Go Against the Grain! Choose Metal Paneling that Mimics Wood

By Cass Jacoby.  

Vicwest is crafting siding from steel that is designed to emulate natural wood without the guilt. 

It’s a classic conundrum: you want the look of wood paneling without the upkeep or hassle of actual wood. So how do you have your cake and eat it too? Introducing Vicwest Bellara panels. 

Bellara panels are steel panels designed to perfectly mimic nature. How? Starting at the lumber mill, Vicwest experts hunt down inspiration in rare woods with unique grains and rustic boards with a beautifully aged patina. Then, using ultra-high-resolution imaging to capture all of the granular details of the wood, down to the grain and knots, Vicwest captures a pattern variation and depth that’s indistinguishable from natural wood.  

These images are digitally composited over five unique plank designs per package, they are perfected to create a visually seamless, continuous pattern that is then etched onto copper plates. Then, using state-of-the-art coil coating technology, they are painted onto the steel alongside the world’s best PVDF paints to lock in the wood’s natural beauty for generations. This combination is tough, yet environmentally friendly with no VOCs. Because Bellara panels are made from galvanized steel, they offer long-term protection from rust. 

This hyper-realistic design looks indistinguishable from natural wood planks. The Bellara fasteners are hidden as well as engineered to be secured tightly to the building’s fascia and won’t pop out like nails do over time. Whether installed vertically or horizontally, the Bellara system produces straight, architectural lines and comes together with a set of color-matched trims to create a seamless facade. 

These are the wood types that are currently offered in the Bellara Line from Vicwest: 

• Bellara Rosewood. These grains capture the sleek and smooth look of planed wood. 

• Bellara Barnboard. These panels feature all the beautiful knots and grains that make reclaimed, centuries-old planks so appealing. 

• Bellara Circle Sawn. These panel grains are designed to mimic the rough texture of freshly sawn wood straight from the mill. 

• Bellara Classic Woods. This is a series of simple wood grains in today’s most popular finishes. This highly versatile system is designed to coordinate with any exterior design approach. 

• Bellara Signature Matte colors. These panels are painted with an advanced coating system which features a subtle texture creating a muted, soft look and low-sheen finish. 

• Bellara Signature. Vicwest’s signature colors are rendered in a modern, neutral palette. It is a contemporary choice with clean architectural lines that result in a striking look. 

Steel cladding that perfectly matches real wood is the perfect solution for your next project. Get the best of both worlds by choosing the product that marries biophilic aesthetics with the efficiency and sustainability of steel. Get Bellara. 

Have a question? AskARoofer.   

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About Cass  

Cass works as a reporter/writer for RoofersCoffeeShop, AskARoofer and MetalCoffeeShop. When she isn’t writing about roofs, she is putting her Master degree to work writing about movies and dancing with her plants.