Enhancing your garden room or shed

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:

• Cedar
• Oak
• Larch
• Frake
• Chestnut

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.