A summer house can bring charm and joy to a home, giving you additional space to use without needing to build an extension or get planning permission, in most cases. They can even be used as offices, gyms and other practical spaces to enhance your home and increase its footprint. Summer houses are made of timber, and timber cladding will be used on the exterior to give it character and to make it better insulated and better protected as well. The key question is, what type of timber cladding will be best for a summer house?
There are different types of cladding to choose from, all of which have different appearances and different properties that they bring with them. All cladding that is robust and high quality will, in general, add a good level of insulation and protection to outbuildings and garden buildings like a summer house. It is important that this timber cladding is sourced from quality timber merchants and suppliers, where it will be:
- High quality. Timber cladding needs to be high quality, from a reputable supplier, so you can rely on its quality. Solid wood is not the cheapest option so you need to know it will last you well into the future.
- Sustainably sourced. Quality timber from a reputable supplier is more likely to be sustainably sourced but it is still always worth asking the question. You can check whether the timber has come from sustainably managed forests with the supplier and you can see if there are any accreditations they have met.
- A good grade of timber. Make sure the timber is a good grade and will not warp or shrink over time – it should already have been dried out so as not to affect the integrity of the
As long as all these credentials are met, then the choice will essentially come down to personal preference in terms of appearance. You can choose from various types of timber cladding to cover your summer house. These are some of your most popular options to pick from:
- Featheredge cladding. Perfect for creating a more rustic appearance in your garden, with overlappinig tapered cladding boards.
- Rebated featheredge cladding. Similar to featheredge cladding, but without the overlap – rebated baords fit flat against the surface, giving more stability and protection from the weather.
- Siberian cedar cladding. Beautiful cladding made from Siberian cedar wood.
- Ends matched cladding. Essentially a tongue and groove design, making it easier for cladding to slot together and cutting down on waste.
- Profiled cladding. Half lap and shiplap cladding for internal and external use – so perfect for the inside of a summer house too.
- Waney edge cladding. A rustic appearance that captures the beauty of natural timber.
You may also want to use trim boards to finish off the appearance of cladding and use as soffits and fascia boards.
Most of these types of cladding can be painted or finished in different colours, to allow you to personalise the appearance of a summer house. Colourways like dark greys can look rustic and are very fashionable. Equally, if you decide to enjoy the natural woodgrain effect of the quality timber, this is also a very good option.