Cladding is a fantastic addition to any home, especially as it achieves that rare feat of offering both functional and aesthetic benefits. It is a construction technique where one material is placed on top of the base material so that the building receives increased protection from the elements.
Typical materials for cladding include wood, imitation stone, brick, metal and even plastics. All of these materials provide great protective and aesthetic value, so when it comes to choosing your cladding, it’s about adding up cost, as well as design.
So, here are some of the benefits of going with cladding.
Reduce Your Maintenance
Cladding requires very little maintenance, especially compared to painting.
If you want the lowest maintenance possible, go with a metal cladding, like aluminium. This is a popular choice because it essentially lasts forever, and you only need to hose it down to keep it in excellent condition. Plastic or vinyl cladding is also a common low-maintenance option. It is made of panels of PVC (polyvinyl chloride), it is also relatively inexpensive and easy to clean.
Stone and brick will also last for a long time, but both carry high purchase costs and can be difficult to repair if anything goes wrong.
Increased Protection
Protecting the mechanical strength of your house is the primary reason for using cladding. It provides this protection in many ways, including:
- Preventing large temperature swings to reduce cracking
- Stopping water absorption, preventing mould, mildew and water damage
- Preventing the influx of air and chemical pollution
- Aiding in preventing sun-related damage
- Protecting the internal structure from rain and wind damage
Aesthetics
Cladding looks great. Adding it to your home can turn a visually-uninspiring section of your house, like your upper storey or side area, into an impressive design feature. You have a range of materials to choose from, and if you want something that is low-maintenance, cost-effective and incredible to look at, you need to go with aluminium slats.
They can be made to look like high-end timber, thanks to powder coating and they only require a going over with a pressure cleaner every now and then to look as good as new. They can also be spaced as close together or as far apart as you like, to offer varying amounts of protection/ventilation.
Reduce Your Power Bills
Cladding is an incredible investment, and you’ll see a return on it through your power bills. Cladding is essentially an external layer of insulation that will regulate the internal temperature of your home. That way your home will stay cooler in the summer, and warmer in winter.
We all need to do our bit to decrease our energy usage, and cladding is the perfect way to do your bit for the planet.
Keep The Noise Out
If you live near a busy road, or even in a lively neighbourhood, you’ll love the way cladding keeps the noise out. Your house is supposed to be a quiet little hamlet, where you can escape the world and only hear the sounds you create.
So, if you’re bothered by noise, you’ll be happy to know that cladding presents an alternative to packing up and moving.
Turn Your Home Into a Garden
Indoor plants are all the rage now, and so are vertical gardens and green walls. People are doing everything they can to bring more green into their lives, and your cladding could be the perfect base for a green wall.
You can plant a huge variety of flowers, creepers and other varieties and you’ll improve the air quality of your home while doing it. You’ll also do even more to lower your heating and cooling bills because nothing insulates like plant coverage.
The best part is, you end up with a cladding option that grows with your home. You don’t have to settle for one look, if you get tired of the visual, just take the plants out and start again.
So, these are all the benefits you can expect from cladding. It really is an incredible construction element that is a necessity for the modern home. Again, there aren’t many materials that offer both function and aesthetics at the same time, so you need to make the most of them when they come along.
Make your home look great from any angle, protect your home from all the nasty stuff outside and do your bit to reduce power consumption, and do it all with cladding.
