Solid timber weatherboards are an excellent sustainable cladding choice.
That’s the message cladding products manufacturer, Jenkin, takes to its clients in New Zealand, Australia and the USA.
“Harry Jenkin started building timber weatherboard houses in 1922,” Jenkin chief executive Richard Carbines says. “Many have survived Auckland’s redevelopment and continue to be great family homes.”
Jenkin was a pioneer in the development of treated primed finger-jointed radiata pine as a cladding product.
“We drew on our history as builders, joinery manufacturers and timber processors to create a premium range of exterior cladding fascias and trim, under the Tru-Pine brand,” Mr Carbines says.
“Tru-Pine quickly gained acceptance throughout Australasia as a consistent, accurate product with excellent machining, painting and durability properties.”
Tru-Pine was followed by the development of the Bodyguard brand to take the product into the USA.
Once Tru-Pine and Bodyguard were established, Jenkin started to look at new opportunities.
“During 2004 there was a need to restore confidence into the building market. Jenkin wanted to remind everyone that timber weatherboards were weathertight, from a sustainable resource, and had stood the test of time.
“We also saw that with design input, we could make a timber weatherboard solution with quantifiable benefits and features for builders and clients.”
The result is Jenkin A-lign, a solid timber weatherboard cladding solution in bevelback and rusticated profiles that was launched 18 months ago.
Jenkin A-lign is manufactured from factory processed and treated kiln-dried radiata pine. Defect free, the finger-jointed weatherboard, prefabricated boxed corners and pre-cut scribers are all supplied preprimed, undercoated and ready to use.
“It took us three years to develop the product to our satisfaction,” Mr Carbines says. “We worked with BRANZ to ensure A-lign would satisfy all current building regulations and provide a cost-effective, quality cladding solution.
“It was an expensive process, but we ended up with a superb product.”
“The feedback we’re getting from builders is that they save time, and get outstanding joinery quality finish which impresses their clients. That makes our investment worthwhile.
“We’re continuing to look at further opportunities for innovation. New Zealand has this fantastic sustainable resource. We need to do all we can to make the most of it.”
For further information visit www.jenkin.co.nz.
