If you?re looking to give your home or business a fresh, designer look, cladding could be the solution you?re looking for. Cladding covers your building?s existing exterior, protecting the underlying surface while creating a look that clearly distinguishes your home or building from its neighbours.
Cladding is available in a wide variety of materials to suit nearly any taste to budget, including stone, brick, wood, aluminium, vinyl and stucco, as well as veneers that look like more costly materials but are offered at a lower cost.
Unlike paint and stain, which can be used to change the colour of your building?s exterior, cladding can be used to change or create unique architectural structural details, as well as add texture and depth to an otherwise flat, regular surface.
Many homeowners are familiar with traditional aluminium and vinyl siding alternatives, which are among the most popular cladding options. But the fact is, the variety of cladding systems and materials available extends far beyond aluminium or vinyl siding.
Wood clapboard and cedar shingles are popular options among individuals hoping to create or recreate period details that reflect the Arts and Crafts movement, and are also popular for creating seaside exteriors. Both of these options are among the more expensive cladding systems, and both require considerable upkeep to maintain their appeal and integrity. Homeowners seeking to adopt this look at a reduced cost might consider engineered wood options, which offer the same appearance but at a fraction of the cost of solid wood alternatives. Engineered wood cladding materials are often composed of plywood, strand board and hard board, shaped and manufactured to resemble their real wood counterparts.
Homeowners who long for the look of solid stone or brick may be daunted by the cost of these materials; but like wood materials, costs can be significantly decreased through the use of veneers, which look like stone and brick but which are much thinner, and therefore cheaper and easier to apply.
Fibre cement cladding is a mouldable option that can be formed into a variety of textures, including those that look like wood, stone and brick. In addition to its relative low cost, fibre cement cladding also offers the advantages of being fireproof and resistant to insect damage and infestation.
Stucco is one of the more commonly used types of cladding, and can be coloured and textured to suit many individual styles. This cladding material also resists rot, insect damage and fire.
Steel, aluminium and vinyl siding options are among the most popular choices for individuals looking for cladding materials. Steel is the most durable and most resistant to dents, dings, and other damage, followed by aluminium, which is easier to dent. Vinyl is the least durable, subject to cracks, chips and dents, and requiring frequent washing to maintain its appearance. In addition, vinyl fades more rapidly than the other two cladding options. PVC is like regular vinyl in feel and weight, but much more durable.
One of the benefits of cladding is that you don?t need to restrict yourself to using only one type of cladding material. In fact, some very unique and attractive exteriors can be created by combining two or more cladding options to highlight or create a look that?s all your own.
