How to maintain your Timber Cladding

Maintain the timeless beauty of your timber cladding by following a few simple guidelines! We’ll explain how to properly clean, repair, paint and protect your cladding.

1. Removing Dirt & Stains
First things first, give your cladding a deep clean to remove stains, and to prepare it for a fresh coat of oil or paint. Staining from surface fixtures, sun exposure or mould can be easily removed with a cleanser, water and a stiff bristle brush. Ensure you use specialised cladding cleaning products with a brightening agent. QuickClean is a powerful grime remover and degreaser that’s perfect for use prior to recoating or repainting.

Another great cleaning method is pressure washing. It’s an eco-friendly and effective way to remove dirt and grime without damaging the existing product coating. It’s also excellent for targeting those hard-to-reach places if your cladding is multi-depth. Give the cladding a few days to dry before you move on to applying your chosen finish.

2. Replacing Cracked & Warped Timber
A change in moisture levels can cause splitting and cracking in timber. Wood will always try to balance its moisture levels with its surrounding environment, meaning it will absorb water during the wet season, and lose moisture during dryer months.

Learning how to fix cracks in your timber cladding when they first appear can prevent extensive damage down the track. To repair the cracks, remove any rotted timber and follow the instructions on your chosen filling product. Once you’ve completed the final coat of filling, sand the surface and prepare to apply a fresh coat of oil or paint.

3. Weather Protection
Once the cleaning and repair phase is complete, it’s time to coat your cladding with a quality protectant. Australia is no stranger to intense weather, and it’s vital our building materials can perform against even the harshest conditions. Wood can feel the effects of the sun’s UV rays on the inside and out, and its appearance can often be damaged or bleached.

We recommend using a professional grade wood protector like Cutek, which provides moisture protection from the inside out. Choose from 10 colour tones and give your cladding a new lease on life.

4. Fresh Paint
If during your routine inspection you notice peeling or cracking paint, it could be a sign that you need to repaint. If your cladding needs to be completely stripped back and re-painted, you’ll need to first hand-scrape and sand the surface until smooth. Then with your choice of paint, work from the top down using downward brush strokes for a smooth, even application.

Be sure to do your repainting or touch-up work on a day where the temperature is moderate and comfortable.

5. Stay on top!
Stay organised and your timber will continue to look as good as it did on day one. Keep a calendar with a maintenance cycle to ensure you regularly inspect and maintain your cladding. Don’t wait until it’s too late! Your maintenance time period can be anywhere between 1-5 years. Regular inspections will ensure your timber lives a long and healthy life! Remember the seasons can influence your timber’s performance, so be sure to check for cracks during dry months, and inspect for mould and rotting during periods of rain.