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British Larch Cladding

British larch is a tough and naturally durable softwood grown in local woodlands that is ideal for external cladding in exposed areas. British larch is ideal for tight budgets.

Style

Traditional

Profiles

Halflap and splayed

Source

England and Wales

Beware

Instability

British Larch Cladding Features

British larch cladding is both tough and durable, making it ideal for exposed elevations and areas where knocks and scrapes are likely. Larch is also our most cost effective cladding option.
British larch is a completely different specie to Siberian larch and they look very different. It is important that you are clear about which version you are asking for.
Although we sell most of our larch in wet sawn profiles such as feather-edge, British grown larch can also be dried and machined to various cladding profiles. Our dried larch cladding is either available in a relatively clean Grade A or a cheaper but more knotty grade B. The grading is very similar to that of Siberian larch.
For a comparison between British and Siberian larch watch our video.

Call us to discuss your project

Specification

British larch cladding from Vastern Timber

  • British larch
  • Larix decidua
  • Legal and well managed forests in England and Wales
  • Supplied by Vastern Timber (sales@vastern.co.uk)
  • Grade : Grade A BS1186-3 1990 Class 2 / EN942:2007 J30 Grade B BS1186-3 1990 Class 3 / EN942:2007 J50
  • Finished thickness of 20mm
  • Overall finished widths 70mm / 95mm / 145mm
  • Random lengths 1.8mt – 3.6mt+, allowing small % down to 1.5mt
  • Available in various profiles (Not t&g)
  • Moisture content of 16 – 20%
  • Durability EN350-2 Moderately Durable. Class 3
  • Supplied uncoated. No treatment required.

Characteristics

Appearance
British larch ranges in colour from pinky-brown in the heartwood, to creamy-white in the sap band. Depending on the grade, there will be some or many dark brown knots and occasional resin pockets along the length of the board.

Weathering
British larch weathers relatively slowly, often taking two years to reach a silver-grey patina. Larch is quite consistent and is not reactive, and as such, will weather relatively evenly. Northerly elevations may weather to a darker grey than those facing South.

Desired service life
Occasionally wet 30 yrs. Frequently wet 15 yrs.

Movement class
Large

Resistance to impact
High

Working properties
Good workability. Takes fixings satisfactorily although can be prone to splitting.

Density
570 – 650 Kg / m3

Extractives
British larch contains resin rather than oil or tannin.

Installation

How to fix
Pre-drill and hand nail with stainless steel nails through the face. Do not attempt to secret nail through the tongue. We do not recommend first or second fix nail guns with larch, because it can be an unstable timber.

** Be sure to leave an expansion gap between machined boards**

For more information, visit the resource centre 

Batten type
Treated softwood.
35mm thick x 50mm wide for machined profiles.

Batten spacing
400 – 600mm

Nail type
Stainless steel only. 50mm ring shank nails for machined profiles. Trim head stainless steel screws are also suitable. 

When to fix
Ideally autumn and winter months.

Resistance to fixing
Medium

Profiles

We machine timber cladding to the profile of your choice. View our full range of cladding profiles

We recommend the following profiles for British larch.

Disclaimer

While the utmost care has been taken to provide accurate information, Vastern Timber shall not be held responsible for any consequences arising from any errors or omissions on this website nor for any damages resulting from the use of the information.

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