External cladding is the visible face of every Arden & Oak build, but from a construction standpoint it's the last of three layers protecting the timber-frame structure — after the OSB skin and the breather membrane. The cladding sheds most of the water, but it's the detailing beneath and around it that keeps the structure dry for the next 50+ years.
The layered installation
- Breather membrane checked and taped — no penetrations, no torn edges
- Vertical treated battens (25 mm) fixed to the timber-frame through the membrane — creates the ventilation cavity
- Cross-battens where required (for horizontal cladding, so the vent cavity still runs vertically)
- Cladding boards fixed to battens with concealed stainless steel fixings
- Corners detailed with a shadow gap, mitre or purpose-made corner trim
- Head, sill and jamb flashings around every opening, hidden behind the cladding line
How it ages
Because the cladding sits on a fully ventilated cavity, timber can dry after every rainstorm — the ventilation cavity is the single most important reason our claddings last 40+ years. Cheaper garden rooms that fix cladding directly to the wall skip this cavity to save cost, and pay for it in premature rot within 10 years.