The refined architectural timber cladding engineered for excellence

22 October 2023

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In Outliers, acclaimed New York Times best-selling author Malcolm Gladwell famously postulated "the key to achieving true expertise in any skill is simply a matter of practising, albeit in the correct way, for at least 10,000 hours". If tenure truly equates to mastery, Hurford’s, which has been refining the art of engineering timber cladding since the year James Chadwick discovered the neutron, is well-placed.

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Hurfords

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“We are a third generation family-owned business which was founded in 1932,” says Hurford’s manager Jerremy Clarke.“That gives us more than 90 years of experience, which has allowed us to painstakingly refine our business to become a leader in all areas of timber processing and manufacturing.”

Jerremy offers complete hardwood cladding solution WOOD ELEMENTS as a prime example of the fruits of that cumulative labour, describing a near century’s worth of refinement that's flowed into a production process in which no stone - from profile and trim design to innovative drying processes and species selection - has been left unturned.

All timber is air-dried for up to a year, then kiln-dried using Hurford’s double-dried technology to ensure superior stability. Boards are then profiled into a variety of designer styles before being fed through a band saw and then modified in a straight line edging process to ensure machining of the finest tolerance.

The addition of specially designed locator ridges in the profile keeps shadow lines straight by connecting overlap lines, seamlessly improving aesthetics by hiding visible fixings thanks to secret fix screw locators. End-matching allows timber to be joined anywhere and reduces waste, while unique built-in extension gaps designed to relieve pressure caused by boards expanding due to moisture uptake lend further integration to an elegant equation free from visible fixings.

The result is the imbuing of “natural style to any exterior surface, whether as an individual feature or an entire facade”.

Third generation family-owned business Hurford has been refining its engineering of timber cladding since 1932.

This finely-tuned process is now being applied to New Zealand timber, creating TEMPAWOOD, a product utilising thermally-modified 100% FSC-certified New Zealand radiata pine. The standard band-sawn finish is complemented by Dryden’s WoodOil factory coating available in 18 standard colour choices, with detailed aluminium trims, factory-fitted with waterproof gaskets to minimise on-site sealing and the delivery of loose materials, coming standard in black powder coated chromate treated aluminium. Their application completes the project and offers a streamlined finish that plays an integral role in ensuring a water-tight finish.

Jerremy says the decision to apply Hurford’s wealth of experience to create a product purpose-built to outperform traditional styles withstanding the harsh New Zealand climate had proven a simple one.

“Hurford’s has been involved with thermally modifying timber for a long time in Australia, and with the growth of timber cladding in New Zealand, particularly the pine market, along with people wanting cost-effective sustainable timber cladding, it was an easy choice to add radiata pine to the WOOD ELEMENTS range. We’re thrilled with the results; our processes applied to New Zealand pine have produced cladding perfectly suited to both the rugged New Zealand landscape and its climate.”

TEMPAWOOD, made from thermally-modified 100% FSC certified New Zealand radiata pine, has been specially developed by Hurford for the New Zealand market.

He says the same attention to detail that has long been poured into each and every engineering element at Hurford’s has also been applied in the consolidation of all aspects, from seed to site, of the fully-integrated global business.

“Hurford’s covers the entire supply chain, from the management and harvesting of forest resources, processing, manufacturing, sales and distribution of wood in Australia, New Zealand and around the world.

“We manufacture a wide range of timber products from over 50 different timber species - everything from solid timber flooring through to exterior claddings.”

He adds Hurford’s has scoured the globe in search of innovative methods and materials to adopt and adapt to suit a wide variety of locales.

The Shou Sugi Ban range, which combines the ancient Japanese technique of charring the surface of the timber with the unique characteristics of classic Australian hardwood, is an apt example.

The entire WOOD ELEMENTS range is available in a variety of finishes tailored to provide clients with alternatives for the personalisation of any home. The Australian hardwood timbers are most commonly supplied with a dressed face but can also be wire brushed, with all timber naturally durable for up to 50 years and able to be left uncoated to silver off, necessitating very little ongoing maintenance.

Hurford’s wide range of timber products comprises more than 50 different timber species.

All Australian hardwood cladding options are manufactured using 100% PEFC-certified timber.

Jerremy says Hurford’s is a willing architect active in the engineering of a sustainable future with both eyes cast towards a second century in business.

"We've invested heavily in the future of timber products by purchasing over 5000 hectares of land and have commenced a planting programme that will see more than 25,000 new plantation eucalypt saplings established every year.

“Our plan is to continue to refine our engineering excellence over the coming generations.”

Learn more about Hurford’s