Sitka spruce is the most widely grown softwood in the UK, yet its use in cladding applications has been relatively low. This is beginning to change with increasing interest from architects and designers, as timber cladding offers an aesthetically pleasing way of enhancing the outside features of a building. This Digest reviews work within projects funded by the Northern Periphery Programme and the Forestry Commission. The project has collated and analysed information available on the properties and treatment for Sitka spruce, to enable selection of material suitable for the required service life of cladding. The project has shown that the end product can potentially have a service life beyond that which is currently achieved. 8 pages.