What record-breaking weather means for exterior wood protection

What record-breaking weather means for exterior wood protection
by Jennie Ward|15 June 26|Build, Supply
Dr. Jonathan Kirby, Research Scientist at Roxil (Safeguard Europe), explores the impact of extreme weather on outdoor timber, and outlines practical measures that can be taken to preserve and protect it. For decades, the biggest threat to outdoor timber in the UK was rain. Homeowners and building managers primarily worried...
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Ightham Mote: timber and hemp transforms a National Trust visitor centre
by Matt Milton|02 June 26|Design
A low-carbon, contemporary visitor centre that combines traditional and modern materials and building techniques, this building at Ightham Mote for the National Trust wears its environment credentials on its sleeve. © Fred Howarth Providing an enhanced experience for visitors, it has a timber frame, exposed hempcrete walls, and a sweet...
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Urban Nature Project: Reimagining Natural History
by Bryony Bodimeade|27 November 25|Design
The Gold Award-winning timber and stone additions to the Natural History Museum use legible, low-tech construction and natural materials to connect visitors to the landscape. Feilden Fowles’ enchanting transformation of the Natural History Museum’s outdoor landscape has reshaped the visitor experience into a choreographed journey through geological history – while...
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Raising the standard: Why accreditation matters
by Jennie Ward|13 October 25|Build, Supply
In the world of timber decking and cladding, the quality of specification, materials, and installation can vary greatly and the consequences of getting it wrong can be serious. That’s where the Timber Decking & Cladding Association plays a pivotal role. From costly remedial work to safety risks and reputational damage,...
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Challenging times for Swedish sawmills and the global timber market
by Jennie Ward|01 October 25|Build, Supply
Olle Berg of Setra Group offers his thoughts on the global timber market. The cautious optimism surrounding a mild recovery from the global recession that emerged in Q4 2024 has gradually faded as 2025 has progressed. Following Donald Trump’s inauguration as President in November 2024, the political agenda pursued by...
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NORclad launches pre-finished timber cladding
by Jennie Ward|22 August 25|Supply
Two new cladding ranges – Tailor’s Collection and Natura Collection – have been launched by NORclad, the National Timber Group’s (NTG) specialist cladding division. These additions expand the NTG Group’s offering of pre-finished timber solutions, combining the natural beauty of timber with premium performance coatings. The Tailor’s Collection features ultra-stable...
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Room up top: Optoppen’s airspace revolution
by Matt Milton|01 August 25|Design
Kelly Harrison, Director at Whitby Wood, explains how using timber to add storeys to a building could add transformative amounts of space to major cities like London. Optoppen is a Dutch word which translates as “topping up”. It is also the name of an online resource that will help anyone...
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Accoya charred timber cladding; courtesy Accsys
Charred timber cladding: guidance from the TDCA
by Guest Author|01 August 25|Design
Charred timber cladding comes in a myriad range of wood species, finishes and performance claims. This guidance from the Timber Decking and Cladding Association (TDCA) will help designers better understand charred timber and the claims made for its performance. Charring the surface of wood with fire is not new. The...
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James Latham showcases Accoya with new digital platform
by Jennie Ward|28 July 25|Build, Supply
James Latham, an independent distributor of timber, panels and decorative surfaces, has announced the launch of Explore Accoya, a digital platform to help specifiers, architects, designers and contractors engage with the high-performance Accoya timber. Building on the success of its Digital Showroom and Cladding Visualiser, James Latham's latest immersive experience...
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Battening system offers environmentally-friendly method of fixing timber cladding
by Jennie Ward|11 July 25|Build, Supply
The Russwood Battening System offers an environmentally friendly, engineer-assessed, method of fixing timber cladding. It is easy to install and dismantle at end of life, supporting the circular economy of materials. It is also compatible with Securo Firebreather Cavity Barriers for enhanced fire resistance. Purposefully designed to support architects with...
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