Black is the New Cedar
First Published: 16 September 2020
Refreshed: 22 October 2024
Reading Time: 1 minute 48 seconds
For years, Cedar has been the top choice for garden room cladding, but over the last year or so, we have seen more and more buildings featuring black cladding. We have to say, we’re loving this trend!
Leading the way with black-clad garden rooms is Ark Design Build, who offer a bespoke design service in the Kent, East Sussex and parts of Essex. They allow each customer to choose the cladding finish that appeals to them aesthetically, from Thermowood to Western Red Cedar.
Over the last few months, we have featured three projects by Ark Design Build finished with black external cladding: a contemporary garden office with porch detail, a bespoke garden office that doubles as a cinema room, and a stylish small granny annexe.
Durable Black Cladding
Garden room designers love Cedar for its long lifespan and natural resistance to rot and fungal attack. However, unless a UV oil is applied when installed and topped up every few years, the cladding will gradually change from an attractive reddish-brown to a silvery grey. While this doesn’t affect its durability, it does change the building’s appearance.
Black cladding, on the other hand, allows your garden room to maintain its appearance as it ages.
Ark Design Build uses either Siberian Larch or Thermowood cladding, painted with Bedec Barn Paint. This combination offers a highly durable external cladding with a traditional paint finish commonly seen on barns and agricultural buildings. Black barn paint is a flexible finish that doesn’t crack, blister, or flake.
One Exterior Colour = A Stylish Look
Ark Design Build colour match the black cladding with black aluminium door and window frames. Using a single colour for all external finishes creates a cohesive, stylish look. We love how the vibrant colours of the garden contrast against the solid block of black.
Learn More
To learn more about finishing your garden room with black cladding, chat with the Ark Design Build team on 07760 882 950 or send them an email at contact@arkdesignbuild.co.uk. Explore www.arkdesignbuild.co.uk to see more examples of their work.




