Barge Boards House Options and Materials

Barge boards house options and materials are vast, but it all starts with choosing the right type of wood. Pressure-treated pine is a popular choice for its affordability and durability.

For a more rustic look, cedar barge boards are a great option. They can withstand harsh weather conditions and require minimal maintenance.

Cedar is also resistant to rot and insect damage, making it a great choice for outdoor projects. It's also available in a range of colors, from light to dark.

If you're looking for a more budget-friendly option, pine barge boards are a great choice. They can be stained or painted to match your home's exterior.

There are several types of barge boards, each with its own unique characteristics and purposes. The most common type is the flat barge board, which is a simple and affordable option.

A flat barge board is typically made of wood and is designed to provide a clean and minimalist look.

For a more decorative look, you can opt for a curved barge board, which can add a touch of elegance to your home's exterior.

Curved barge boards are often used on Victorian-style homes to create a distinctive and ornate appearance.

Some barge boards are designed to be more functional, such as the sloping barge board, which helps to shed water and debris from the roof.

Sloping barge boards are often used on homes with steeply pitched roofs to prevent water from accumulating on the roof's edge.

In addition to these types, there are also decorative barge boards that feature intricate carvings or other ornate details.

Decorative barge boards can be used to add a touch of personality to your home's exterior and can be a great way to express your personal style.

Barge boards can be made from a variety of materials, each with its own advantages and disadvantages. Real wood is a popular choice, offering a natural look and feel, and can be easily painted to match siding and other features. It's also lightweight and versatile in design possibilities.

Real wood barge boards can be broken down into two main groups: cedar and primed white wood. Cedar is a great option, being naturally resistant to decay and able to shrink back to normal size if it absorbs water. However, it's often more expensive and harder to source than other materials.

If budget is a concern, primed white wood is a budget-friendly option that's readily available and lightweight. It's also easy to install and fast to get the job done. However, it's not naturally decay resistant, but XT Trim by Belco addresses this issue with a preservative treatment and primer that comes with a 20-year limited warranty.

Here are some common materials used for barge boards, along with their pros and cons:

Non-Wood and OSB materials are becoming increasingly popular for bargeboards due to their durability and ease of installation.

Fiber cement is a great option, being much lighter weight than OSB and less fragile due to the resin binders and orientation of the wood grains. However, it's only available in certain lengths, making longer gables and less-caulked joints a concern.

Oriented Strand Board (OSB) is another option, offering excellent features such as being lightweight and less fragile than fiber cement. However, it's only available in 16′ lengths, which can make longer gables and less-caulked joints a challenge.

OSB based bargeboards can be vulnerable to rain and damp, leading to swelling and potential water damage. This can be particularly problematic if the tail ends of the bargeboard protrude past the edge of the roofline, exposing them to the elements.

In a super arid climate, OSB based bargeboards may be a perfectly fine material choice. However, in areas with average rainfall, OSB based bargeboards are far from perfect.

Choose Anglian uPVC for your bargeboards and you'll get a hard-wearing material that's resistant to rot and unlikely to need further maintenance, such as painting.

UPVC bargeboards are available in a selection of different colours and finishes, including classic shades like black or white, and a more traditional faux woodgrain finish.

You can choose from a range of colours, including White, White Woodgrain, Golden Oak, Dark Woodgrain, Black, and Anthracite Grey.

uPVC bargeboards are completely waterproof, making them perfect for external components like bargeboards, and they withstand the weather without peeling or warping over time.

Here are the uPVC bargeboard colour options available from Anglian:

These colours can help you match your bargeboards to the rest of your house's exterior, giving your home a uniform look.