Timber iQ Dec 2017 - Jan 2018 // Issue:35 | Page 35

FEATURES
Locally it is used aesthetically.
It is very important to look at the product very closely and
its characteristics for durable outdoor applications.
Another vital factor is sustainability, which means making
sure that your timber is environmentally friendly and
locally sourced,” says Prior.
Prior explains that there are three options that you can
choose from to clad a structure. “Softwood, hardwood and
modified woods,” he says.
Modified wood, like rhino wood, is softwood that is
turned into hardwood using patented technology to
achieve the same and even enhanced characteristics of
threatened hardwoods. When you select wood for an
exterior application, you need to consider its durability,
especially its ability to withstand all the natural elements
ranging from extreme heat to extreme cold and often
wet periods.
“Traditionally softwood was used and it required
ongoing maintenance. Then people discovered hardwoods
sourced from threatened rainforests, often from the other
side of the world,” says Prior.
Hardwood has decreased in popularity due to a much
greater awareness of the negative environmental impact
the destruction of these forests has on the continued
existence of our planet; a key reason Prior recommends
modified rhino wood, as the ideal option for a cladding
application. “What’s great about modified wood is that it
doesn’t require maintenance. Specifically, with cladding,
you really should select a product that is low
maintenance,” he advises.
According to Labuschagne pine is the easiest timber to
get around and it is readily available. “Clients can get pine
that is CCA treated with Hazard class H3 or they can buy it
untreated,” he says.
You do need to select a high-quality timber whether it’s
for internal or external use. “All options compare on price,
application, durability as well as quality. Softwood is a
cheaper option (pine or something like that), but it requires
maintenance and may not be stable or long lasting like
hardwood, which is slightly more expensive,” says Prior.
NewTechWood suggests using capped wood composite
cladding which doesn’t require maintenance. ‘This type of
timber cladding is not made from real wood, although it
happens to look just like it. It is used on the exterior of
both commercial and residential buildings for its aesthetic
appeal, as well as its practical functionality,’ it says.
BUILDING CORRECTLY
GG Timbers says that if built according to SANS10082
standards, it is structurally very strong and durable. Prior
assets the same sentiment stating that installation does
require detail.
“You need your details to be correct, your orientations,
spacing of joists or structure you’re putting cladding on,”
he says. A clad is not just glued onto a wall or structure it’s
// DECEMBER 2017 / JANUARY 2018 33