Cladding is the first layer of defence against the elements, thus being a vital part of stability for the house. On a more aesthetic note, it also serves to make your house stick out and present itself as an amazing piece of architecture. The choice of cladding also influences the value of the home on the market. Remember, the type and quality of the cladding influence how well your house will be protected against the sun, wind, pests, fire, rain, moisture, etc. A smart choice of cladding is better for the environment due to the better thermal performance of the building and ensuring safety by meeting the criteria for fire resistance.
Protection & Insulation
It’s quite simple honestly, the more you invest, the higher quality protection you will receive. While wall cladding protects you against the elements, it must also have good insulation to keep you warm during the winter. Depending on where you are from, try to find a balance between the two, potentially prioritizing insulation if you live in a colder area.
Interior and Exterior
In theory, you can use the same material for exterior and interior walls, but in reality, it would be a poor choice. The exterior walls have a special cladding that is made to prevent damage to the building that’s caused by the sun, rain, etc. The interior walls do not have to be coated in this cladding, and you can settle for cladding them with a cheaper and less harmful variety.
Maintenance
Maintaining wall cladding varies from type to type. Some are easier and some harder to maintain. With interior walls, you should use appropriate cleaning products (avoid using water for the walls). As for the exterior, you have to pay attention not to neglect it, as it can be hard to see the forming cracks. Clean up the dirt and stains, and replace broken tiles. If you live in an area with seasons that change a lot, consider coating the exterior wall cladding with weather protection products. It is advisable to do your research on the cost of all kinds of materials to build your dream house.
House Rendering
Rendering is applied in layers by hand. A newer trend is the usage of silicone rendering as they are thinner and quicker to apply, resulting in it being low maintenance as well. It’s a hard job to pull of and should be handled exclusively by professionals.
Vertical Tiling
Vertical tiling is one of the more expensive options to choose from. It’s a traditional appearance in South-East England. That has a prominent aesthetic appearance but also offers good weather protection.
Here are some notable materials that you can use, with their pros and cons listed alongside them.
Timber Sheeting
The advantage of using plywood sheeting is that it’s waterproof and durable. The downside is that depending on the quality, it’s also highly susceptible to fires and offers poor insulation.
Brick
Bricks fall under the category of the most durable materials that you can use for exterior walls that also add structural integrity. They are also fire-resistant, weather-resistant, non-toxic, thermally efficient, and even mostly recycled into new bricks. Bricklaying, however, is hard to achieve in wet or icy weather. The disadvantages of using bricks are that it’s not energy efficient, so you may need to cover it up with other materials to add insulation. Bricks absorb moisture which can lead to a bunch of mould troubles. Cleaning them is also a pain in the ass as they hold dirt, and it becomes hard to get it out without causing water damage.
Metal
There are four key metal materials that you can use: steel, aluminium, zinc, and copper. They can be pre-coated to preserve the original shine. Aluminium alloys are installed in powder coated/PVDF or anodized form for protection and architectural aesthetics. They are durable, require little to no maintenance, and almost completely waterproof. They are not the best insulators, though. This can be applied to most metal types.
PVCu House Cladding
It is one of the cheapest options to use for your wall. However, high-quality ones can cost as much as timber. It creates two layers and is known for being long-lasting and requiring low maintenance.