Trends, Best Sellers and Outlook for 2026

Premium timber cladding has delivered a positive and progressive year across both new build and refurbishment markets.

The education sector in particular has seen a noticeable rise in sustainable timber façade systems being specified.

Our products have been nominated for awards in projects such as:

• Harwell Science and Innovation Campus using VTX Redwood
• Orsett Heath Academy featuring Thermo Ayous
• The Swan School incorporating Homegrown Larch.

This reflects both strong collaboration with contractors and sustained demand for natural timber cladding in public buildings.

“Over the past year, timber cladding at Vincent Timber has performed strongly. It’s been a positive and progressive period, with a clear focus on strengthening relationships, welcoming strong talent, and refreshing the brand through a refined digital strategy.”

Increased investment in school buildings and community infrastructure has supported specification led demand for durable, compliant timber cladding systems.

At the same time, refurbishment projects have grown as homeowners and developers choose to upgrade rather than relocate, investing in long lasting external materials that enhance both performance and aesthetic value.

The wider UK timber market has experienced disruption. Adaptability and supply chain resilience have been essential in maintaining customer confidence, particularly as gaps in the market have increased demand on established timber cladding suppliers.

“The collapse of many respected suppliers has been truly sad to see and required us to adapt quickly.”

Demand has shifted clearly toward products offering documented durability, warranty backed performance and sustainable sourcing.

“Recently, we’ve seen particularly strong demand for Accoya cladding, VTX preservative-treated timber, and plywood-based flooring sheets.”

The following ranges have led performance.

Accoya continues to perform strongly across high end residential and commercial schemes.

Its dimensional stability, 50-year above ground warranty and sustainability credentials make it a preferred option for architects seeking predictable long-term performance and lifecycle value.

Specification led projects increasingly favour modified timber species for their durability and whole life cost efficiency.

VTX preservative treated European Redwood has seen significant growth across housing developments, education schemes and commercial façades.

Available in VTX Pigmented and VTX Zero, it offers:

Competitive pricing

EuroClass B compatibility where required

30-year durability warranty

Versatile sector application

Its consistent performance makes it well suited to projects requiring compliance, longevity and aesthetic flexibility.

Sivalbp and Cape Cod

Factory coated timber cladding has continued to grow in popularity.

Through exclusive partnerships with Sivalbp and Cape Cod we have supported increased demand for pre-finished solutions.

Sivalbp’s pre-weathered finish offers uniformity and reduced on-site labour, while Cape Cod provides rich colour options supported by a 15-year coating warranty.

Modified timbers have seen notable growth across the UK cladding market.

Rising installation and labour costs mean clients are prioritising materials that will perform reliably for decades.

Thermally modified Radiata Pine and Thermo Ayous have experienced increased demand, offering improved dimensional stability and durability with service lives exceeding 30 years.

The long-term value proposition is clear:

“Installation and labour costs are now such a large proportion that the installed materials need to last and continue to perform year after year.”

European Larch has become the primary substitute for Siberian Larch within the UK timber cladding market.

It offers reliable availability and strong performance within ventilated façade systems, making it the most technically appropriate like for like alternative currently available.

The breadth of recent projects highlights the versatility of modern timber façade systems.

As one team member noted:

“From colour-matching a car to major public infrastructure, the projects we work on keep us on our toes!”

Western Red Cedar shingles remain the most popular option across the timber shingles UK market.

The “Gingerbread House” by architect Laura Dewe Mathews is a standout example, featuring Canadian Western Red Cedar shingles chosen for their natural ability to weather gracefully.

Increasingly specified as both roofing and cladding, they offer a near defect free finish and classic natural appearance.

Natural, unfinished timber cladding continues to dominate overall demand.

As observed internally:

“The majority of orders are still for natural, uncoated timber cladding – the market likes for timber to naturally weather down to that silver/ grey, and age with the building.”

Factory finished coloured systems such as Cape Cod remain popular where colour consistency and coating warranties are required, though they represent a smaller proportion of total market volume.

Looking ahead, the outlook for 2026 remains positive.

Refurbishment demand is expected to strengthen as homeowners continue to improve rather than relocate. Government housing targets reinforce sustained new build activity, with specification decisions increasingly aligned around sustainability, compliance and whole life performance.

As summarised internally:

“Overall, in 2026, demand across both refurbishment and new build is increasingly aligned around sustainability, longevity, and low maintenance – areas where we continue to invest, innovate, and strengthen our position within the cladding and shingles markets.”

At Vincent Timber, we remain focused on sustainable sourcing, high performance timber systems and close collaboration with architects, contractors and consultants.

Get in touch today for quality specification, design, and installation for commercial or residential cladding and shingles.