Garden room with charred spruce cladding, Surrey

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Cladding Options

Cladding is the most visible design decision in your garden room. Here's an honest comparison of every option we offer.

We never use Redwood. Untreated Redwood is the industry standard at lower price points — it warps, splits and discolours within a few years. Every cladding we offer is specified for genuine longevity.

Metal Cladding

Lifespan

N/A

Maintenance

Zero

Look

Industrial / Contemporary

Powder-coated steel or aluminium cladding panels. Completely zero-maintenance, available in a wide range of colours, and extremely durable in all weathers. Used on the non-feature walls of every build as standard.

Western Red Cedar

Lifespan

30+ years

Maintenance

Every 2–3 years (oiling)

Look

Warm / Natural

Naturally rich warm timber tones that silver over time if left untreated — or retain their warmth with periodic oiling. Cedar is naturally resistant to rot and insects, making it one of the most popular premium cladding choices for garden rooms.

Charred Spruce (Shou Sugi Ban)

Lifespan

30+ years

Maintenance

Very low

Look

Dramatic / Modern

Timber that's been heat-treated using the Japanese Shou Sugi Ban technique — the charring creates a hard carbon layer that dramatically increases durability and resistance to insects, rot and fire. The result is a striking near-black finish with visible wood grain.

Hardie Plank

Lifespan

60+ years

Maintenance

Zero

Look

Clean / Crisp / Contemporary

Fibre cement board that looks like timber cladding but requires zero maintenance. Resistant to fire, moisture, insects and impact. Available in a wide colour range with a pre-painted factory finish. Excellent for contemporary garden rooms.

Millboard / Composite

Lifespan

50+ years

Maintenance

Zero

Look

Premium Wood-Effect

Composite boards engineered to look like real timber with deep grain and natural colour variation — but with none of the maintenance requirements. Never rots, splinters or warps. Premium-feel finish at a higher price point.

Thermo Ayous / Thermo Ash

Lifespan

30+ years

Maintenance

Very low

Look

Elegant / Natural

Thermally modified timber — heat-treated to dramatically reduce moisture absorption, making it far more stable and durable than untreated equivalents. A lighter alternative to Cedar with a refined, consistent finish.

See All Cladding Options at Our Showroom

Touch and compare every cladding side by side on our display wall in Lyne. The difference in texture and look is much clearer in person than in photos.

Visit Our Showroom