EXTERIOR CLADDING AND COATING
Wooden cladding may exude tannin, especially from knots, which can stain or leave a liquid resin on the surface of your home. This is a natural process and normally occurs following installation but does not affect the performance of the coating and is not a defect to the materials or the way your home has been manufactured. If this does occur, allow the resin to exude and dry before attempting to remove it. It may take over a year for all the resin to exude but, once it has, it will then dry off and form a white crystalline powder. Once dried, any resin can then be removed. Refer to the Sap Removal section on page 25 for advice on removing the sap residue. This is a natural process and not of fault of the materials or the build of your home.
Cladding and aluminium trims should be cleaned at least once annually. A medium/soft sponge should be used with a mild diluted cleaning detergent. To prevent streaking, clean on a dry overcast day and avoid direct sunlight. Correct cleaning should prevent any build-up of moss or mildew. If any moss or mildew is found it should be removed immediately.
Annually check the cladding edges and ensure there are no gaps for water to penetrate. This is a maintenance issue and not a fault of the cladding which can expand and contract in varying weather conditions.
Do not use a pressure wash for cleaning painted wood or wood based cladding. Test any cleaning product to be used on a small area first to ensure it doesn’t damage the finish.
Cracked or loose caulk should be resealed where necessary with colour matching thermoplastic caulk.
Any fixings into the siding should be stainless steel nails or screws.
Do not allow sprinklers or outside showers / taps to spray directly onto the siding and ensure all plants/shrubs are at least 300mm (12”) away from the siding.
CanExel Cladding
All CanExel finishes are long wearing and require little maintenance. However, for the best results we highly recommend that your cladding is washed annually using non-abrasive household cleaners, according to the manufacturer’s recommendations.
Test cleaners on a small area first to ensure they do not damage the finish. Rinse surface thoroughly after cleaning.
Do not use a pressure wash.
We also recommend that you check the cladding regularly for expansion.
Do not drill or fix anything to the CanExel external cladding, to avoid water ingress and damage to the CanExel.
Drilling into cladding will invalidate the warranty with the CanExel manufacturer, on the affected areas. It is advised not to fix into the cladding unless absolutely necessary. Should this be necessary:- 1. Only use stainless steel fixings. 2. Any holes should be sealed with an exterior grade silicone.
Remedial Repairs to CanExel Cladding
Check for damage and remove all signs of surface damage by using a suitable abrasive material, ensuring that you blend this into the surrounding areas prior to re-coating.
Colour-matched touch-up paint can be used to repair scratches/small areas (smaller than a two-pence piece). Apply with a cotton bud or the point of a cloth to soak into the raw surface, then immediately rub off the excess with a cloth to prevent a blotchy appearance (as shown in the photographs below). Apply the paint to the affected areas ONLY and allow to dry for approximately 1 hour. For best results, the exterior temperature should be at least 50°F/10°C for 24 hours after application.
Swedish Redwood (Coated Scandinavian Cladding and Log Lap Cladding)
Swedish Redwood is selected for its quality and lower knot content. The profiles are Log board and Scandinavian. Both types of profile are coated with Sikkens Mid Oak or Golden Oak to seal the cladding.
An annual wash down with a mild detergent is recommended. The cladding may be resealed as required, however if the home is located in a coastal area it is recommended that the recoating is carried out annually.
Prepare clean surfaces and decorate with one full coat of Cetol WF915. Apply liberally and ensure the end grain is well coated. Only apply in dry weather.
Maintenance of Coated Cladding
All the external timbers have been coated during the manufacturing process to ensure that they are protected from the elements. This provides you with excellent water, oil, stain and pollution repellence and UV protection.
The coating product is formulated with environmentally friendly ingredients that are water-based, low VOC content, non-toxic, non-hazardous and produce a very low odour.
We recommend that you carry out cleaning and inspection every 6 months to ensure that any issues can be highlighted and repaired as necessary.
Wash with hot water and liquid detergent solution to remove any contaminants, frequently changing the water. Rinse thoroughly with clean water to remove all residues. Allow to dry.
Areas affected by algae and mould growth should be treated with a solution of one part household bleach to two parts water. Allow the solution a minimum of 20 minutes to work before washing off with clean water and a stiff nylon bristle (not metallic) brush. Allow to dry.
Remedial Repairs to Coated Cladding
- Surfaces affected by impact and abrasion. Remove all signs of surface damage to the substrate by manually abrading with the appropriate abrasive material. Ensure all abrading is undertaken in grain direction and dust is removed. Avoid inhalation of dust.
- Patch prime any bare timber with one full coat of Cetol WP562 BPD. Ensure end grain is well coated. Only apply in dry weather and allow a minimum drying time of 6 hours.
- Denib using a fine grade Scotch-Brite™ Handpad or a fine grade wet and dry silicon carbide abrasive paper. Do not break through the surface coating. Remove all dust. Avoid inhalation of dust.
- Bring forward patch primed areas with one or two full coat(s) of Cetol WF915. Ensure end grain is well coated. Only apply in dry weather and allow a minimum drying time of 5 hours between coats. Two coats may be required to build up film thickness and achieve an even coating and depth of colour.
Cedar Cladding (Uncoated Western Red Cedar)
Cedar cladding conforms to BS8417, giving approximately 60 years of service life. It is resistant to decay and insect attack and provides good thermal insulation, keeping the home cool in summer and preventing heat from escaping in winter.
As a natural wood product, the cladding will fade and change colour with age and exposure to sunlight. If left uncoated, in areas with low pollution the cladding will become silver grey in appearance, with some variation in shades across the cladding profiles.
Should you wish to preserve the original colour, we recommend that a protective coating of Osmose UVA Oil is applied, and that the cladding is cleaned at least once a year with a soft brush.
Thermowood Cladding (Uncoated)
Thermowood cladding is produced by heat treating selected Scandinavian pine. The process enhances the chemical and physical properties of the cladding, giving it a class 2 durability that conforms to BN/EN 350 and provides approximately 30 years of service life. The heat treatment also causes the colour darken to an attractive deep brown.
As a natural wood product, the cladding will fade and change colour with age and exposure to sunlight. If left uncoated, in areas with low pollution the cladding will become silver to blond in appearance, with some variation in shades across the cladding profiles. In areas of high pollution, the cladding may darken.
Siberian Larch Cladding (Uncoated)
Siberian Larch cladding is a very strong robust wood with moderate durability and is resistant to rot and fungal attack. It has a class 3 durability giving approximately 30 year service if left uncoated. As a natural wood product, the cladding will change colour with age and exposure to sunlight. If left uncoated, in areas with low pollution the cladding will weather to a silver grey over a period of one to two years.
Sap Removal from Timber Cladding
Some species of timber naturally exude tannin, especially from knots, which can stain or leave a liquid resin on the surface. It may take over a year for all the resin to exude but, once it has, it will then dry off and form a white crystalline powder. Allow the resin to exude and dry before attempting to remove. Once the resin has dried it can then be removed.
To remove the resin, either lightly abrade and wipe with a cloth dampened with methylated spirits or rub vigorously with a specialist cleaning wipes such as Wonder Wipes which have a light abrasive surface and contain a suitable cleaning chemical. For particularly stubborn or dense areas of sap it may be necessary to wrap the wipe around the scraper and gently scrape to remove the residue, however, proceed with care to ensure the scraper does not damage or gouge into the wood.
PVC Foam Cladding (e.g. Artefoam)
PVC cladding profiles require very little maintenance. We recommend that you clean the cladding at least once a year, depending on the degree of soiling.
Clean the panels and trims using a domestic detergent solution with a temperature not exceeding 40°C. Do not use solvents or similar aggressive and caustic fluids. Wash the surface with clean water after cleaning and allow to dry naturally.
Fibre Cement Cladding (e.g. Cedral)
Efflorescence or ‘lime bloom’ may occasionally occur on fibre cement cladding due to the cement content of the cladding. This is an entirely natural process that arises due to water dissolving salts within the materials which then migrates to the substrate’s surface leaving a salt deposit after the water evaporates. Efflorescence is usually only temporary and is in no way detrimental to the performance of the product.
Washing with warm water and a soft brush can accelerate the removal of the salt deposits, however care should be taken to avoid damaging the painted surface. More stubborn deposits can be removed with 9.5% acetic acid. Test on a small area first to avoid damage. Allow the acid to react for a few minutes, but do not allow it to dry out, then wash with plenty of cold water. Repeat the procedure if required.
IF YOU ARE IN ANY DOUBT HOW TO MAINTAIN THE EXTERNAL WALLS OF YOUR PARK HOME, YOU SHOULD SEEK INSTRUCTION AND ADVICE FROM YOUR MANUFACTURER.