Shades of Grey - The Low Maintenance Finish for Timber Cladding

From our 15 years of experience, we’ve seen many leave their timber cladding and decking uncoated expecting it to evenly “silver off” but are left bitterly disappointed.

Equally, a clear coat of oil or lacquer will not account for uneven UV exposure and while a better option than simply leaving timber uncoated, will not get an even result. Depending on your choice of coating, clear coats of oil can actually encourage mould growth and discolouration.

How does weathering occur?

Timber going silver or grey is a natural process called oxidisation.

Sunlight produces a chemical reaction within the wood’s cellulose, which holds the color of the wood.

Radiation from the sun’s ultraviolet rays breaks down the lignin in the cellulose causing photochemical degradation, and it occurs in any wood exposed to sunlight.

The result is a change in the wood’s appearance from its original colour to a gradual silvery grey sheen. As the lignin breaks down cracking and lifting of the wood fibres occurs.

Influences

Building Location

In areas of high rainfall some timber cladding installations can turn grey in just a few months, whilst in drier areas the process is likely to be slower.

Similarly, north and west facing walls weather relatively fast, due to their exposure to sunlight, whereas east and south facing walls tend to weather more slowly, but uniformly.

Building Design

The design of a building also determines how it will weather, as the form and shape influences the impact that wind-driven rain will have on it. For example, buildings without eaves tend to get wettest at the top, particularly at the outer corners, so this may result in these areas weathering more quickly than other parts of the wall.

If there are eaves then uneven weathering can occur (unless the eaves shelter the entire wall) as sunlight will be unable to reach the areas under these eaves.

There may also be areas which, due to the design of the building, are subject to water splashing – this can also lead to the wood weathering faster in these areas.

If left uncoated, over time, the entire building (unless completely sheltered from the elements) will weather to the same colour, and will remain the same silver-grey colour for years to come. Timber will vary in appearance depending on the quantity of moisture on the surface (when it is wet, the timber will appear darker in colour).

Timber Finishes

After years of development work Abodo has options to solve this challenge.

Our flagship Vulcan Cladding has a propensity to evenly silver off and lends itself well to shades of grey.

The two recommended options to achieve an even grey facade or deck are below:

1. Pigmented Penetrating Oil - Abodo Protector

Pre-finishing timber cladding or decking in a shade of grey pre-empts the natural aged colour of the timber.

As timber ages naturally, it forms a silver ‘patina’ as the surface of the wood oxidises. This thin film actually helps to protect the wood during the weathering process. This is commonly known as “silvering off”.

Follow nature – with shades of grey and silver. Your home will age gracefully into a natural patina.

Abodo’s Protector coating is available in Pearl, Patina and Graphite. Protector contains plant based oils which penetrate into the wood, while leaving a pigment on the surface of the wood.

As the timber gets weather, the timber substrate will lighten, leaving the titanium dioxide pigments to ‘pop’ and provide a fresh silver surface. The mouldicides used in Protector provide a broad spectrum protection against surface mould and discolouration, while water borne alkyds reduce moisture ingress, reducing cracking and movement.

Choose Pearl for a mid grey perfect for decking) or Patina: a lighter grey. A darker gun metal grey can be achieved with Graphite.

Choose to have your Abodo decking or weatherboards factory pre-finished with Protector and create a modern “weathered” look.

View a timelapse of this process here, for Vulcan Cladding in Protector - Pearl

2. Reactive Wood Coatings - Sioo:x

Sioo:x is a premium wood and surface protection, that results in durable, lower maintenance, beautiful wooden surfaces.

It uses nature to form a hard silicon based shell on exterior timber, which weathers to a beautiful silver-grey patina.

Sioo:x provides a long-term weathered look without leaving your wood unprotected – and can last up to 10+ years. It’s durable protection for a long time, so you don’t have to repeat the job year after year.

This unrivalled long-lasting wood protection keeps the wood healthy and creates an attractive and easy-care surface.

How does it work?

Based on a technique that was originally developed in Germany in the nineteenth century, Sioo:x is inspired by how nature protects itself using its own natural technology.

This means wood surfaces will not only become more attractive over time – they’ll resist wear, wind and weather in even the most demanding conditions.

Sioo:x wood finish is not a coating, but a silicate based wood protection envelope. The protection system has two components:

• the first penetrates the wood where it gradually forms an inert glassy polymer (which helps to keep the wood cells bonded together, strengthening the wood’s structure over time)
• the second component acts to seal and protect the first application until it is fully cured, but it also forms an inert water resistant envelope which penetrates the wood and creates a grey surface appearance.

View a timelapse of this process here, for Vulcan Cladding in Sioo:x Coating