Timber Cladding Specialists

Thinking about building a sauna? What should you actually budget?

In the UK in 2026, sauna costs can vary dramatically:

🔥 Indoor sauna kit: £1,800–£3,500
🔥 Barrel sauna: £2,500–£6,000
🔥 Garden sauna cabin: £8,000–£18,000 installed
🔥 Bespoke garden sauna: £15,000–£35,000+

Why such a big difference?

Because you're not just paying for four timber walls and a heater.

A proper sauna build can include:

✔ Structural timber frame
✔ Insulation and vapour barrier
✔ Interior sauna cladding
✔ Bench boards
✔ Exterior weather-resistant cladding
✔ Sauna heater and controls
✔ Electrical installation
✔ Groundworks
✔ Decking
✔ Changing room or cold-plunge area

The timber specification also makes a major difference to both cost and long-term performance.

Our complete 2026 guide breaks down where the money goes and compares indoor, barrel, garden and fully bespoke saunas.

Read the full guide:

https://timbercladdingspecialists.co.uk/blog-article/how-much-does-a-sauna-cost-uk

How Much Does a Sauna Cost UK 2026? — Garden, Indoor, Barrel & Build Costs How much does a sauna cost UK 2026? Garden sauna from £3,000, barrel sauna from £2,500, indoor sauna from £1,800. Full cost breakdown — timber, installation, running costs and which type gives best value.

Timber cladding problems usually start at the junctions — not in the middle of the boards.

Corners, windows, doors, base details and roof junctions are where water can enter, ventilation can be restricted and otherwise good cladding systems can begin to fail.

Our latest technical guide explains how these areas should be designed correctly.

It covers:

✔ External corner posts
✔ Window and door reveals
✔ Head flashings
✔ Base and DPC details
✔ Ventilated cavity construction
✔ Horizontal and vertical wall sections
✔ Cavity barrier detailing
✔ Common design mistakes

We have also made standard timber cladding detail drawings available to download free of charge.

For architects, developers and contractors requiring more detailed support, we can also produce project-specific PDF and DWG drawing packages.

The best time to resolve cladding details is before the material is ordered — not once the installation team is already on site.

Read the full guide:

https://timbercladdingspecialists.co.uk/blog-article/timber-cladding-detail-design-uk

Timber Cladding Detail Design UK 2026 — Corner, Reveal, Base & Junction Details Timber cladding detail design UK 2026 — corner details, window and door reveals, base details, cavity barriers and junction design. Free DWG detail drawings. Larch and ThermoWood.

Installing timber cladding? Get these details wrong and even premium timber can fail early.

The biggest problems we see aren't usually caused by the timber itself — they're caused by incorrect installation.

Before fixing your first board, make sure you've considered:

✔ A4 stainless-steel fixings
✔ Correct breather membrane
✔ Ventilated cavity
✔ Proper counter battens and support battens
✔ Pre-drilling near board ends
✔ Correct fixing spacing
✔ Insect mesh at cavity openings
✔ Minimum 150mm clearance from finished ground level

And perhaps the simplest rule of all:

Get the first board perfectly level. Every board above follows it.

Our complete 2026 guide explains how to install timber cladding correctly, step by step, including Siberian Larch, ThermoWood, Nordic Spruce and Shou Sugi Ban.

Read the guide:

https://timbercladdingspecialists.co.uk/blog-article/how-to-fix-timber-cladding-installation

How to Fix Timber Cladding UK 2026 — Installation, Fixings & Batten Guide How to fix timber cladding UK 2026 — complete installation guide. Batten systems, stainless steel fixings, hidden fix systems, spacing, membrane and step by step installation. Larch, ThermoWood and Nordic spruce.

Thinking about vertical timber cladding?

It's one of the best ways to give a home, extension or garden room a more contemporary architectural appearance.

Vertical boards emphasise height, create strong shadow lines and can completely change how an elevation is perceived.

Popular options include:

✔ Siberian Larch shadow gap
✔ ThermoWood vertical cladding
✔ Tongue & Groove
✔ Board-on-board / board & batten
✔ Open-joint rainscreen
✔ Black or charred timber cladding

But there is one installation detail that's particularly important:

Vertical boards need horizontal support battens.

The correct system uses vertical counter battens to maintain drainage and ventilation, followed by horizontal battens for fixing the cladding.

Our complete 2026 guide explains the design options, suitable species, profiles and correct installation method.

Read it here:

https://timbercladdingspecialists.co.uk/blog-article/vertical-timber-cladding-uk-guide

Vertical Timber Cladding UK 2026 — Species, Profiles, Ideas & Installation Guide Vertical timber cladding UK 2026 — best species, profiles, design ideas and installation guide. Siberian larch, ThermoWood, shadow gap, shiplap and board on board. Complete vertical cladding guide.

Planning a barn conversion? The cladding can completely define the finished building.

Traditional agricultural character or sharp contemporary architecture?

The right answer depends on the building, its location and—very importantly—the planning conditions.

Our latest barn cladding guide looks at some of the most popular choices:

✔ Feather edge for an authentic agricultural appearance
✔ Waney edge for a rustic, traditional façade
✔ Shiplap for a cleaner interpretation of traditional boarding
✔ Shadow gap for contemporary barn conversions

We also compare Siberian Larch, ThermoWood and Nordic Spruce, together with natural, weathered-grey and black finishes.

Whether you're converting an old agricultural building into a home, holiday property or commercial space—or recladding a working barn—the specification needs to balance appearance, durability, maintenance and planning requirements.

Read our complete 2026 guide:

https://timbercladdingspecialists.co.uk/blog-article/barn-cladding-uk-2026

Barn Cladding UK 2026 — Best Timber, Profiles & Colours for Barn Conversions Barn cladding UK 2026 — best timber species, profiles, colours and fixings for barn conversions and agricultural buildings. Feather edge, shiplap, waney edge and shadow gap. Grey and black finishes. Complete guide.

**Why are more UK new-build homes being finished in timber cladding?**

Natural timber can completely change the character of a development — bringing warmth, texture and architectural detail that is difficult to achieve with conventional render or brick alone.

But choosing timber cladding for a new-build project isn't only about appearance.

The correct specification needs to consider:

✔ Timber species and durability
✔ Long-term maintenance
✔ Horizontal or vertical installation
✔ Shadow gap, shiplap or rainscreen profiles
✔ Ventilation and façade build-up
✔ Planning requirements
✔ Correct stainless-steel fixings
✔ Window, corner and junction detailing

For developers and housebuilders, getting these decisions right at design stage can make the difference between a façade that simply looks good on completion and one that continues to perform for decades.

Our latest **2026 Developer & Housebuilder Guide** covers the key decisions involved in specifying timber cladding for UK residential developments.

We also look at Siberian Larch, ThermoWood and other timber options, together with profile selection, planning, maintenance and supply-and-install procurement.

Read the complete guide:

https://timbercladdingspecialists.co.uk/blog-article/timber-cladding-new-build-housing-uk

Timber Cladding New Build Housing UK — Developer & Housebuilder Guide 2026 Timber cladding for new build housing UK — species, profiles, planning requirements, BREEAM credits and supply and install for developers and housebuilders. Siberian larch, ThermoWood, Nordic spruce. Nationwide.

Completed Project: Siberian Larch Cladding in Clapham

Timber Cladding Specialists supplied and installed approximately 420m² of Siberian Larch shiplap cladding across this private development of five new homes at 52 Clarence Avenue, Clapham.

A 20×146mm horizontal shiplap profile was selected to create a clean and consistent rhythm across the elevations, while the natural Siberian Larch adds warmth, texture and character to the contemporary architecture.

The project also included bespoke Siberian Larch window louvres, manufactured to drawing and installed across all five houses. Matching the louvres to the cladding allowed the exterior to read as one carefully designed façade rather than a collection of separate components.

Our complete package included:

• Timber cladding supply
• Bespoke louvre manufacturing
• Corner and reveal detailing
• Stainless-steel fixings
• Full site installation

The completed development is a strong example of how natural timber can elevate premium residential architecture.

See the full project:

https://timbercladdingspecialists.co.uk/case-studies/52-clarence-avenue-clapham-siberian-larch-cladding

52 Clarence Avenue, Clapham — Siberian Larch Cladding Case Study TCS supplied and installed 420m² of Siberian larch shiplap cladding and bespoke timber louvres at a prestigious five-house residential development in Clapham SW4, working directly for developer Mera Real Estate. Completed August 2020.

How much does Nordic Spruce cladding cost in the UK in 2026?

Nordic Spruce is one of the most affordable timber cladding options available—but choosing it based only on the initial board price can give an incomplete picture.

Our latest guide covers:

✔ Board prices from approximately £18–£45 per m²
✔ Shiplap, tongue-and-groove and shadow-gap costs
✔ Supply-only and professional installation budgets
✔ Typical costs for 10m², 20m² and larger elevations
✔ Treatment required every 2–4 years
✔ Long-term comparisons with Siberian Larch and ThermoWood

Nordic Spruce can be an excellent choice for sheds, garden rooms, outbuildings and larger projects with controlled upfront budgets—provided ongoing maintenance is properly planned.

Read the complete guide:

https://timbercladdingspecialists.co.uk/blog-article/nordic-spruce-cladding-cost-uk

Nordic Spruce Cladding Cost UK 2026 — Full Price Guide Nordic spruce cladding cost UK 2026 — price per m² for every profile, installation costs, treatment costs, and honest whole-life cost comparison against larch and ThermoWood. Complete pricing guide.

PROJECT SPOTLIGHT: Merchant Taylors' School CRICKET CENTRE

Approximately 1,000m² of Siberian Larch shadow gap cladding, supplied and installed by Timber Cladding Specialists for Boom Construction

The Julian Hill Cricket Centre is a major indoor sports facility at Merchant Taylors’ School in Northwood. The external façade required a natural material capable of complementing the building’s contemporary architecture while delivering dependable long-term performance.

A 20x146mm shadow gap profile was selected to create clean horizontal lines across the elevations, with the Siberian Larch bringing warmth, texture and natural character to the completed building.

Delivering a cladding package of this scale within a live school environment required:

• Careful coordination of access and deliveries
• Installation sequencing around the main programme
• Consistent board alignment across multiple elevations
• Precise detailing around corners, openings and junctions
• Experienced installation and quality-control teams

The finished timber will gradually weather from its initial honey-gold colour to a natural silver-grey, allowing the façade to mature beautifully within the school grounds.

A strong example of our ability to deliver complete commercial timber cladding packages for education, sport, healthcare, residential and commercial developments.

View the full case study:

https://timbercladdingspecialists.co.uk/case-studies/merchant-taylors-school-cricket-centre

Merchant Taylors' School Cricket Centre — Timber Cladding Case Study Timber Cladding Specialists supplied and installed 1,000m² of Siberian larch shadow gap cladding at the Julian Hill Cricket Centre, Merchant Taylors' School, Northwood — working with main contractor Boom Construction on this prestigious education project.

Building or upgrading a garden shed?

The right timber cladding can make all the difference to its appearance, durability, and maintenance.

Our latest guide compares the best shed cladding options available in the UK for 2026, helping you choose the right material for your project.

Discover the benefits of:

✔ ThermoWood Cladding
✔ Siberian Larch
✔ Nordic Spruce
✔ Shiplap & Tongue & Groove
✔ Charred Timber

Read the full guide here:

https://timbercladdingspecialists.co.uk/blog-article/best-cladding-for-garden-shed-uk-2026

Best Cladding for a Garden Shed UK 2026 — All Options Compared Best cladding for a garden shed UK 2026 — shiplap, feather edge, shadow gap, tongue and groove compared by cost, durability and maintenance. Which timber cladding is right for your shed or outbuilding?