Fire & Preservative Protection / Decorative Coatings

Fire Retardant Treatments

On certain occasions, UK Building Regulations stipulate that cladding must have an appropriate fire retardant protection. This is usually when the boundary falls within one metre of the edge of the building and also where cladding is to be used on multi storey, high rise dwellings. It is always advisable to check with your local building control office to confirm these requirements. If fire retardant protection is required, Beaumont Forest Products can offer a choice of two proven industrially applied pressure treatments that will provide a correct level of surface spread of flame protection. Non-Com Exterior is a leach resistant treatment for external timbers that does not require a decorative protection to maintain the fire retardant properties and allows the natural beauty of the timber to show through. Alternatively, Dricon is a humidity resistant treatment that can be used for external cladding timbers when a subsequent decorative coating is applied and maintained. Dricon fire retardant treatment can be used without a decorative coating for interior cladding applications.

Preservative Treatments

An effective timber preservative pre-treatment will enhance the service life of cladding and keep any maintenance to a low and practical level. Timbers such as Western Red Cedar and Siberian Larch, as well as Thermowood, can be used without being preservative treated, but must contain no sapwood. Generally, hardwoods have a natural resistance to the threat of wood decay or insect attack. However, European Redwood is less naturally durable and will require a preservative pre-treatment to make sure it has a long and low maintenance service life. This can be with either high or low pressure industrial treatments. High pressure treatments will impart an initial pale green
colouration to the timber, which will slowly fade to a honey brownand eventually to a silver grey. Ready treated stocks of Redwood cladding are available and Beaumont Forest Products also has its own high pressure treatment facilities for particular requirements. The latest generation Tanalith E wood preservative provides an expected service life for Redwood cladding of 30 years. Low pressure treatments retain the natural colouration of the Redwood for external cladding. However, an appropriate and maintained surface coating must be applied to low pressure treated Redwood to maintain the preservative properties and provide a matching 30 year service life.

Decorative Coatings & their maintenance

Whilst many cladding timbers, particularly those that are high pressure preservative pre-treated, do not generally require a decorative coating to maintain their high performance credentials, the effects of ultraviolet light and weathering can dramatically change the colour and appearance of the timbers over a period of time. If it is decided that a decorative finish is required or desired, a good quality micro-porous paint or stain system should be used. Paints will provide an opaque finish whilst translucent stains will still allow the natural beauty of the timber grain to show through. These systems are water repellent yet allow any moisture in the wood to escape and help to prevent any cracking or peeling which can occur with conventional paint products. Maintenance cycles will also be extended by the use of these superior coatings. Always ensure that the reverse of the boards are also initially coated to achieve the best protection. Consider using pre-finished timber cladding to help ensure a more predictable performance and always put in place a planned maintenance programme. Always follow the coating manufacturer’s instructions to ensure a good coverage and service life. Beaumont Forest Products stocks a range of high performance coating systems that can be used with real confidence on timber cladding.

To learn more, please contact us