FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: July 22, 2014
CONTACT: Lydia Carrington, (828) 231-1793 or [email protected]
CANTON, NC – It’s the busiest time of the year for BarkClad, a bark siding and building-supply company based in the southern Appalachian Mountains of western North Carolina.
During a few short weeks every summer, the BarkClad team heads into the woods for the bark of the Southern Tulip Poplar, a hearty and abundant tree whose characteristic to grow straight and tall makes it an ideal source for natural cladding. Working with loggers who are cutting poplar timber for the furniture and plywood industries, BarkClad harvests its bark only from already-felled trees, saving what otherwise would go to waste to create a beautiful natural siding product.
It’s a painstaking process, and not much different than the technique used by mountain residents centuries ago.
“We only harvest bark 60 days out of the entire year, so we have to move quickly. The rest of the year, that tree will not release its bark correctly and we won’t be able to get a good shake,” said Danny Heatherly, a second-generation timber farmer who founded BarkClad in 1999. “The result – a distinctive, durable and long-lasting natural siding – is definitely worth the effort.”
BarkClad has built a reputation nationwide on providing the highest-quality natural bark siding and building products and exceptional customer service. Their distinctive bark is found on the exteriors and interiors of fine rustic homes and lodges, lake cabins, seaside cottages, and natural commercial properties across North America. BarkClad products are certified by the Forest Stewardship Council, a designation that ensures the bark has come only from well-managed forests.
BarkClad’s natural bark is hand-peeled and cut at the tree harvest site, then carefully carried, not pulled or dragged, to a pallet where it is stacked flat for drying. This “hands-on” process minimizes damage and maintains the bark’s natural integrity.
Back at the mill, the bark is placed in a kiln where it is dried slowly at a constant heat, a process that also destroys any insects, eggs, larvae, and fungi that may be present. Once drying is complete, the bark is cut to specification and ready to ship.
“Every piece of our bark siding is touched seven distinct times before it ever even reaches the customer,” said Heatherly. “Our bark is truly a handcrafted product. That’s something we’re very proud of.”
BarkClad natural poplar bark is available in three grades – Super Premium Exterior (up to 1.5-inch thickness), Standard Exterior (up to 1-inch thickness) and Interior (half-inch thickness) — and heights of 18, 24 and 36 inches. Custom sizes are available on request.
Scott Westendorf, president of Chinquapin Builders in Cashiers, NC, has been using BarkClad products for more than seven years.
“We use a lot of the natural bark siding on homes we do,” said Westendorf, who specializes in high-end custom-built homes. “Our clients like the beauty of natural wood and BarkClad’s poplar bark has a look that is of the highest quality.”
Building on its commitment to preserving the environment, BarkClad recently introduced an engineered bark siding product that is a sustainable and cost-effective alternative to the natural siding. SmartBark is manufactured from a polymer blend in a patented process that produces the same rich and rustic look of traditional poplar bark siding.
Please visit barkclad.com for more information on BarkClad and its natural and engineered bark products.
Benefits of BarkClad Natural Bark
Made of 100-percent USA Tulip Poplar bark
Harvested by hand
Long lasting and durable
Every piece is unique in color and texture
Available in three grades for exterior and interior use
Strict sustainability guidelines
Certified by Forest Stewardship Council
Member of Western North Carolina Green Building Council
Trusted industry leader
PHOTO CREDIT: BarkClad
PHOTO CAPTION: BarkClad Natural Poplar Bark Siding is found on the exteriors and interiors of fine rustic homes and lodges, lake cabins, seaside cottages, and natural commercial properties across North America. Based in the southern Appalachian Mountains of western North Carolina, the company has built a reputation nationwide on providing the highest-quality natural bark siding and building products and exceptional customer service.
