ᐅ Alternative to wood cladding on the exterior wall

Created on: 16 Apr 2018 16:57
L
Lückenfüller
The planned exterior wall of our new four-unit building is expected to be mostly single-layered, with some sections painted dark gray. In the architect’s visualizations, it looks modern but also somewhat... boring...

We find the possible accentuation with wood applications much more appealing (an example is attached). However, in a weathered appearance, it already looks only half as nice.

Does anyone have ideas on how this brown color can be preserved despite rain and some sunlight exposure (north side of the building)? Repainting every four years seems too frequent, especially since scaffolding would be needed immediately.

Or are you aware of alternatives, for example made of plastic?

Maybe some of you have experience with this!
N
Nordlys
17 Apr 2018 13:24
First, choose larch. It weathers to a silvery gray, which doesn’t look cheap.
A treatment with Olassy UV Primer and Finish could last several years. It has proven effective around swimming pools and on ship decks.
L
Lückenfüller
17 Apr 2018 17:20
Thank you in advance for the feedback!

Despite searching, I have not found any plastic "wood substitute" (used here in a negative sense) suitable for exterior facades. It seems there is a small gap in the market here.

So it will probably come down to larch wood, along with the UV protection recommended by Nordlys.
M
miho
19 Apr 2018 13:18
The graying of larch wood is mainly caused by UV radiation. So, on the north side, you're already at an advantage, and using an oil with pigments to protect against UV will help preserve it a bit longer. That's what I would use.

Under these conditions, plastic materials will also likely hold up better than on the south side. At the Infineon Campus near Munich, the buildings were clad with a type of wood-look plastic panels. They especially suffered significant damage and discoloration on the south side after about 15 years. I’m not sure how high-quality the material was. However, in some areas, they now look quite bad.
N
Nordlys
19 Apr 2018 13:23
Guys, UV-resistant plastic still needs to be invented... it fades just like wood does, but ends up looking really shabby, whereas silver-gray larch at least retains some dignity. Like a silver-gray person, Karsten