Sustainably Sourced Timber Cladding
CERES Fair Wood offers locally sourced quality timbers from sustainable means. We connect small-scale growers and millers to timber buyers. We form part of the purposeful trade of CERES. CERES is an environmental education centre, community garden, urban farm and social enterprise hub spread across four locations, linked by the Merri and Darebin Creeks on Wurundjeri Country, Melbourne.
We know where our wood comes from and often, its exact source and history. Following a strict timber selection criteria process is CERES Fair Wood's difference.
For any questions about our cladding products, please contact us here. Please complete our product enquiry form for specific cladding requests.
Our Cladding Products
We offer both hardwood and softwood cladding in a range of profiles. The cladding is generally milled from stock when you place your order, allowing you to control the final look and feel.
We offer Southern Blue Gum and Macrocarpa for external uses.
- Macrocarpa is versatile and milled from windbreak trees across Victoria.
- Southern Blue Gum is a beautiful timber and is durable (class 2) and tough (F27 for structural use with a BAL19 rating).
Cypress Macrocarpa Cladding
Cypress Macrocarpa (also known as Golden Cypress, Monterey Cypress and Californian Cypress) is an extremely versatile timber milled from windbreak trees across Victoria. It is unfortunately extremely common for these trees to be suffering the effects of disease or simply old age and our use of them stops them from going to waste.
It’s an extremely stable timber, is termite resistant and reasonably durable. When freshly cut, it is a straw colour that will go grey if left to weather. There are a number of finishes that can be applied to delay that.
We supply cladding in this timber in several shapes and finishes, including board and batten, board and board and shiplap with either rough-sawn or dressed faces. Cypress Macrocarpa Cladding Dimensions: A range of options are available, with the raw stock generally either 150mm or 200mm wide.
Finish: Up to you!
Southern Blue Gum Cladding
Southern Blue Gum is a durable (class 2) and rigid (F27 for structural use with a BAL19 rating) timber. Frequently chosen for agroforestry in the southern states because of how quickly it grows and its wide array of uses, it’s remarkably dense and looks good.
Being well managed it has a low level of defects. We grade this timber three times, at the green milling stage and again after it is out of the drying rack and after machining).
- Dimensions include:
- 30×19 (115mm cover)
- 110×19 (95mm cover)
- 80×19 (65mm cover)
Finish: Fully dressed.
Frequently Asked Questions
How long will timber cladding last?
Timber cladding has an excellent lifespan when treated and installed well. It can last 40-60 years depending on the species, treatment process, maintenance, environmental factors, design and coating.
A tree begins degrading as soon as it's removed from the ground, which creates beautiful natural alterations in the timber; treatments can slow this process.
What are the benefits of timber cladding?
- There are many different types of colour variations, grains and unique patterns on timber, allowing for various designs
- Eco-friendly
- A good insulator
- Easy to install compared to other cladding materials
- Save money in the long run due to timber's longevity
- Beautiful
What is the purpose of timber cladding?
Timber cladding protects your house from the weather by adding a second layer of protection. It also insulates your structure and adds a beautiful aesthetic to your home.
How do you maintain timber cladding?
It's key to keep your timber cladding dry. You can achieve this by coating it properly with a UV and water-resistant product before fitting the cladding. It's best to clean your cladding when you notice dirt, stains or mould and keep an eye out for any potential issues as you would with any natural products outside.
Your maintenance period depends on many factors involving weather, species of wood, the coating and more. On average, it can extend from every 1-5 years.
Is timber cladding easy to install?
Timber cladding is much easier to deal with than other cladding materials like metal and plastic, allowing for a much quicker build process. Timber cladding reduces costs and allows more intricate designs due to its versatility.
How is our timber and business sustainable?
Our wood is farm forested and/or salvaged. Farm forested timber means the trees are grown on private land for a number of reasons, for both conservation, improving on-farm outcomes and creating a timber product in the future. By supporting farm forestry, it reduces the need to cut down trees in natural bushlands and forests.
Farm forestry is vital to economically aid farmers, provide shade for livestock and especially for the future as demand for timber is expected to triple by 2050.
CERES Fair Wood, which connects small-scale growers and millers locally to timber buyers, is a social enterprise that forms part of the purposeful trade of our parent organisation, CERES. CERES is Victoria's largest environmental education provider and has, over its 40 year history, become tightly woven into the fabric of the local community of Melbourne's inner north. With over 250 employees it is 95% self funded through its various social enterprises.
In 1982, CERES was born on the banks of the Merri Creek – a 10-acre ex-tip site transformed into an organic farm, community garden, environmental demonstration centre and kids playground. Today CERES runs extensive environmental and cultural education programs for children and adults, with approximately 1 million people visiting the Brunswick East park, learning in affiliated schools or interacting online.
CERES is recognised as an international leader in community and environmental practice and has won many awards including the United Nations Australia World Environment Day Award and Premiers Sustainability Award. Learn more about us here.