There has been an increasing trend to use uncoated wood cladding as the exterior facade to new building projects, both domestic and commercial. Such facades can provide an attractive, long-lived and above all, natural alternative to manmade cladding options. Uncoated cladding has been used primarily because of its low maintenance requirement, on account of the absence of a decorative finish. Many architects choose to specify uncoated cladding because they want the wood to weather to a silvergrey appearance in order to meet their design aims.

This research has provided information relating to the main in-service causes of discoloration on uncoated exterior timber cladding. Based on empirical information derived from a number of case studies, the research team have identified a number of effective methods of remedying its occurrence.