Tips and advice for installing vertical wood cladding

Vertical wood cladding is now one of the most popular types of siding for adding elegance and authenticity to facades. Combining technical performance and natural aesthetics, it provides long-lasting protection for walls while enhancing the charm of wood. In this comprehensive guide, discover how to install vertical wood cladding in accordance with best practices: choosing the right species, preparing the substrate, step-by-step installation, and professional tips to ensure a durable, ventilated, and harmonious installation.
Whether you are a craftsman, an experienced DIY enthusiast, or an architect, these practical tips from Sivalbp's experts will help you succeed in your project, from the first batten to the last finishing strip.

Key points to remember:

• Vertical wood cladding is a facade covering consisting of vertically installed wood boards, used to protect walls while adding an aesthetic and contemporary touch.
• It offers a modern look, excellent protection against the elements, and highlights the natural texture of the wood.
• Careful, ventilated installation is essential to prevent moisture and ensure the longevity of the cladding.
• The choice of wood and treatment (autoclave, oiled, or saturated) determines the durability and maintenance of the cladding.
• Following the key steps in the guide (framing, ventilation, alignment, finishing) ensures an installation that is attractive, resistant, and durable.

Vertical cladding is the ideal way to give your façade a contemporary look. Originally, this specific and unique type of installation was used by the Scandinavians. Vertical cladding involves laying the boards straight across all or part of the façade.

Wood cladding, or Scandinavian cladding with vertical boards, gives a natural look, a feeling of grandeur and space without adding extra volume. As you can see, vertical wood cladding is a vertical installation technique . Finally, wood cladding is an acoustic and thermal insulator, a natural, aesthetic and recyclable material. So it has everything it takes to create a lasting façade.

Vertical timber cladding: a sustainable solution

Installing your wood cladding vertically means that rainwater runs off the boards better: water runs down the boards from top to bottom. Less exposed to the elements, your wood cladding will last longer thanks to vertical installation.

Vertical timber cladding: an aesthetic choice

Vertical cladding gives an impression of height and accentuates the high lines of buildings. Vertical cladding gives an impression of height, lightening structures and refining the lines of buildings and facades.

This vertical cladding technique is well suited to single-storey houses and multi-storey buildings. Vertical cladding allows you to play with lines and heights, and creates an effect of continuity between two buildings. Vertical timber cladding enhances the architecture of the building, giving it a contemporary or traditional look.

In short, if you're looking for a sleek-looking façade, vertical cladding is the way to go.

Here are the main steps to follow when installing vertical timber cladding:

1. Preparing the surface :

To "condition" the wood, remove the boards from their packaging 24 to 48 hours before laying. Sheltered storage on site, in a well-ventilated stack, clear of the ground and protected from splashes, is necessary.

2. Preparing the substrate: the secondary framework

The secondary framework is the support to which the cladding boards are fixed. It is an intermediate structure between the supporting structure and the cladding. The quality of the framing is essential to increase the lifespan of the cladding. Secondary framing is made up of cleats fixed to the structure of the building itself. These cleats, treated to CLASS 2, have very specific dimensions to guarantee the solidity of the structure and the effectiveness of the air space:

• Width greater than or equal to 30 mm
• Minimum thickness of 27 mm

They must be fixed with a minimum spacing of 40 cm and a maximum of 65 cm.

Please note that the layout of the cleats depends on the type of installation chosen:

• Horizontal installation: single vertical battens
• Vertical installation: double battens for better ventilation.

A rain screen should then be fitted. Remember, the primary function of cladding is not to be watertight. It is the rainscreen that makes the façade watertight. The rainscreen is a film that protects against rain and wind. Its use is compulsory (except for walls that are already watertight, such as concrete walls).

The rainscreen is fixed when the secondary framing and battens are installed.

3. Laying the cladding boards

The boards are fixed to the battens using stainless steel nails or screws.

• For boards of less than 125 mm (effective width), only one fixing is required (concealed fixing).
• For boards wider than 125 mm (effective width), two fixings are required (visible fixings).

For your cladding project, whether new build or renovation, our Sivalbp teams are on hand to advise you on your choices. Vertical or horizontal wood cladding, don't hesitate to contact us. Our experts are here to answer all your questions and advise you on your project.

Read our wood cladding guide, which contains advice on installing wood cladding.