If you’ve ever wondered why tongue and groove cladding is still being used in everything from garden rooms to commercial fit-outs, the reason is simple: it works! And it works subtly. Tongue and groove is cleverly designed to work with the way wood naturally wants to expand and contract. It does this by allowing one piece to slot into the next, providing a smooth surface without any unsightly gaps appearing between the boards.
Tongue and groove is obviously the best-looking option too from many different angles. Who wouldn’t want the smooth lines of vertical or horizontal boards to add rhythm to the interior design? But it is the functionality of tongue and groove cladding that is its biggest appeal. It is the best option for commercial properties because it is the easiest to maintain.
Treatment and Finish Considerations
It is here that decisions made during the specification process create consequences that are felt months or even years down the line. Untreated timber will shrink, potentially warp, and is still susceptible to moisture and insect attack. The treatments available vary from basic preservatives through to full pressure treatments.
For internal use, the level of treatment required can vary greatly depending on the environment. An air-conditioned office environment does not require the same level of protection as a changing rooms facility where humidity levels fluctuate constantly. If this type of assessment is not made correctly, money is wasted on unnecessary treatments or, in the worst case, maintenance issues arise further down the road due to the cladding failing prematurely.
Finishes on the surface of the cladding also have trade-offs. Factory finishes provide consistency in appearance, saving time on site, but can hinder the achievement of specific colour matching. On-site finishes allow for precise control of appearance, however, this can increase costs due to labour involved, in addition to variables in quality of finish depending on site conditions.
Installation Details That Actually Matter
Preparation of the substrate does not necessarily instil enthusiasm in most people, however, it is vital in achieving a successful cladding installation or creating problems for future maintenance. Tongue and groove cladding requires a relatively flat surface to fix to. Battening out the walls to achieve a plane surface, in addition to providing space for any moisture to escape rather than becoming trapped behind the cladding, is a simple solution.
Acclimatisation is the type of thing people always talk about but nobody ever does. Well, you should. Allowing the timber to acclimatise to the environment where it is going to be used, even for a short time, reduces movement significantly after fixing. It is not difficult; you simply place the material in the space, away from sunlight and heat sources. This eliminates many call-backs regarding the material shrinking or expanding beyond desired limits. So all in all, this is a solid investment from both a financial and aesthetic standpoint… the only question remains – what are you waiting for!