On a timber facade the profile matters as much as the species. The same timber in a different section produces a different building character and a different maintenance schedule.
Tongue-and-groove
Interlocking edges give a closed surface. It is the most weather-tight option and reads as a flat, continuous facade. It must have a ventilation cavity behind it — a closed face can otherwise trap moisture at the back.
Rhombus
Diamond-section boards laid with a gap. The gaps give the facade rhythm and shadow depth, and ventilate the cavity naturally. A black breather membrane behind is essential, or the structure shows through the joints.
Open-joint flat section
The simplest option: plain sections at a fixed spacing. Fastest to fix and lowest in cost, and the usual choice where the architecture wants to emphasise a horizontal or vertical line.
How to decide
Tongue-and-groove where rainfall is heavy and the facade is exposed; rhombus where shadow and texture are wanted; open-joint flat section where budget and programme lead. We produce all three in Iroko, Sapelli and Thermowood to project-specific dimensions.
