ABSTRACT
The most popular finish to the external wall of a house in the United Kingdom has been facing brickwork. However, in some parts of the country other finishes, such as shiplap boarding, are endemic to particular areas and define the area’s vernacular architecture. Timber frame and steel frame construction have been able to use a wide choice of external finishes, since the wall finish does not have to satisfy the loadbearing function that masonry walls are designed to do.
