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The Different Types of Cladding Explained
Cladding is a core component in both domestic and commercial buildings. Not only does it help with longevity and building durability, but it also improves architectural aesthetics.
Cladding can transform the appearance of any building almost instantly while working to protect the underlying structural components from weathering and the elements. Due to its impressive array of benefits, cladding has become increasingly popular over the years — diversifying in both the styles and the materials used to clad. If you’re keen to know more about cladding styles or are looking for inspiration for your next home or business design project, read on and we’ll explain all of the different types of cladding and cladding systems out there.
Timber Cladding
If you’re after something aesthetically pleasing to cover your home’s exterior, opt for timber cladding. This option takes the form of many long, thin, treated boards lined up around your home’s exterior walls.
In terms of customisability, you are fairly limited, though the alignment of the boards can be horizontal, vertical, or even diagonal. What’s more, due to the naturally-occuring grain in the timber, each board will be unique. This cladding option is great for those looking to lower their carbon footprint as it is an excellent natural insulator with high heat retention rates.
Stone & Brick Cladding
Up next we have stone and brick cladding. These options — especially stone — are typically used in more domestic settings such as period homes and cottages. This cladding option is perfect for creating a luxury feel to the exterior of any property and is also naturally watertight; however, these options do come with a hefty price tag.
Fibre Cement & Vinyl Cladding
Both fibre cement and vinyl cladding options provide a modern, contemporary feel to the exterior of any home. Vinyl is one of the cheapest cladding options and is compatible with energy efficiency and temperature control too. These two options are also lightweight, allowing for ease of installation and maintenance as well as greater flexibility. You can also buy vinyl cladding spray to change the colour of these options in the future.
Metal Cladding
Moving onto more industrial settings, metal is an excellent cladding choice, being both durable and non-combustible. It therefore provides the property with a layer of protection from the elements, and the property owners with peace of mind.
Metal cladding is also recyclable. So, when panels reach the end of their life, they can find use elsewhere. This brings us nicely to our area of expertise: roof cladding.
What Is Roof Cladding?
Now we’ve run through the different types of cladding materials, it is important to note that cladding doesn’t just apply to external walls. Here at Colour Clad Profiles, we are roof cladding specialists and have spent years perfecting our metal roofing panels for this purpose.Cladding is an excellent option for roofs since it can help weather-proof a property in an easy and cost-effective way. Roof cladding helps to create a water-tight, sleek, and robust surface covering for any roof (flat or pitched) and can come in all shapes, sizes, finishes, and colours to match your building.
What Are The Different Types of Roof Cladding?
Plain galvanised - The most basic type of roof cladding comes in the form of plain galvanised steel. This cladding type is easily the most popular due to its cost-effectiveness, water-resistant properties and impressive durability.
Plastisol-coated (PVC) - This next type of roof cladding is yet another effective roofing solution. The plastisol finish is manufactured using prime material and allows for not only greater customisability, but weather resistance too.
Plastisol is a plasticising liquid that is liquid at room temperature but, when heated up, forms a flexible, rubber-like barrier. Useful for high-impact areas, plastisol is practically indestructible once applied and has an impressively high resistance to corrosion. Typically, PVC plastisol roofing sheets enjoy a lifespan of up to 40 years (if maintained properly).
Polyester-coated - sheets enjoy all the same benefits as those above but are slightly different in their chemical makeup, application, and finish. Polyester-coated cladding can last about 20 years in normal environments with proper maintenance and also have high scratch resilience. This makes them perfect for industrial and agricultural uses such as on barn roofs and other farm buildings.
Anticon - short for anti-condensation — is a type of cladding that prevents water residue from forming and dripping off of buildings. This cladding option is essential for buildings in colder, wetter climates and can help keep non-insulated buildings with metal roofs drier. It is especially effective at keeping livestock dry and protecting outdoor machinery from getting rusty in shed or barn storage.