Swedish featheredge is a type of cladding where boards are applied horizontally with a characteristic profile: a groove (rebate) at the top of each board. The next board drops its bottom edge into this groove, creating a sleek yet visibly separated facade. The name refers to the Scandinavian origins of this profile type.
How do you recognise Swedish featheredge?
The hallmark is the visible horizontal line (shadow line) at each board transition. The groove at the top and the slightly protruding bottom edge of the next board create a rhythmic pattern of lines on the facade.
| Property | Swedish featheredge |
|---|---|
| Profile | Groove at the top |
| Installation | Horizontal |
| Overlap | Board drops into groove |
| Appearance | Scandinavian, sleek, rustic |
Swedish featheredge vs. standard weatherboard
| Swedish featheredge | Tapered weatherboard | |
|---|---|---|
| Profile | Groove on the top edge | Tapered cross-section |
| Shadow line | Clearly visible | Subtle |
| Appearance | Scandinavian, rustic | Sleek, modern |
| Water drainage | Good (water runs out of groove) | Good |
Applications
Swedish featheredge is popular for:
- Garden rooms and sheds — The classic Scandinavian look
- House cladding — Especially combined with Swedish red (Falu red paint)
- Garages — Rustic appearance
- Fences — Installed horizontally
Wood species and finishes
Traditionally, Swedish featheredge is combined with:
- Spruce + opaque paint — The Scandinavian standard (often red or white)
- Douglas fir — Untreated, weathers to silver-grey
- Larch — Comparable to Douglas fir
- Thermowood — Dark brown, maintenance-free
Related terms
- Weatherboard cladding
- Weatherboard
- Board-on-board cladding
- Douglas fir
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