The Ultimate Guide to Exterior Cladding Materials

Exterior cladding is the outer cover put on a building’s front side. It has roles of both guarding and embellishing. This layer protects the construction from weather conditions, wetness and changes in temperature while setting up the visual style of the property.

What Is Exterior Cladding and Why Does It Matter

Timber Cladding

Fibre Cement Cladding

Metal Cladding

Cladding panels made from aluminium and steel are preferred in contemporary and industrial type architecture. Metal cladding is light, requires little maintenance and does not succumb to rot or pests. It provides great durability and can be powder coated in many colours and finishes.

Stone and Brick Cladding

Natural stone and brick cladding give an everlasting, high-quality look to any facade. Stone gives unmatched strength and needs very little maintenance after it is put in place. Brick cladding offers great thermal mass and strongly resists fire as well as weather changes. 

Vinyl cladding is a very cost-effective and easy maintenance choice. It doesn’t rot, crack or need paint, which makes it a sensible solution for projects with limited budget. Today’s vinyl products are available in many shapes and colours that realistically imitate wood and other surfaces.

Vinyl and PVC Cladding

Choosing the Right Cladding for Your Project

The perfect material for cladding relies on various things such as the weather, budget, style of architecture and how much maintenance one can handle. In places with a lot of humidity or near to coastlines, it is better to use materials that resist moisture like fibre cement or metal.