Grey timber cladding is the George Clooney of exterior finishes. Distinguished, weathered and better with age.

Caused by the process of ultraviolet light breaking down the lignin in the wood, greyed wood has become an unlikely timber trend.

The greyscale tones are versatile and help designers to create a nature-connected space.

Contemporary house with a pitched gray timber facade, large glass walls, open living space, and a wooden deck surrounding a turquoise pool. — As seen on Grand Designs: grey Siberian larch cladding completing a stunning property

Grey cladding: a versatile, grayscale, nature-inspired look

Grey cladding can provide an ‘at-one-with-nature’ feel to your house or outdoor space.

With the environment and sustainability as important as ever, spaces that connect closely with the outdoors and express its innate character are particularly on-trend, a theme that grey cladding achieves effortlessly.

For many, ‘imperfect’ is the perfect and grey timber cladding says ‘nothing artificial here’.

Modern two-story home with a stone base and light wood siding, large windows, and a curved driveway, set among a green lawn and shrubs under a blue sky.

Modern single-story extension with gray vertical siding and large glass sliding doors, a tiled patio, trimmed hedges, green lawn, and climbing roses on the wall. — Thermo-Nordic pine DTC47 profile cladding, factory coated with SiOO:X Light Grey finish

When exposed to the environment, untreated timber will lose its original colour and slowly turn to a silvery-grey.

It is due to the effect of moisture and the sun’s ultraviolet light rays breaking down substances within the wood. It's a surface phenomenon and does not indicate decay or rot.

As a result of their natural durability and widespread popularity, two good species for 'going grey' are western red cedar and Siberian larch, although any qualities species will eventually turn silver if exposed to UV and moisture.

Gray wooden shed with vertical siding and a sloped metal roof, featuring a skylight and vent pipe. A gravel path runs beside it, with small evergreens and plants in a curved garden bed.

Bright modern cafe interior through doorway: white bar with metal stools, woven pendant lights, wall art, shelves, and purple flowers in foreground.

Low-angle view of a layered wooden gable roof above a brick wall, set against a clear blue sky.

Associated with Scandinavian design, grey provides a versatile neutral backdrop and canvas for the rest of your space.

Not only this, but since it won’t change further in appearance, with grey cladding you know exactly what your building is going to look well into the future.

A modern wooden house with wide glass doors, warm interior lighting, and an outdoor bathtub on a raised deck; a dining area and bedroom are visible.

Given the popularity of rewilding and nature-connected spaces, it provides a refreshing, exposed and simple feel.

Modern gray house with large glass walls and a triangular pavilion, beside a pool with a wooden deck, set in a lush landscaped garden on a sunny day.

Modern dark wood-clad building with tall vertical panels, two large glass doors, and a flat gray deck, set beside evergreen trees under a blue sky. — Dark charcoal: an on-trend, Scandi-inspired choice

Modern wooden house exterior with vertical gray planks; a tall narrow window on the left and a large rectangular window showing a chair inside, with greenery around.

Modern house with a black slanted roof, timber columns, and glass walls; covered patio with wicker seating, potted plants, and a green lawn. — Western red cedar in a natural stains contrasts with Thermo-pine in a charred look charcoal stain

Modern wooden house with slate roof and skylights, glass doors, and a gray cushioned outdoor dining set on a wooden deck with plants and blue sky.

3 ways to achieve grey timber cladding

Depending on the size of your project and how quickly you want the look, there are three ways to achieve grey timber cladding: by letting the wood age naturally, by choosing a professional factory finish, or by using an agent to speed up the natural greying process.

1. The natural way

If you’re not in a big hurry, the most straightforward, true-to-nature method is to simply let the timber go grey by itself.

The key is to choose a quality, durable species like western red cedar, Siberian larch, Douglas fir, or a modified option like Thermo-pine and Thermo-ayous. They don’t strictly need any treatment before being used outdoors.

For maximum service life, you might still consider applying a protective finish. One that doesn’t contain UV filters, such as Owatrol H4 Wood, will allow the cladding to age and grey beautifully whilst shielding it from moisture, pollution and dirt damage.

By treating your timber with such a finish, you’ll also help to prevent drastic colour variations and uneven greying often caused by moisture.

Depending on how exposed your cladding is and even whether you’re in a coastal area, this greying process can take anywhere from a few months to a few years.

A sunny backyard garden with a vertical stack of decorative birdhouses on a wooden wall, a flower bed in front, potted plants along the lawn, and trees in the background.

2. A professional factory finish

A great way to achieve those gorgeous grey tones, particularly for larger projects in the planning phase. It provides a uniform, beautifully-weathered look for your cladding.

For customers wanting to go down this route to attain those silvery-grey patinas, look at SiOO:X. It is a state-of-the-art woodcare protection system, available in a light grey and mid grey depending on your vision.

Two-story house with a stone base and gray wooden upper level, a sloped roof, dark-framed windows, and a gravel yard with shrubs and a small tree. — SiOO:X wood protection system

We’ve written in a little more detail about the benefits of a professional factory finish and the options you have.

3. Greying accelerants

You can speed up the natural greying process by applying a dedicated greying accelerant product. There are a number on the market, such as Remmers Pre-Grey.

As well as protecting and sealing the timber, these treatments deliver a consistent, quality grey finish on your timber in a very short space of time.

There are also a number of other DIY methods and at-home preparations for ageing the wood.

One of the most popular includes letting steel wool sit overnight in a bath of ordinary white vinegar, before diluting 1:1 with water and applying it to your timber with a brush. Be sure to test on a small sample or an inconspicuous area first, of course.