Lowtech Graph lists low-tech options for every need of a home. Here you can compare them, find tutorials to build them, and link them together into a circular system. Why low-tech?
Naturally durable or treated cladding (larch, charred timber)
Passive
Note: Cost, carbon and footprint are broad judgements against comparable building approaches, not measured figures.
Outside cladding made from a timber that resists rot on its own, such as larch, or wood whose surface has been charred. The wood protects itself without paint or stain. It lasts for decades without needing to be recoated.
Charred timber: 50-80 years correctly installed (some sources: 25-35 years for a zero-maintenance service life); untreated larch: 30-40 years
Embodied carbon
Low
Space / material use
Low
Output timing
None
Skill to repair
Basic
Regulation (FR example)
Changing the external appearance of an existing building normally requires a prior declaration (declaration prealable) at the mairie; stricter rules and an architect consultation apply within a protected or heritage perimeter.
How does this solution compare to others for the same need?
The only option catalogued for this need so far, so there is nothing to compare it against.
Sources
Timber cladding/charred-wood lifespan industry sources (The Larch Cladding Company, Timber Cladding Specialists)
Limitations of this page
We don’t list sizing or quantities, as the yield of each technique depends on the quality of its build. The catalogue compares options but doesn’t dimension them. Regulatory notes are indicative, with a French example, and need to be confirmed locally.