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What Is Black Featheredge Barn Cladding?

Featheredge cladding is one of the most traditional and widely used timber cladding profiles in the UK. Each board tapers from a thick edge (24mm) down to a thin edge (6mm), and the boards are installed overlapping each other – thick edge down, thin edge tucked behind the board above. The result is that classic weatherboard look you see on farm buildings, barns, and stables across the countryside.

This particular board comes factory finished in black, making it ideal for anyone after that popular dark barn aesthetic without the time and effort of painting raw timber from scratch.

How Does This Differ From Our Rebated Black Barn Cladding?

We also stock our Q-Clad Rebated Black Barn Cladding, and it’s worth knowing the difference so you can choose the right one for your project.

• The rebated version has a small step machined into the back of each board, so the boards slot neatly together for a tighter, more seamless finish. It also comes with two coats of paint (primer and top coat) from the factory
• This featheredge version uses a traditional overlapping installation method with no rebate. It comes with one coat of black paint from the factory, so over-painting is even more important here to build up a strong, weather-resistant finish

Both products are made from the same slow-grown Scandinavian whitewood and treated to the same UC3C standard. The choice between them largely comes down to the look and finish you’re after – the featheredge has a more traditional, rustic character, while the rebated version gives a slightly cleaner, more contemporary line.

Product Details

• Profile: Featheredge (plain, non-rebated)
• Finished size: 24mm thick edge x 6mm thin edge x 175mm wide (dimensions can vary by +/-0.5mm on thickness and +/-2.0mm on width)
• Nominal size: 2 pieces ex 32 x 175mm
• Coverage per board: Approximately 140mm
• Material: Slow-grown Scandinavian whitewood
• Treatment: Preservative treated to UC3C
• Factory finish: One coat of black paint
• Also known as: Essex black barn featheredge cladding

Each board is kiln dried to the right moisture content for external cladding use before being preservative treated to UC3C, so the timber itself is very well protected.

Painting and Finishing

The boards arrive with one coat of black paint already applied, which gives you a solid base to work from. For the best long-term result, we’d recommend over-painting with additional coats before and after installation – the more coats you build up, the better the weather resistance and the longer the finish will last.

For over-painting, we stock Bedec Barn Paint which is what the supplier recommends. The satin finish is the closest match to the factory coat and gives a really smart, consistent result across the whole cladding face.

A couple of tips worth knowing:

• Always coat cut ends with an end grain preservative or extra paint before fixing – cut ends are where moisture gets in if left untreated
• If you’re adding a second or third coat, lightly sand between coats for a smoother, more professional finish

Installation Guidance

Featheredge cladding is straightforward to install, but a few basics will make sure you get a clean, long-lasting result:

• Fix to timber battens at approximately 400-600mm centres
• Use stainless steel fixings for best durability outdoors – other fixings can rust and stain the cladding over time
• Install over a breather membrane with adequate ventilation behind the boards
• Each board should overlap the one below by around 25-35mm to achieve the 140mm coverage
• Pre-drill near the ends of boards to avoid splitting
• Always treat cut ends before fixing

A full fitting guide for Q-Clad products is available from our supplier – please get in touch if you’d like a copy.

How Much Do I Need?

Each board covers approximately 140mm once installed with the correct overlap. To work out how many boards you need:

1. Measure the total area you need to clad in square metres
2. Divide by 0.14 (the coverage per board in metres) to get the number of boards per metre of length
3. Multiply by the number of lengths you need
4. Always add 10-15% for waste, cuts, and any damaged boards

If you’re not sure how much to order, feel free to give us a call or drop us a message and we’ll help you work it out.

Order Online With Timberstore

You’ll always get our best price when you order through the website. We deliver across South East England using our own fleet – covering Buckinghamshire, Berkshire, Oxfordshire, Hertfordshire, Greater London, Surrey, West Sussex, and Hampshire. If you’re outside our delivery area, you’re welcome to click and collect from our yard in Beaconsfield, HP9 2RX.