Timber cladding looks lovely, but keeping it that way takes work. If you’d rather spend your weekends enjoying the garden than staining the garden room, composite could suit you. It still needs cleaning, but regular painting and staining are off the list. There are a couple of catches, though. Composite still needs cleaning, and the boards are only the outer layer of the wall. You'll need to budget for the supports and finishing trims as well. We stock Coastline and Hyperion Explorer. Both can suit garden rooms, extensions and garages, but they're different products. Here's what we'd look at before putting an order together. Will composite cladding suit your building? Start with the wall you've got. Cladding won't repair rotten framing or cure damp hidden behind it. On an older garage, find out what's causing any damage before covering the outside. For a new garden room, plan the cladding as part of the wall construction from the start. The appearance needs a little thought too: Garden rooms: look at the building from the house, where you'll probably see it most. Check the colour beside the door frames and roof edge. Extensions: you can clad one wall or section alongside brick or render. Decide where the two finishes will meet and how that edge will be finished. Garages: allow for the trims around the main door. A large opening means less wall to cover, but it still needs finishing all the way round. If you're adding a terrace, think about the two surfaces together. Our composite decking boards give you another option for reducing timber upkeep, although decking and wall cladding need their own fitting details. Choosing between Coastline and Hyperion Explorer Coastline: a painted-weatherboard look If you like the look of painted timber, our 5-metre Coastline boards give you that finish without the regular repainting. They have a subtle texture and a matt surface, with colours including Anthracite Grey, Soft Green and Pigeon Blue. The boards are lightweight and contain no wood fibres. Concealed fixings keep screw heads out of sight, while matching trims finish the edges and corners. They also come with a 10-year weatherproof guarantee, subject to its terms. Before ordering, decide whether you want the boards to run horizontally or vertically. Coastline has different profiles for each, so you’ll need the right one for the layout you’ve chosen. Hyperion Explorer: wood-composite boards Hyperion Explorer cladding contains wood fibres and polymer, with a brushed surface. It can be fitted horizontally or vertically, following the appropriate instructions. Oak and Walnut give you brown tones; Silver Birch, Stone and Granite offer greyer alternatives. The colours in our Hyperion Explorer range are worth comparing against the rest of the building. If possible, look at a physical sample outdoors. A small image on a phone is a difficult way to choose the finish for an entire wall. Work out the whole order, including the trims Two boards with different prices aren't necessarily covering the same amount of wall. Compare their fitted coverage first, then add the parts needed to complete the job. For example, Explorer has a 150mm visible face once fitted. A 4-metre board therefore covers about 0.6m² before cutting or waste. Use the visible coverage, rather than the full board width, when doing the sums. Wall area gives you a starting quantity. A cutting plan tells you whether those boards will actually fit the layout. Keep door and window positions on the sketch, even after subtracting their area: short offcuts aren't always useful elsewhere. Before ordering, have these ready: The width and height of each wall, with doors and windows marked. Your chosen board direction and a rough cutting layout. Separate measurements for corners, edges and window or door trims. The specified battens or subframe, membrane where required, fixings and ventilation components. Ask for the complete materials total, including delivery, rather than comparing board prices alone. That makes it easier to see what you're paying for and what still needs adding. The fitting details to check before you start Drainage and space for movement Water can get behind rainscreen cladding. The cavity needs to let it drain out and allow air to circulate. Follow the chosen system's ventilation details, including the arrangement of battens for vertical boards. Expansion gaps matter too. Their size depends on the product and board length, so use the manufacturer's figures. Don't close them up for a neater-looking finish or tighten fixings beyond the instructions. Fire ratings apply to a particular wall system Explorer's stated EN 13501-1 Class B-s3,d0 rating is tied to its tested installation, including MESA aluminium bearers. It isn't a promise that every wall fitted with those boards has the same performance. The Explorer installation and maintenance guide sets out the requirements; check the proposed wall with your designer or building control where needed. If you're fitting it yourself, read the guide before buying the supporting materials. It's much easier to choose the right subframe at that stage. How much looking after does it need? Cladding gets dirty like anything else in the garden. You won’t have to stain it, but an occasional wash will clear away the dirt and pollen that gather on the surface. For Hyperion, warm water, mild detergent and a soft brush or non-abrasive cloth are enough for a routine clean. Rinse it afterwards and clear any debris from the joints and drainage openings. If you’re tempted to use a stronger cleaner or get the pressure washer out, check the care instructions first. Expect the colour of Explorer boards to lighten a little during their first eight to ten weeks outdoors. The shade you see when they arrive will change as they weather, so it’s worth allowing for this when picking your colour. Do you need planning permission? Check before ordering, especially if you're changing the appearance of the house. In England, cladding may fall within permitted development when it looks similar to the existing materials. Different rules apply in designated areas, and significant work to a listed building needs listed building consent. The Planning Portal's external-wall guidance explains the starting points; your local planning authority can confirm the position for your property. Planning permission is only part of it. If you’re doing substantial work to an outside wall or changing the insulation, check whether you need Building Regulations approval before work starts. That applies even if you don’t need planning permission. In England, the relevant fire-safety guidance is in Approved Document B. Before you order Have a colour in mind but haven’t worked out the quantities yet? Send us your measurements, including the doors and windows. Tell us whether you’re looking at Coastline or Hyperion, and we can help with the boards and trims. You can also call us on 0800 612 7903 if it’s easier to talk through the job.
