Timber

• Sourced from sustainable forests with PEFC (Programme for the Endorsement of Forest Certification) or FSC (Forest Stewardship Council) certification
• Available in transparent and opaque coatings on a wide variety of timber substrates, including fire retardant treatments
• A variety of profiles are available in each wood type
• Virtually maintenance free
• Retains natural strength & beauty
• Environmentally compatible, 100% recyclable and naturally renewable
• Provides excellent weather protection to the building envelope
• Secret fix and through fix options are available
• Comprehensive design and technical support
• Ancillaries are available in the same material for a complete solution
• Independently tested system, including CWCT external building envelope
• Available with the Benchmark Total Guarantee
• All manufacturing occurs under strict quality control guidelines, providing high performance materials.

Façade & Rail Weight

Module size, thickness are dependent on project design requirements. For accurate weights for your specific application, contact the Benchmark Technical Services Department.

Product Tolerance

Timber machine cutting tolerances of +/- 0.5mm for the width and thickness, and a cross cutting to set length +/- 1mm

Dimensions

Accoya: 17mm thick
Profiles: VT1/2/3/4/6/7/8*/9b*/10b + VT542 (VT542 must be face fixed)
Siberian Larch: 21mm thick
Profiles: VT1/2/3 + VT542
Sweet Chestnut (finger jointed): 21mm thick
Profiles: VT1/2/3 + VT542
Thermowood: 21mm thick
Profiles: VT 2562, VT 2563, VT2564. VT 2565, VT2566, VT2567 (all specific Thermowood profiles)
Western Red Cedar: 17mm thick
Profiles: VT1/2/3/4/6/7/8*/9b*/10/10b &VT542

See 'Other Details' Tab for Profiles.
PLEASE NOTE: Both Siberian Larch and Sweet Chestnut have to be face fixed.
*These profile modules can only be used in a vertical cladding application.
Lengths can range from 1.2m to 6.0m but do vary depending on species. Please contact the Benchmark Technical Department for further information.

Benchmark Timber facades are available in the following timbers:

Accoya is an exceptionally durable wood, and one of the most stable timbers available. It is pale cream with brownish tones, allowing light translucent colours to be applied. Accoya has excellent coatings compatibility. Accoya needs to be coated. Coatings can be transparent, translucent or opaque.

Siberian Larch offers incredible impact resistance and excellent service life and longevity. It is a pale honey to reddish-brown colour with clearly marked annual rings and a straight grain. Relates to the heartwood of the wood.

Sweet Chestnut (finger jointed) offers a light golden appearance similar to Oak with pronounced grain and occasional dark mineral streaks. Sweet chestnut will weather to a natural silver if left untreated. The grain can be variable, ranging from straight grain to vertical in very short lengths. Finger jointing allows a significant reduction in waste and enabling specific cut lengths to be ordered. The glue used is a D3 RF/W external glue conforming to BS 4071, creep and water resistant, EN204 D3.

Thermowood® is a very stable material due to the heat treatment process giving it high resistance to moisture or decay. Variance in colour will differ due to the density of the softwood prior to the heat treatment process. Thermowood® is a superior base for receiving surface treatment, however can be left untreated which will eventually turn to a silvery grey.

Western Red Cedar is a highly versatile and durable material. It has natural colouring in mellow ambers, reddish cinnamons and rich sienna browns with a fine grained texture. It can be protected or left unprotected. If left unprotected, Western Red cedar will age to a silvery grey patina.

All Benchmark Timber products are sourced from sustainable forests with PEFC (Programme for the Endorsement of Forest Certification) or FSC (Forest Stewardship Council) certification which enables traceability of the timber. Benchmark Timber has also been awarded chain of custody for SFI (Sustainable forest initiative) to cover Western Red Cedar.
The Thermowood production process uses heat vapour and steam only and no chemicals detrimental to the environment. Any cutting waste produced can be burnt, recycled or composted.

Stainless steel fixings ideally small round headed annular ring shank nails.

Timber boards are stored and transported in packs with sides partially protected with card and the entire pack is wrapped in polythene. Batten spacing centres to be close enough to prevent deflection of the stack or individual timber boards. If packs cannot be kept in a building they should be covered with a non-transparent weatherproof sheet ensuring that the sheet drains water away effectively and does not allow ponding on top of the pack. It should also allow air circulation through the stack of boards.
All stacks of timber boards to be protected from direct wetting, as well as construction site dirt, on-site by weather-proof covering that still allows air circulation around the timber boards.
Soil and dirt contamination, such as boot marks must be avoided on finished or unfinished products as they are difficult to remove.
Store in a location free from any ignition hazards, such as open flames, cutting and welding torches, high surface temperatures, electric heaters and other forms of direct radiant heat.

Handling

Edges of boards, particularly with profiles such as tongue and groove, need to be protected, and not damaged by over tight banding etc.
The timber boards should be supported on battens, out of contact with soil or water on a level base, preferably a dry concrete slab. Batten spacing centres to be close enough to prevent deflection of the stack or individual timber boards.
It is necessary to give particular care when handling boards or panels that are fully finished. This is to avoid damage to the finish. Touching-up is not recommended because of the difficulty of colour matching and also achieving the same durability with site application of a finish. Accoya must be coated and requires recoating every 5 years. For further information about timber coatings, please contact Benchmark Technical Services.

Site assembly instructions are available from the Benchmark Technical Services Department.

All of the Benchmark Roof, Wall & Façade Systems are available with the Benchmark Total Guarantee, offering thermal and structural performance guarantee. Please contact the Benchmark Technical Service Department for further information.

Both treated and non-treated timber is available. Should the timber facade exceed 18m in height, FR treated timber is mandatory. Please consult Benchmark Technical Services for further information.