Everything you need to know about finding a Cladding Installer

Cladding is a term used in the building trade, and simply describes the process of covering one building material with another. Therefore, not all homes have cladding. Although an initial outlay of funds is required, cladding is seen as a long term investment as it holds various benefits to the home owner.
©Bale Constructions

Cladding Benefits

Cladding has numerous benefits to the structure of a home, including:

• Protecting and insulating a home from nature’s elements
  
• Improving the visual appearance of a home
  
• Low maintenance

Cladding fulfils a multipurpose role. Not only is it an additional capsule to cover, insulate and protect parts of an existing home; it also gives a home a facelift without necessarily spending a fortune.

Cladding Options

Cladding is available in a wide spectrum of material options which will suit the personality of any home. Most materials can be applied both externally and internally, and owners have a choice of full or partial cover. Some cladding options include, but are not limited to:

1. Stone cladding
   
2. UPVC cladding
   
3. Wood cladding
   
4. Steel cladding

Stone cladding

Stone cladding will give a breathtakingly beautiful appearance to any home or office building. Stone is considered luxurious and elegant, and top of the range in class. It does, however require a fairly large budget as popular stone options usually include marble and granite. As with most cladding, it need not cover the whole exterior and only those areas usually exposed to the elements of nature, such as garages and porches, are very frequently covered. Marble cladding is very often seen in bathrooms, and is fairly inexpensive when compared to granite. In businesses, stone cladding is very often used to greet customers in lobbies and reception areas as makes a big visual impact.

UPVC cladding

UPVC cladding is the most economical type of cladding available on the market, and very durable. Its popularity is not solely based on price alone. It is extremely low maintenance if installed correctly, and can be utilised in most homes. An array of colour options is available and will compliment any home regardless of style and type.

 

Wood cladding

Wood cladding, as with stone, can also be fitted to the interior of a home. It also gives a very warm and homey feeling to any building. Because timber is a living resource, each panel range will have unique characteristics and natural beauty. The cladding ends of each timber panel will, however, require pre-treatment against moisture. Failure in having this done will result in the panels lifting and warping. The size and thickness can vary and therefore a suitable choice will be available for each home. Panels can also be left untreated if the owner wants the option of self staining.
Most popular wood cladding available are:

• Pine
  
• Spruce
  
• Cedar
  
• Larch

Cedar and Larch cladding have a natural resistance to moisture, pests and other elements and need to be pre-treated.

Steel cladding

Compared to UPVC, steel cladding is stronger and longer lasting. Steel cladding has full insulation on the back of the panels which is especially great for Australia’s climate. Steel cladding is also manufactured in long lengths to limit the appearance of unsightly joints, and is available in embossed wood-grain surface or plain design.

©Rapana Building

Installation and Maintenance

It is recommended that cladding be installed by a professional builder or architect, as building codes and practices including fire and safety regulations will need to be adhered to.
If the installation was done properly, home or business owners will reap the rewards of their investments as cladding does not require a lot of maintenance. In fact, after proper installation, cladding will only require the occasional wash with soapy water.