Over the past three years Tesco have been building low Carbon Eco stores, the majority of these stores have been clad in Siberian Larch all in the same unique profile.

All of the stores so far have been clad in Siberian Larch (Larix Sibirica) which is a slow growing deciduous coniferous tree grown in Siberia (western Russia). It is very resistant to rot & decay and will last 60 years plus with no additional treatments.

All of the Siberian larch Bennetts Timber procures is FSC Certified, which means it has full chain of custody and is from a sustainable managed forest.

Bennetts Timber are proud to have supplied the larch cladding for Tesco’s first zero carbon store at Ramsey in Cambridgeshire. The store was built with a wooden frame, timber wall and the external Larch cladding.

Every cubic metre of steel replaced with timber save almost a tonne of carbon as timber is much more energy efficient to produce.

Since Bennett’s supplied the first store in 2008 we have supplied stores as far as Northern Ireland, Aberdeen, Devon and many more in the UK.

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If you are choosing between the many different options for timber external claddings for your home, you may have heard Thermowood Cladding mentioned and wondered what it is. How do you know if it is a better choice for you than other building materials?

Here are some answers to a few of the common questions about Thermowood Cladding.

How is Thermowood Made?

Thermowood cladding comes from Scandinavian Softwood that has been treated with a heat process. When Thermowood cladding is made, it is subjected to pressure and heat, as well as nitrogen and water vapour to control the drying process. This treatment is carefully observed and can take anywhere from 24 to 28 hours. The wood is subjected to temperatures ranging from 180 up to 230 degrees Celsius depending on the species.

Basically, when the wood is subjected to very high heats, this dries it out deep into the core. Any moisture and resin is removed from the wood. With lower moisture comes higher weather resistance, meaning that thermally treated wood can be used for outdoor purposes such as facades.

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There is an incredibly hardy tree which is native to the cold Siberian regions of Western Russia, known as the Siberian Larch. Builders in the UK have tapped into the durable qualities of this wood for many uses, such as shingles, shakes and larch cladding.

Grown in the Land of Ice and Snow

Siberian Larch originates from one of the coldest and most inhospitable regions of Europe, a place where temperatures once plunged down to a record -68 degrees Celsius. The larch tree has evolved over the years of harsh winters to withstand this type of extreme environment, which is why larch cladding has such great insulation properties.

Also as a result of the cold weather, larch trees grow very slowly, resulting in tight growth rings and a very dense wood. To withstand the winters, the wood has to be incredibly hard, making it one of the most durable softwoods available in the world today. Most builders use larch cladding in situations where the wood will need to withstand physical damage. Larch cladding is almost 100% impact resistant and will create a durable surface which will last for decades if properly maintained.

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Ever wonder why Western Red Cedar cladding has become one of the most popular choices for external and internal cladding in the last few decades? The truth is that cedar cladding has a long history, and this beautiful wood has been used for many centuries by the aboriginal people of British Columbia's Pacific Coast in Canada.

The Tree of Life

The native people of BC relied so much on cedar that they named it the "Tree of Life." Not only was this tree invested with spiritual significance, it was also one of the most versatile building materials that they had access to, and the different First Nations groups throughout BC discovered many creative ways to use this tree to their advantage.

The wood from the cedar tree has been used in native societies for thousands of years for as many different uses as possible, including cedar bark rope, baskets, and clothing. Long houses, the traditional centre of native society, were constructed with massive cedar logs and large slabs of bark were used for cedar cladding. Cedar logs were also carved into ceremonial totem poles and masks with faces evoking the likeness of animals and spirits. Some groups of First Nations people, such as the Kwakiutl, would even make their canoes out of cedar bark.

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If you need cladding for a new or old building you could do a lot worse than using cedar cladding, it is beautiful to look at, durable, easy to maintain and not difficult to install. However, you do need to buy good quality cedar cladding to get the most out of this material. Buying cladding made from cheap knotty, fast grown, poorly conditioned cedar is a false economy.

Only buy slow grown, sustainable cedar cladding from well established companies. Look for companies who have good customer testimonials and are members of trade organisations like the Timber Trade Association. Speak to the supplier before buying, so if you are buying online only use those companies who include a phone number. Look for a company who offers installation advice. A phone number and/or installation advice is a good indication that the company is genuinely interested and supportive of their customers, something that is crucial when spending so much money.

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The use of cedar cladding is growing in popularity around the world and with good reason. There are many advantages to using cedar cladding over using other materials to clad and protect a building. One obvious advantage of cedar cladding is that it is a natural product and a sustainable product. This means that if you use it you are protecting the environment and reducing the carbon footprint of your building.

However, perhaps more important is the fact that cedar cladding is a very effective insulator, so you save money on heating and cooling bills and again help the environment. It is easy to install, requires very little maintenance and is relatively cheap to buy because, if installed well and looked after, it lasts for decades. Best of all is cedar cladding looks great on practically any type of building. You can stain it any colour, but it looks best when its natural reddish colour is left to fade naturally to a beautiful silvery grey.

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