SiOO:X is playing an increasing role in this renaissance using nanotechnology to modify and improve the properties of the wood and protect the substrate.

'There are many ways in which the properties of the material can be improved, but above all else, what is most important is the application of good design principles and an understanding of how this material behaves in the environment. Selection of the correct wood species and cladding type and orientation of the boards for optimal  performance form a part of a functioning facade, but the protective measures achieved by design potentially affect the service life of the whole building envelope. Some of the vital measures include ensuring appropriate ventilation, properly directing splashing water and rainfall and avoiding trapping and ingress of moisture.' ¹ 

Only through applying good design principles in combination with appropriate interventions to improve material properties will the desirable outcome of life extension be achieved. SiOO:X, when applied to building envelopes and structures where good design principles have been implemented and where sensible inspection and maintenance regimes are used, will give long life before re-treatment is needed to sustain aesthetic appearance.  The beneficial protective property changes conferred by SiOO:X in the timber substrate remain throughout the lifetime of the timber product and do not change. 

¹ Review of the use of solid wood as an external cladding material in the built environment                                                             Callum Hill, Maija Kymalainen and Lauri Rautkari. Published by Springer.

External timber cladding is an increasingly specified design feature on buildings in the UK and Ireland. Timber possesses inherent strengths and qualities which can yield high levels of thermal comfort, sound mitigation and humidity moderation. This together with timber's remarkable ability to sequester carbon and the looming climate crisis has led to a major increase in the use of timber in building design and construction.

The commisioning of low impact, low energy consuming buildings will become normal and desirable  and drive the increasing use of timber. For this this to be sustained, the very best design practice has to be applied at all levels and for the use of all products so that buildings are fit for purpose and achieve their performance goals.

The advice below sets out some of the important design details and practice in specifying SiOO:X for timber cladding. 

SiOO:X is specified extensively for the protection of external timber facades. The SiOO:X system is used as a surface protection system which is suitable for Use Classes 1, 2, 3.1 and 3.2 according to EN 335 Part 2. If additional protection is thought necessary for Use Class 3.2 applications, then the SiOO:X Wood Protection System can be applied to preservative treated wood or to thermally treated wood.

The SiOO:X system brings many benefits through the innovative use of proven, patented silicate wood modification technology. Properly applied to well designed and detailed timber structures using well chosen naturally durable timber, SiOO:X enhances the protection of the timber against degradation through fungal and insect attack and UV damage. It does this in an eco-friendly manner, giving long life and an aesthetically pleasing appearance with even weathering. 

 

SiOO:X gives excellent performance if used correctly on cladding structures that have been designed and installed using sound rain screen design principles and practice.  

Most failures in timber buildings are caused by water; either the timber was installed at the wrong moisture content for its intended use or it became wetter in service than was allowed for in the design. Timber-framed and -clad walls are exposed to external wetting by rain or other precipitation, from water vapour carried in humid external air and from water vapour diffusing into the wall from within the building. Rainwater is usually the dominant wetting mechanism in the UK and Ireland.

 

Design considerations relating to water penetration

Many of the design challenges presented by timber facades occur at junctions such as corners, around windows or where different cladding materials meet.

Any wood protection treatment system cannot fully mitigate the impact of poor design and flaws in detailing which allows moisture and rain penetration into the timber so that it becomes wetter in service than was allowed for in the design. There are important design choices¹ to be made in designing for durability of timber facades. Some of the key choices are:

Deflection: Rainwater is deflected away from the facade using eaves and flashings; from an even weathering consideration larger eaves can be used in the design as SiOO:X prevents differential weathering; at the minimum it is important to protect the wall head using a projecting flashing; flashings lower down the wall should have similar projections;

Drainage: Rainwater that enters the facade assembly should be able to drain out at the base of every cavity; horizontal surfaces should be sloped wherever possible;

Drying: Include a well-ventilated and drained cavity behind the cladding. Cavities should have openings at the top to promote moisture evaporation; on wet sites cavities always need to be ventilated (open at the top and bottom) to allow through flow of air; on dry sites there is less need although it is still a useful precaution against storm events; any building regulations for the project requiring cavity barriers behind the timber cladding need to be noted - the barriers need to be ventilated to promote evaporative drying yet they also need to block off air movement during a fire, and minimise the degree to which they span across separating wall junctions.  

Durability: For use in external conditions, timber should be selected for it’s biodegradation resistance (natural durability).  The heartwood from suitably durable species (minimum of durability class 3 according to BS EN 503-2) should be specified for external cladding or decking purposes. Sapwood in all species is classified as non-durable and should be excluded from exposed surfaces.  Where sapwood is present, care should be taken when the timber is milled, graded and installed to ensure that any sapwood is to the rear of the board. Sapwood and the effects are shown in the pictures below (not SiOO:X treated):

 

 

 

 

Where lower durability timber is being used, or where the presence of sapwood is of concern, preservative treatment should be considered to ensure the timber meets the appropriate use class.

Splash lines: A common problem occurs where timber cladding is brought too close to the ground or another horizontal surface. The resultant splashing causes rapid localised weathering and can lead to fungal decay. In the UK a minimum 200-250 mm should be considered;

Window installations tend to be a weak link in the facade in terms of weather tightness and poor design can lead to water ingress. Most weather tightness problems occur at the junction between the base of the window and the wall and a properly designed and installed flashing is essential at this point with clearance between the cladding and flashing. Equally, clearance between the flashing at the window head and the base of the cladding above it should be ensured.

An example of good design with eave overhangs, clearance at ground level and effective window detail

Cladding board configuration: This needs to be given careful consideration and board profiles and board orientation determined. The movement involved in a specific timber and board width combination should be calculated and the board installation detailed to accommodate movement. A key issue is the detailing of the junctions between boards to allow movement. If the facade has staggered joints there should be a gap between the board ends to avoid water entrapment. If vertical boards are joined in this way, their ends should be sloped outwards - all end grain should be sealed.

The design of the cladding should avoid moisture traps and projections which will allow splash back onto the cladding. Cutting the ends of vertical boards to an angle will allow moisture to drip from the ends of boards more easily. Where end grain of boards is present, for example at running boards in the cladding, or when the end of a board meets a corner post detail, a gap of at least 8mm should be left to reduce the chance of water sitting against the end grain and being held there through surface tension. Once again, cut on a slight angle to shed water to the outside. 

 

Preparation and Application

SiOO:X is a penetrant.To achieve the best performance it needs to be able to penetrate the timber substrate to a sufficient depth. There are good practices that need to be adhered to including:

 

1. A sawn surface finish should be chosen wherever possible as this opens the surface so that the maximum penetration of the SiOO:X products into the timber occurs by surface coating. 
2. Planed dressed surfaces should not be used as the smooth glazed surface resists penetration. If the timber is supplied in a dressed form it must be sanded with no finer a sanding paper than a 60 grit grade.
3. All sharp board edges and sill edges should be removed.
4. The timber should be kiln dried to a preferable 16% moisture content.
5. The SiOO:X treatment should be factory applied by a Sioo approved distributor/coater in factory controlled conditions.
6. The treatment should be applied to all timber surfaces, the back and front, and all timber edges.  

 

Construction and Assembly   

When delivery is made to site the treated timber should be stored ready for use in a dry storage area with all packing material removed. 

All cut and exposed board edges must be treated with an end-grain sealer, either using the SiOO:X End Grain Sealer or a quality proprietary product. Exposed end grains are a common source of moisture ingress.

A vey useful article on The Crucial Role Of End Grain Sealer On Factory Coated Timber Cladding has been written by our application partners James E Hatch & Son.

Use stainless steel fixings.  

Our main distributors Russwood and MTS have extensive experience in advising clients on material selection and careful detailing, which are key to ensuring that every project looks fantastic, and meets its performance objectives.

Timber is a biogenic material - it is produced by living organisms and it has an intimate relationship with moisture. The engineering of timber cladding facades needs to encompass a number of performance issues, and, in particular attention needs to be given to moisture movement and weathering. If in doubt professional advice should be sought.

 

1.    External Timber Cladding: Design, Installation and Performance

       Ivor Davies and John Wood