the Tudor buildings of Chester to the VeloPark at the Queen Elizabeth Olympic Park in London, our love affair with this architecturally stunning material continues unabated. But what does the future hold? And can we re-create the same beauty and style with other more sustainable, affordable and longer-lasting alternatives?
The answer is: yes. Not only are there more viable alternatives available, but there are plenty of them too.
With over 40 years’ experience in building material distribution, and a keen focus on timber alternatives, Southern Sheeting offers some great solutions for people seeking out the look and feel of natural wood, but without the fuss and drawbacks.
Here are some of our favourites.
Cedral Fibre Cement Cladding
Fibre cement cladding is a great alternative to timber: it’s low maintenance, has a lifespan in excess of 50 years (unlike wood, which will usually need attention after 20 to 30 years), and it has an A2 fire rating.
In situ, it has the appearance of a regular siding plank, with either a woodgrain effect or smooth finish. It also comes in 21 hard-wearing paint colours, giving lots of design options. It’s perfect for people looking for a contemporary, modern look, or something closer to traditional New England-style charm. And it’s especially popular as a timber alternative for commercial and high-rise residential developments.
Wood Plastic Composite
A mixture of recycled plastic and recycled wood fibres, wood plastic composite building products have proved a popular alternative to timber for cladding and landscaping projects for some time now.
Top-quality products by brands such as Trex or Bison Systems ensure hard-wearing, UV-stable coatings in a variety of pre-coloured options. Wood plastic composite is also low-maintenance – a quick jet wash once a year and cladding, decking, or fencing looks as good as new.
Unlike timber, wood plastic composite is resistant to rot, mould and insect attack. And the fact that it is made with recycled materials has seen its popularity soar in recent years.
Aluminium
Recyclable, lightweight, strong, fire resistant and with minimal thermal movement, aluminium ticks a lot of boxes as a building material. But few people realise that it can come with a very convincing timber look. Thanks to modern heat-printing technology, aluminium can be given an extremely lifelike wood appearance, and it can come in a host of exciting colours. So whether you are looking for cladding, decking, screening or fencing, timber-effect aluminium is definitely worth considering.
More alternatives
There are plenty of other materials to think about if you’re looking to create a beautiful timber look. PVC (polyvinyl chloride), porcelain, HPL (high pressure laminate), bamboo and rice husk composites are just some of the other options worth considering. All come with their own specific benefits for certain applications, and none involves felling precious trees.
Please get in touch with Southern Sheeting to see how we can help your 'wood-be project'.
