It's good having a south-facing garden but the sun can take its toll on
materials exposed to it.

I have a small area (about 3sqm) of timber shiplap cladding that has
seen better days (peeling paint and weathered wood) and would be simpler
to replace [1] than refurbish. Replacing like for like would give the
same problem in a few years. The question is, what would be the best
material for a 'fit and forget' solution?
Thoughts so far include:
Varnished hardwood - would still deteriorate in time
uPVC shilap - shiny white wouldn't look good and creaks nadtily when it
expands in the sun, but I can't see any sensible info on how well the
darker foil-faced versions last.
Fibre cement cladding - plenty of finishes available but seems to be
painted, not coloured throughout the thickness, so would possibly give
the same problem again.
Bricks - a lot of faffing to do, given the location, and I'm struggling
to source bricks that match the house for other purposes.
Synthetic slates - should be pretty sun-resistant but may be challenging
to hang vertically.

In the US, they use aluminium 'siding' that lasts well, provided it
doesn't suffer any impact damage. I've never seen it in the UK.

[1] As I'm in a conservation area, I really shouldn't have any sort of
cladding anywhere, apparently (wtf is that rule about?), but I don't
think anyone will notice on a like-for-like replacement at the back of
the house.

On 13/03/2015 19:25, GMM wrote:
It's good having a south-facing garden but the sun can take its toll on
materials exposed to it.

I have a small area (about 3sqm) of timber shiplap cladding that has
seen better days (peeling paint and weathered wood) and would be simpler
to replace [1] than refurbish. Replacing like for like would give the
same problem in a few years. The question is, what would be the best
material for a 'fit and forget' solution?
Thoughts so far include:
Varnished hardwood - would still deteriorate in time

Use a timber that doesn't need a protective coat, such as oak or western
red cedar.

uPVC shilap - shiny white wouldn't look good and creaks nadtily when it
expands in the sun, but I can't see any sensible info on how well the
darker foil-faced versions last.

Horrible stuff.

Fibre cement cladding - plenty of finishes available but seems to be
painted, not coloured throughout the thickness, so would possibly give
the same problem again.

Ditto.

Bricks - a lot of faffing to do, given the location, and I'm struggling
to source bricks that match the house for other purposes.
Synthetic slates - should be pretty sun-resistant but may be challenging
to hang vertically.

Vertically hung slate is widely used as a wall covering in areas where
natural slate is common. I've seen some very decorative slate work on
walls in Germany.

In the US, they use aluminium 'siding' that lasts well, provided it
doesn't suffer any impact damage. I've never seen it in the UK.

That is because we call it cladding:

http://www.vulcansystems.co.uk/vulcalap/

Looks a bit industrial to me.

--
Colin Bignell

On 13/03/15 19:25, GMM wrote:
It's good having a south-facing garden but the sun can take its toll on
materials exposed to it.

I have a small area (about 3sqm) of timber shiplap cladding that has
seen better days (peeling paint and weathered wood) and would be simpler
to replace [1] than refurbish. Replacing like for like would give the
same problem in a few years. The question is, what would be the best
material for a 'fit and forget' solution?

yew hedge




--
Everything you read in newspapers is absolutely true, except for the
rare story of which you happen to have first-hand knowledge. €“ Erwin Knoll

/*The question is, what would be the best
material for a 'fit and forget' solution?/q

Depends how you want it to look....

Cedar shingles?

Treated featheredge/shiplap?

Jim K

On 13/03/2015 19:49, Nightjar "cpb"@ wrote:
On 13/03/2015 19:25, GMM wrote:
It's good having a south-facing garden but the sun can take its toll on
materials exposed to it.

I have a small area (about 3sqm) of timber shiplap cladding that has
seen better days (peeling paint and weathered wood) and would be simpler
to replace [1] than refurbish. Replacing like for like would give the
same problem in a few years. The question is, what would be the best
material for a 'fit and forget' solution?
Thoughts so far include:
Varnished hardwood - would still deteriorate in time

Use a timber that doesn't need a protective coat, such as oak or western
red cedar.

uPVC shilap - shiny white wouldn't look good and creaks nadtily when it
expands in the sun, but I can't see any sensible info on how well the
darker foil-faced versions last.

Horrible stuff.

Fibre cement cladding - plenty of finishes available but seems to be
painted, not coloured throughout the thickness, so would possibly give
the same problem again.

Ditto.

Bricks - a lot of faffing to do, given the location, and I'm struggling
to source bricks that match the house for other purposes.
Synthetic slates - should be pretty sun-resistant but may be challenging
to hang vertically.

Vertically hung slate is widely used as a wall covering in areas where
natural slate is common. I've seen some very decorative slate work on
walls in Germany.

In the US, they use aluminium 'siding' that lasts well, provided it
doesn't suffer any impact damage. I've never seen it in the UK.

That is because we call it cladding:

http://www.vulcansystems.co.uk/vulcalap/

Looks a bit industrial to me.

They seem to call it weatherboard, but that's the stuff. Ubiquitous in
the US but rare here. I think the final appearance depends a lot on the
colour and texture. There are a few photos of applications that look
less industrial but in teh main, I would agree from those illustrations.
Possibly because they want to seel large quantities in that sort of
market.

On 13/03/2015 21:05, The Natural Philosopher wrote:
On 13/03/15 19:25, GMM wrote:
It's good having a south-facing garden but the sun can take its toll on
materials exposed to it.

I have a small area (about 3sqm) of timber shiplap cladding that has
seen better days (peeling paint and weathered wood) and would be simpler
to replace [1] than refurbish. Replacing like for like would give the
same problem in a few years. The question is, what would be the best
material for a 'fit and forget' solution?

yew hedge




A bit tricky halfway up a wall....;-)

On 13/03/2015 22:03, JimK wrote:
/ The question is, what would be the best
material for a 'fit and forget' solution?/q

Depends how you want it to look....

Cedar shingles?

Treated featheredge/shiplap?

Jim K

I was sort of thinking that pretty much any timber in full sun is likely
to shrink then, probably, split etc.

JimK wrote:
/ The question is, what would be the best
material for a 'fit and forget' solution?/q

Depends how you want it to look....

Cedar shingles?

Treated featheredge/shiplap?

Jim K


As the others are saying, Cedar, in some countries they don't even treat
it, it just goes a silvery colour left natural.

In message , GMM
writes
On 13/03/2015 19:49, Nightjar "cpb"@ wrote:
On 13/03/2015 19:25, GMM wrote:
It's good having a south-facing garden but the sun can take its toll on
materials exposed to it.

I have a small area (about 3sqm) of timber shiplap cladding that has
seen better days (peeling paint and weathered wood) and would be simpler
to replace [1] than refurbish. Replacing like for like would give the
same problem in a few years. The question is, what would be the best
material for a 'fit and forget' solution?
Thoughts so far include:
Varnished hardwood - would still deteriorate in time

Use a timber that doesn't need a protective coat, such as oak or western
red cedar.

uPVC shilap - shiny white wouldn't look good and creaks nadtily when it
expands in the sun, but I can't see any sensible info on how well the
darker foil-faced versions last.

Horrible stuff.

Fibre cement cladding - plenty of finishes available but seems to be
painted, not coloured throughout the thickness, so would possibly give
the same problem again.

Ditto.

Bricks - a lot of faffing to do, given the location, and I'm struggling
to source bricks that match the house for other purposes.
Synthetic slates - should be pretty sun-resistant but may be challenging
to hang vertically.

Vertically hung slate is widely used as a wall covering in areas where
natural slate is common. I've seen some very decorative slate work on
walls in Germany.

In the US, they use aluminium 'siding' that lasts well, provided it
doesn't suffer any impact damage. I've never seen it in the UK.

That is because we call it cladding:

http://www.vulcansystems.co.uk/vulcalap/

Looks a bit industrial to me.

They seem to call it weatherboard, but that's the stuff. Ubiquitous in
the US but rare here. I think the final appearance depends a lot on
the colour and texture. There are a few photos of applications that
look less industrial but in teh main, I would agree from those
illustrations. Possibly because they want to seel large quantities in
that sort of market.

My wife's aunt lives in Canada and has it on her house, looks absolutely
fine (and of course, lots of other houses around with similar siding),
but as you say I guess that was down to the profile and the finish
--
Chris French

GMM wrote:

Synthetic slates - should be pretty sun-resistant but may be challenging
to hang vertically.


I did my shed roof in this stuff:
https://www.roofingsuperstore.co.uk/...o-slate-1.html

I expect it to last for decades. It's flexible. Rubbery might be the
best word. So not hard to hang / mount. Just bang some nails in.

On Saturday, March 14, 2015 at 1:58:18 PM UTC, Fevric J. Glandules wrote:
GMM wrote:

Synthetic slates - should be pretty sun-resistant but may be challenging
to hang vertically.


I did my shed roof in this stuff:
https://www.roofingsuperstore.co.uk/...o-slate-1.html

I expect it to last for decades. It's flexible. Rubbery might be the
best word. So not hard to hang / mount. Just bang some nails in.

shingles. Or even inner tubes.

On Sat, 14 Mar 2015 11:00:57 +0000, GMM wrote:

I was sort of thinking that pretty much any timber in full sun is likely
to shrink then, probably, split etc.

Different woods behave differently. A thin bit of fast grown
"softwood" sliced from a log like slicing a loaf along its length
will move and split.

Decent bit of slow grown hardwood, properly seasoned/quarter cut from
the log will be far far more stable and durable. As others have said
cedar is the one used for shingles, may have to get the right species
of cedar mind...

--
Cheers
Dave.