Sector Focus: Cladding & Shingles | 41
Above: An InWood cladding project
as part of the build package,” said Mr Rice. “InWood can now manage the complete process, including fire-retardant treatments and decorative coatings, which have become an essential requirement on most commercial and multi-unit developments. While natural finishes remain dominant, coloured and factory-applied coatings are being specified more frequently.”
Where Euroclass B fire performance is required, he added, InWood coordinate the full treatment process through approved partners to ensure correct penetration, compliance, and full certification. “Boards are machined to tight tolerances to minimise movement during treatment, and coatings are applied under controlled conditions to deliver a consistent, warrantable finish,” he said. “This removes risk from the client and ensures the timber arrives on site ready for installation.” InWood says the price it pays for its timber has levelled out after the volatility of recent years. Hardwood prices remain stable, and modified softwoods have “settled into predictable ranges”.
“Clients now value transparency and dependable lead times more than anything, and that’s where we’re putting a lot of our attention,” said Mr Rice.
The company is not currently heavily active in the shingles market, although they are not ruling out getting more involved. “Shingles tend to be specified for niche projects, with most demand we see centred around horizontal and vertical cladding systems, but it’s an area we are keeping an eye on,” said Mr Rice.
Among latest developments, InWood has expanded its finger-jointed range and adapted several profiles to suit modern contemporary
Above: Finger-jointing removes the usual length constraints, whilst improving performance
www.ttjonline.com | Spring 2026 | TTJ
projects, including slimmer rainscreen modules with matching PAR components developed for screens and fencing.
It has also invested further in tooling, CNC capability, extraction system improvements, and workflow upgrades across finger-jointed and cladding lines.
“These have improved accuracy, reduced waste, and increased throughput,” said Mr Rice. “We’re also planning further expansion of our cladding and engineered timber capacity as demand continues to grow.” Into 2026, the company is expecting steady growth driven by architect-led projects and “increased demand for stable, precision- machined timber products”.
Future plans include further expansion of its engineered timber offering, refinements in its finger-jointed cladding range, and continuing improvements in production workflow. ‘Strengthening trade partnerships and improving access to technical data and fast, accurate quoting’ are also key priorities. “We’re currently refining our digital quoting and technical systems to give architects and trade customers faster access to specification information, drawings, and pricing,” said Mr Rice. “Our aim is simple – to combine craftsmanship and precision machining with a modern, responsive service that makes specifying timber straightforward.”
Page 1 |
Page 2 |
Page 3 |
Page 4 |
Page 5 |
Page 6 |
Page 7 |
Page 8 |
Page 9 |
Page 10 |
Page 11 |
Page 12 |
Page 13 |
Page 14 |
Page 15 |
Page 16 |
Page 17 |
Page 18 |
Page 19 |
Page 20 |
Page 21 |
Page 22 |
Page 23 |
Page 24 |
Page 25 |
Page 26 |
Page 27 |
Page 28 |
Page 29 |
Page 30 |
Page 31 |
Page 32 |
Page 33 |
Page 34 |
Page 35 |
Page 36 |
Page 37 |
Page 38 |
Page 39 |
Page 40 |
Page 41 |
Page 42 |
Page 43 |
Page 44 |
Page 45 |
Page 46 |
Page 47 |
Page 48 |
Page 49 |
Page 50 |
Page 51 |
Page 52 |
Page 53 |
Page 54 |
Page 55 |
Page 56 |
Page 57 |
Page 58 |
Page 59 |
Page 60 |
Page 61 |
Page 62 |
Page 63 |
Page 64 |
Page 65 |
Page 66 |
Page 67 |
Page 68 |
Page 69
