Vertical vs. Horizontal vs. Diagonal Siding

The direction you run the boards changes how the building reads. Vertical boards make it look taller, horizontal boards make it look longer, and diagonal boards add movement. Pick the one that suits the architecture and the window layout you already have. Five facade cladding ideas shows each direction on a finished building.

Amber charred spruce cladding beside a glass balcony in Jönköping
Amber charred spruce cladding beside a glass balcony in Jönköping.

In this guide:

Direction sets the rhythm of a facade, but it will not rescue a badly built one. The profile, the detailing and the quality of the work matter whichever way the boards run.

Vertical Siding

Vertical siding draws the eye upward and makes a facade feel taller. It suits contemporary buildings, compact volumes, and any part of a building you want to stand out.

Dark Grey charred spruce cladding on residential houses in Palanga
Dark Grey charred spruce cladding on residential houses in Palanga.

Design Advantages

  • Creates a strong sense of height.
  • Gives simple building forms a confident rhythm.
  • Can highlight entrances, upper floors or selected facade areas.
  • Pairs naturally with both dark charred finishes and lighter brushed colours.

Points to Plan

Plan the board spacing, corners, openings and transitions together, or the vertical lines drift out of balance. Where several materials meet, line them up deliberately.

Horizontal Siding

Horizontal siding creates long, calm lines and makes a facade feel wider. It looks at home on both traditional and modern buildings.

Charred timber cladding at the Northern Lights CCS project in Norway
Charred timber cladding at the Northern Lights CCS project in Norway.

Design Advantages

  • Emphasises the width and length of a building.
  • Creates a composed, familiar facade rhythm.
  • Works well across large uninterrupted wall areas.
  • Can visually connect windows and architectural features.

Points to Plan

Line the board courses up with window heads, sills and any other strong horizontal. Set a clear starting point and keep the layout consistent, and you avoid thin awkward strips around the openings.

Diagonal Siding

Diagonal siding brings movement and energy. Most often it is an accent, but it can carry a whole building where the architecture is bold enough to take it.

Dark charred timber cladding at the Juraspot project
Dark charred timber cladding at the Juraspot project.

Design Advantages

  • Creates a distinctive architectural identity.
  • Can follow rooflines, angles and unusual building forms.
  • Introduces contrast when combined with vertical or horizontal boards.
  • Makes colour and grain changes more expressive.

Points to Plan

Diagonal layouts need one clear direction. Work out the angles, the meeting points and what happens around windows while you are still designing the facade. Planned properly it looks deliberate; improvised it looks decorative.

Choosing the Right Orientation

Start with the building, not a rule. Look at its proportions, roof shape, window layout and the materials around it. Then decide whether you want it to feel taller, wider, calmer or more dynamic.

Choose the direction and the finish together. Deep Char gives a bold textured surface; brushed and coloured finishes show the grain and the board direction more clearly. Mixing orientations works when there is a clear hierarchy behind it.

Send us your drawings and we will help you compare colours, textures and profiles. Samples next to the drawings make the decision much easier.

Explore Degmeda products or contact us to discuss a cladding project.

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