Buying guide for wood cladding species

Are you planning to fit out a façade with wood cladding? Choosing wood cladding is both simple and technical. There are many different types of wood, from a wide range of geographical origins. Not all wood species have the same characteristics. And it's often hard to find your way around this diversity. That's why it's important to know what parameters to take into account when choosing wood cladding to suit your needs: durability, aesthetics, uniqueness and price. In this guide, you'll find all the answers from our expert Yvon Debeaumont, along with the characteristics and specific features of our wood species for wood cladding. Follow the guide!

Key points to remember:

• The choice of wood species for cladding or panelling depends on four major criteria: durability, stability, aesthetics, and budget.
• Some species are naturally resistant (red cedar, larch, Douglas fir), while others require treatment or heat modification (northern pine, spruce).
• The woods offered by Sivalbp (Red Cedar, Douglas Fir, Larch, Spruce, Northern Pine thermo) cover all needs, from high-end cladding to more economical solutions.
• Maintenance varies depending on the species: wood left natural will gray over time, while a finish or treatment can preserve its original appearance.

Softwoods

Softwoods are derived from conifers. In Europe and in France, we are the main suppliers of softwood. Softwood has many advantages. They are strong, light and resistant to deformation, making them suitable for a wide range of construction applications at affordable prices. They are mainly used in carpentry, joinery, wood cladding and panelling.

Hardwoods   

Hardwoods are resistant woods. Hardwood species account for around two-thirds of France's wooded area. Today, hardwood species are mainly used in parquetry, joinery and cabinet making. The best-known hardwoods are oak, chestnut, maple and beech.

Exotic woods

Exotic woods come from more distant lands, mainly Africa, South America and Oceania. The best known are teak, wenge, itauba and ipe. They are renowned for being extremely hard-wearing, durable and rot-proof. The downside of these woods is that they are often very expensive and have a high carbon footprint.

It is vital to be aware of the different classes of wood depending on how the material will be used. To guarantee durability and resistance, the choice of wood species should always be appropriate to its end use. Wood used for exterior cladding and exposed to the elements should be more resistant than wood used for interior joinery, for example.

There are 5 classes of use, corresponding to the level of exposure of the wood to water and its risk of deterioration.

Each species has its own intrinsic qualities that give it a so-called natural or conferred durability.

Some species are not naturally durable for a particular use (see use class). This durability must therefore be conferred by appropriate treatment: this is known as conferred durability.

Consult our guide dedicated to the use classes of wood to find out everything you need to know about the uses and durability of different types of wood.

We're now going to tell you about the different types of wood we use at Sivalbp to make our wood cladding and panelling.

At Sivalbp, we only offer softwood. To help you choose the species best suited to your project, we have listed all the useful information in this guide : characteristics, use, installation, ageing, maintenance and price by species. Each species has its own article so that you can easily find the information you need to make your choice.

Red Cedar: the most resistant, top-of-the-range softwood species

With its contrasting shades and distinctive scent, red cedar is the most durable wood species. Undoubtedly the most upmarket species, red cedar will add a unique cachet to your projects.

Consult our dedicated guide to red cedar to find out all there is to know about this wood species.

Scots pine: the most commonly used wood species

One of the most widely used woods in the construction industry, Scots Pine is perfectly suited to use in wood cladding. Scots pine is either self-cleaned (chemical treatment) or thermostabilised. Sivalbp offers a wide range of Ecothermo pine cladding. Our EcoThermo process is environmentally friendly, giving the boards exceptional stability and durability in the face of increasingly extreme climatic changes (severe drought, temperature variations, humidity). As a mid-range wood cladding product, it can be adapted to all exterior design projects. Consult our guide dedicated to Scots Pine.

Douglas fir: wood made in France

At Sivalbp, we only use Douglas fir from French forests. Solid and attractive, Douglas fir is frequently used for wood cladding. It offers good value for money and will suit all budgets. See our guide to Douglas fir.

Spruce: good value for money

Nordic Spruce is a very affordable wood. Combined with a saturated finish, it is perfect for use in wood cladding. For more information on the characteristics of this species, consult our guide dedicated to Spruce.

Larch: the hardest, most durable softwood

Larch is a high-quality, naturally durable and fire-resistant wood. It is particularly suitable for wood cladding. To find out more, consult our guide dedicated to Larch.

Each species has its own characteristics. Price, diversity of grain and colour are just some of the characteristics of each wood species, offering an infinite range of customisation possibilities.

This table shows the main advantages and disadvantages of each species used by Sivalbp to manufacture our wood cladding.

At Sivalbp, we make it a point of honour to offer our customers a range of hard-wearing, high-performance, high-quality wood species. Whatever your budget and desires, our team of professionals will help you choose your wood cladding.

Got a project? Contact us!