Material choice for barge boards (capped), soffits and fascias

[zzPaulzz]

Any opinions on this topic? I will have black capped barge boards, soffits and fascias.  I want a durable and low maintenance material that won’t need repainting, particularly for the capped barge boards as these will be most exposed to UV and weather.  So far my list includes tricoya (expensive), Accoya (expensive), Cedral (not a fan of cement boards), larch, or whatever I can get from the local builders merchants.Definitely don’t want uPVC   

[Mr Punter]

I don't understand the question.  Normally these are either treated softwood capped with PVC or aluminium or all PVC or they are durable timber (oak, Sweet Chestnut etc).

[Nickfromwales]

Durable and low maintenance = Cedral…..

 

Maybe you need to try to fall in love with that, as wood(s) do not tick this box of yours squire   

[zzPaulzz]

8 minutes ago, Mr Punter said:

I don't understand the question.  Normally these are either treated softwood capped with PVC or aluminium or all PVC or they are durable timber (oak, Sweet Chestnut etc).

You just answered it, thanks  Capping with aluminium is an option.  

[zzPaulzz]

6 minutes ago, Nickfromwales said:

Durable and low maintenance = Cedral…..

 

Maybe you need to try to fall in love with that, as wood(s) do not tick this box of yours squire   

Yep, perhaps!  

[Nickfromwales]

3 minutes ago, zzPaulzz said:

Yep, perhaps!  

Just consider the number of times you’ll ACTUALLY look at it ever again, after moving in. 
 

This kind of thing is the blight of self building, too many options / choices / and over-focussing on every micro detail.

 

It would probably take me 30 years to build my dream home how I wanted it, just in time to have my wake there. lol.

 

Fit the Cedral, move on to the next problem, complete home, live in bliss; (apply downstream ignorance to any faux pas). 😎🫡👍

[zzPaulzz]

Spot on!

[Nickfromwales]

Just now, zzPaulzz said:

Spot on!

It’s what I do lol. 

[Nick Laslett]

My vote: Timber covered/capped with Aluminium. 
 

My neighbour has Cedral. Impossible to love. Hard redline for wife & I. 
 

Tricoya is amazing. James Latham will sell you Tricoya by the pallet, massive decrease in price per board, but far too much material. 
 

Do not do what we did. I baulked at the price and work fittings timber covered aluminium like the Marley Alutec system. Basically with Alutec you fit the timber, then you fit the aluminium, so in my ignorance I decided that meant you were doing the work twice. In my defence, the Thermohouse roof boards are so thick, that you need fascia boards taller than the off the peg PVC/Aluminium boards, 460mm. 
 

As with most of my build decisions, I decided to go off-piste and make up my own system. We used Medite Exterior MDF, supplied by Latham’s for the fascia boards. We used 12mm cement board for the soffits. All painted using the Dulux Weathershield system. It took us 6 months to cut, paint and install all these boards. Medite’s technicals on Exterior MDF require 7 coatings on both sides of the MDF. 
 

1. Seal all edges with MDF sealer - 2 coats

2. Dulux Trade Weathershield Preservative Primer + (BP) - 2 coats

3. Dulux Trade Weathershield Exterior Flexible Undercoat - 2 coats

4. Dulux Trade Weathershield Exterior High Gloss - 1 coat (but in reality 2nd coat once fitted. )

 

Each board took 7 days to turn around. 

Edited yesterday at 12:45 by Nick Laslett