Solid larch slats are often used for luxury designer wall cladding both indoors and outdoors, also known as larch slats. They are used for wall cladding, living room scrapings, lounge, kitchen, bedroom or children’s room. Oak moulding is a type of edged timber with a cross-sectional area of 10 to 25 cm².
Larch slats and squares have a nice and decorative pattern and appearance, with a high content of resin and oily substances that impregnate larch lumber perfectly against water and weathering. Larch slats complement the range of larch timber of smaller dimensions.
Wide use of larch slats, which are characterized by long life even when directly exposed to the weather and even without surface treatment. Larch wood is often used for the production of wood facades, wooden terraces and grates, fences, pergolas, gazebos, staircases in the garden and in the interior. Larch slats are used as facade cladding alone, fences and more, and as the substructure for the supporting grates and mounting planes of larch structures. The entire structure is thus made of one type of wood that has the same appearance, properties and durability, thus avoiding inappropriate combinations of wood and materials.
We can produce larch slats of the necessary dimensions and sizes to order, exactly according to the specific requirements of each building. At the customer’s request, we can deliver planned, sanded, milled edges to the radius.
LARCH SLATS – FEATURES
Slower growth than other conifers results in narrow annual rings with a distance between rings of only between 1-1.5 mm. In addition, there is a clear distinction between heartwood and sapwood and the proportion of heartwood can often be more than 90%. Heartwood is inherently durable and European larch wood is therefore often used as a substitute for pressure-impregnated wood.
Larch is left-handed throughout its growth, unlike spruce and pine, which are first left-handed and then right-handed. This means that larch twists more, which places greater demands on the fixing of the larch facade.
The knots are black-brown and pockets of resin may appear in the wood.
LARCH SLATS – PROCESS AND PROTECTION
Due to its high proportion of heartwood, larch has a greater durability than pine and spruce, without achieving the same durability as pressure-impregnated pine. This is particularly pronounced where the timber is in direct contact with soil or brick/concrete. In these areas, pressure-impregnated wood must be used to achieve acceptable durability.
Larch can be pressure impregnated and this should always be done if the timber will be in direct contact with soil or brick/concrete. However, pressure impregnation is only in the outer sapwood and therefore the protective effect is limited.
All timber must be protected as far as possible by ‘structural protection’, which means that you plan and build so that the timber is ventilated and water is drained away to allow the material to dry out.
Wood is a natural material and will eventually turn grey. It is a good idea to protect the wood in dry conditions with suitable wood preservatives – either varnish or transparent wood preservatives. However, it is important to know that larch facades are difficult to treat with water-based wood preservatives.
TREAT THE LARCH SLATS OR LET THEM TURN GREY?
Larch does not need surface treatment in outdoor conditions because it will last about 20 to 30 years without decay without direct contact with the ground. Untreated larch will turn grey in about 2-3 years due to sunlight and moisture. The colour changes first from the points that are most exposed to the weather and evens out over several years, depending on the conditions. The greying of wood can be slowed down by treating the wood with transparent wood preservatives. Exterior cladding made from larch also does not need to be refinished, as the larch material can withstand UV and moisture stresses. Over the years, however, the wood will turn grey. Remember that during greying, the tone of the surface of the larch facade may become uneven. To keep larch surfaces durable and attractive, it is important to inspect them annually for damage. If necessary, washing dirt from the surface of the wood helps. We produce larch facades with visible or concealed joints in different widths and thicknesses according to customer requirements.
QUALITY AND DURABILITY OF THE LARCH FACADE
The quality of a wooden larch facade is determined by the right choice of tree species, the right cladding and the professional execution of details. The correct integration of the timber is crucial for the durability of the timber facade cladding. As long as the design principles of protection are respected, as well as the fact that the wooden larch facade needs to be aerated, you do not have to worry about the durability of your facade.
Wood as the basic material for the facade allows for many different types of cladding and the use of different profiles and colours. In combination with stone, glass or metal, its properties are even more accentuated.
