Let's go!

Cladding can transform outdoor buildings, turning an old shed or an unused garden room into beautiful outbuildings. With different aesthetic styles and plenty of functionality, it is the ideal way to breathe new life into an old garden building. But where do you get started?

To inspire your next cladding project, we have put together our top tips for enhancing your garden room or shed with sustainable timber cladding.

Why Use Cladding on Garden Buildings?

An outbuilding which has fallen into disrepair can quickly ruin the vibe of your entire garden, creating a rundown look which spoils the whole effect. On the other hand, a freshly wooden clad, well-maintained garden room or shed can quickly elevate an outdoor space.

Adding new timber cladding to an old building is a great way of breathing life back into what you already have. It is also protective, providing a new, solid outer layer to keep what is inside your space safe from water damage and pests.

Timber cladding is a durable option which will not require too much maintenance when you choose the right timber species. It is beautiful, has a natural aesthetic, and can add a lovely layer of thermal insulation to your garden room or shed.

Timber Cladding Design Ideas for Outbuildings

To kickstart your timber cladding project, consider the overall aesthetic of your garden. This will influence the cladding design you end up with, creating a cohesive space which flows seamlessly.

A contemporary garden, for example, might benefit from smaller, more uniform timber cladding boards, often laid vertically. You will get away with more interesting colour choices too, from black to beige stains for an eye-catching look.

A rustic garden will suit more natural timber weatherboards, where the knots and grain are left to shine through in a horizontal direction. Bigger cladding boards with uneven edges will look perfect on your garden room and can be left to weather naturally to a beautiful silver-grey, or kept looking fresh with a natural-toned stain or oil.

We recommend checking out garden magazines, Pinterest and our own gallery of past projects for more inspiration.

Choosing Your Garden Room Timber Species

Whether for a shed or a garden room, the timber you use for your outdoor building needs to be durable. A timber species which can handle rain, snow, pests and fungus with ease is an ideal choice, making it well-suited for external use. Some of our top suggestions include:

You can choose a less hardy timber for your cladding, but be prepared for more maintenance! By picking a durable species, you will need to carry out less work to keep your cladding fresh and sturdy for years to come.

Featheredge vs Shiplap Cladding

The two main profiles for timber cladding on outbuildings are:

  • Featheredge – a traditional ‘fence-like’ cladding look in which a tapered edge on each board allows an overlapping finish.
  • Shiplap – a cladding in which the boards interlock perfectly for a flat, even surface

Featheredge is a more old-fashioned and traditional option for cladding which lends a rustic charm to garden rooms and sheds, often painted in black. Because it overlaps completely, it provides a solid barrier against water, while the tapered design aids water runoff.

Shiplap has the same water resistance as featheredge since each board has a rebate for the next to overlap it. It is easier to install for DIY projects and has a neater, more contemporary aesthetic as you can sometimes install it without the screws being visible.

Find Sustainable Timber Cladding at EcoChoice

At EcoChoice, we are timber cladding experts. Whether you are looking to refresh an old shed, upgrade a garden room or you have a completely different project in mind, we can help you find the right timber for the job. To learn more about our timber species or start an order, get in touch with our friendly team today.

Upgrade sheds or garden rooms with timber cladding

Ask Joe! Expert industry advice

Unsure which timer is best for your project?

Our timber experts have years of experience and will be able to match the perfect species to your project, as well as provide a quote for sustainable timber at highly competitive prices.

Frequently asked questions

Do you supply timber for domestic uses?

Yes, we supply timber for domestic applications as well as commercial and public constructions. From garden decking to shed cladding, we will be happy to supply smaller deliveries for home use.

Is your timber FSC-certified?

Yes, all timber we supply is FSC or PEFC certified and sourced from independently verified responsibly managed forests. If we can’t find your request in FSC/PEFC certified timber we’ll suggest an alternative that is certified or clearly note that the offer is minimum EUTR.

Where does EcoChoice deliver to?

EcoChoice delivers to construction sites, warehouses and homes across the UK, as long as there’s access and unloading for our trucks.

What are the best timber species for exterior use?

There are many different timber species suitable for exterior use and which is the best for your project depends on your requirements. In general, though, we recommend EkkiGreenheartOpepe and Oak for heavier civil/marine uses. For intermediary external use such as decking, where the timber needs to be both strong and durable but not on the same level as civil engineering (bridgespiling, etc) we usually supply CumaruIpe, Jatoba, and Balau. And for the lighter exterior use where the timber is non-structural such as cladding, we deliver CedarLarchThermowood and others.

Which timber is the most durable?

Durability Class 1 timbers are the most durable. This of course depends on the use (hazard) class they’ll be in service for. For direct ground and water contact such as sleepers, fenders, marine piling, etc, Ekki and Greenheart are known to be the most durable timbers available. For decking and cladding where there’s no direct ground contact (use class 3) there’s a much wider range of timbers such Larch, Cedar, Thermo modified Pine or Ash and others.

What’s the best timber for internal cladding?

Internal cladding, where your timber is not in ground and not exposed to the elements can be classed as either use-class 1 or 2 – in which case most timbers will meet this durability criteria. That is not to say they’ll be the best, since internal environments have lower humidity (moisture) levels than outside. So in these cases, it’s best to go for a kiln-dried timber cladding board as these are more stable and delivered already in lower MC (moisture content) than the usual fresh sawn timbers sent to external applications. A word of caution – as timber reacts to variations in moisture, it’s best to avoid cladding any areas inside your bathroom.

How can I make decking less slippery?

The first thing is to ensure your deck boards are kept clean from leaves and other debris which will, over time, cover the surface and make it more slippery. Grooved boards can be used to improve grip if installed and used perpendicular to traffic, so especially useful in narrow passages and footbridges. Lastly, you can add our Grip-Choice strips: these are a mix of epoxy with aggregates that add gripping ridges to your deck area. Gripchoice is an easy way to make decking less slippery and safer, especially over large areas or where there’s high traffic. We can pre-install Grip-Choice strips for your decking before delivery or ship the strips separately to add to your existing deck’s grooves as a retro-fit solution.

What wood machining services do you offer?

We can offer planing, sawing, drilling and profiling of rough-sawn wood to any profile you require: from handrails to large port fenders.

Can you supply pre-drilled timber?

Yes, we will be happy to provide pre-drilled timber which is tailored to your needs for quick installation, thus saving you valuable time on site.

What cladding profiles do you supply?

We provide a wide range of cladding profiles, including tongue and groove, featheredge and shiplap. You can check the standard profiles here – but we can also match or custom make profiles to suit your specific needs.

Does timber change colour?

Yes, timber is well-known for changing colour over time. Some species can darken quickly right after installation, and like most untreated wood will eventually weather to a beautiful silver-grey. Interior timber is less likely to change colour (depending on conditions), and timber can be stained, painted or treated with UV-resistant oils to reduce colour change.

Do I need to treat exterior timber?

Some timbers such as Oak and Ekki, can withstand the strains of exterior use without any treatment. However, to extend the lifespan and maintain the aesthetic of your wood, we do recommend treating your timber with stains and oils. Pre-treated timber, such as ThermoWood and OrganoWood, are low-maintenance options which are more durable, but can have their life service extended by applying a clean and stain maintenance schedule.

Do I need to treat interior timber?

Depends on what area the timber is being used. For floor joists and timber rafters, it is common to see timber treated, or least very well kiln-dried. Other uses such as flooring may benefit from varnishing while internal timber cladding for decorative purposes shouldn’t require any treatment other than if you want to change its colour with different types of stains or oils.

Where are you based?

We’re based in Cambridge, UK, and coordinate multiple sawmills all over the world to manufacture your order. We then organise delivery with a range of hauliers so that your orders gets to your site on time.

What are the usual decking sizes?

Timber decking is usually 21x140mm or similar. For heavier applications where there’s more load and traffic, we deliver 35 or 45mm thick boards (such as Hastings Pier). Narrower boards are also possible: 95-90mm is a standard width – but we can manufacture whatever size you require.

What are the usual cladding sizes?

Typical cladding section sizes are 18×95 and 18x145mm although we can always custom make a section to suit your project’s design requirements. That includes waney edge boards in Oak or Chestnut as well as extra wide 195mm boards.

Trusted by

What our customers say about us

Good quality, great service, fast delivery!

5

Marinella Li

Always helpful! One of our valued TDCA DeckMark and CladMark accredited supplier members which means their quality procedures are routinely audited and stand up to scrutiny giving you extra peace of mind.

5

Janet Sycamore

Having needed the supply of cladding, decking boards and other specified timbers through out the year Eco choice have been very helpful in sourcing the specified timbers and quantities required at a very competitive price.

5

Tim Saunders

Great quality, service and price. A pleasure to deal with. I would highly recommend Eco Choice.

5

Emma Hurrell

Fantastic company- Mike and the team are the best in the business- worked with them for many years.

5

Prem Raja

Always reliable and quality products, easy to deal with company.

5

Stone Zone

4.9

Average rating on Google Reviews

  • 6 years ago

Always reliable and quality products, easy to deal with company.

Stone Zone

  • 9 years ago

Wonderful guys!

Nicola Edmead

  • 9 years ago

Great service, quality products and very easy to deal with. Thank you.

Malcolm Coury

  • 9 years ago

Excellent service and outstanding product

Cindy Dicks

Your enquiry

This field is for validation purposes and should be left unchanged.
Name(Required)

Contact us today

Opening hours

Mondays: 09:00 – 17:00
Tuesdays: 09:00 – 17:00
Wednesdays: 09:00 – 17:00
Thursdays: 09:00 – 17:00
Fridays: 09:00 – 16:00
Saturdays: Closed
Sundays: Closed