Facade Cladding Materials – What to Choose

Facade cladding is the best way to enhance your building’s exterior landscape without recurring to invasive and potentially costly modifications. Whether you want to refresh an outdated look or search for an excellent alternative to make a brand new project stand out from the crowd, this technique might be the perfect alternative for you. It is a fantastic way of making the exterior of a building a lot more attractive and modern-looking. When done by professionals, it can define the personality of your facade while making quite a statement.

You might be wondering, “What is facade cladding?” In a way, it could be seen as the “skin” of your facade. It is a physical border, applied to your existing structure, covering most of the exterior surface area of your home. Facade cladding, also known as siding, meets the best of both worlds when it comes to architectural aesthetics and functionality. Not only can it drastically improve a building’s appearance, but, depending on the materials you choose, it can also serve other more important purposes. Oftentimes, some extra layers are included to provide thermal isolation, keep out moisture, block unwanted noises, and protect the interior and structural parts against the elements, et cetera.

How to Choose the Right Facade Cladding Materials

When exploring facade cladding ideas and inspiration, you can come across many options that serve various purposes and fit different budgets. From very simple coatings to more intricate paneling, you will find several ways that will help you achieve your vision. Supplies come in various shapes and colors that can incorporate rhythm and energy to your dream facade. However, you must be very careful when picking the ideal materials. You should never focus solely on the aesthetic factor – it’s essential to keep in mind the purposes you need your siding to serve, depending on your geographical location, the climate in your area, and other relevant external factors.

The art of facade cladding is ever-evolving and innovative. Nowadays, it can be made from an extensive range of high-quality materials, each with different technical properties that fit all tastes and budgets. From metal structures to a burnt wood facade, there’s always an option to adapt to what you’re looking for.

Some types of siding can be very economical, while some others can break the bank. It’s essential to consider the installation costs and the maintenance it might require later on. You need to calmly explore your options to have a clearer picture of the look you want and what you can afford, and then you can take it from there. You’ll find that some styles can easily replace others, and the results can be equally impressive. Metal or cement can easily create a sleek look, while composite, vinyl, and natural stone are the most popular for traditional settings.

Here’s a quick guide containing the most popular facade cladding materials, from the more traditional to the more modern and stylish types, so you can choose what works best for you.

Brick

Bricks are a very common choice among contractors. Economical and easy to find, they give a beautiful, classic finish to almost any building. Bricks need little extra maintenance to be long-lasting, which makes them extremely convenient and practical. They also provide added insulation, making them a perfect material for buildings located in colder climates. Bricks are noncombustible, protecting your structure against fire.

Although naturally sourced, brick making has a severe impact on the environment because of the massive amount of energy required to burn the clay. Luckily, in recent years, several manufacturing companies in the industry have come up with ways of producing bricks from recycled materials, which can considerably reduce carbon emissions.

Vinyl

In modern architecture, vinyl is the most commonly used material. It is considerably cheaper than its counterparts, being one of the lowest costing options in the market. Vinyl siding can last for decades if taken care of properly. It’s a more sustainable option than brick, and, in some cases, it can have an even smaller impact on the environment if you decide to recycle when it’s time to replace it.

Stone

Although falling on the expensive side of exterior finishing materials, stone has proven to be easy to maintain and extremely durable when exposed to the elements. The most popular kinds are sandstone, limestone, travertine, granite, marble, and flint. When installed correctly, these materials are resistant to fire, mold, and insects.

While this option can be high priced due to the shipping and installation process, a more economical way of giving your building this timeless look is with stone veneers. This can considerably reduce the cost of siding, but on the downside, it lasts less than half the time natural stone does.

Composite

Composite siding is often made from sawdust, scrap wood, and other products like PVC and fiber cement. Along with vinyl, composite is one of the less expensive options out there, and its made to mimic real wood, with the added value of being water and fire-resistant. It also does not expand or contract, which increases its durability.

On the bright side, composite is mainly made from recycled building products. However, low-quality composite can have high levels of formaldehyde, which produces dangerous fumes in some conditions.

To make your composite last, you should pressure wash it every couple of years, and you can even repaint some brands after a while.

Metal

For this siding you can use galvanized steel, aluminum, zinc, and copper; which are durable materials and require little to no maintenance, allowing them to last for several decades. It is the only kind warranted to be completely insect-free and fireproof, and it is available in numerous styles and finishes.

The problem with metal cladding is that when picking less resistant materials (such as aluminum) to reduce costs, it can easily be dented by hail or other accidental impacts, requiring expensive repairs in the long run.

Stucco

Although it was traditionally made with lime, sand, and water, modern Stucco has replaced lime with cement and fibers to make a crack-resistant plaster that will effectively protect your facade from the elements. Stucco has a high cost of installation since it requires several layers to provide excellent results. However, it’s a little more customizable than other options out there. You can repaint it and try different finishes on your facade.

Stucco works as an excellent insulator to help maintain the temperature inside the building. It’s also fire retardant, water-resistant, and sound reducing. Overall it’s highly durable but still not recommended for use if your building is located in a humid area.

Shou Sugi Ban

This original Japanese wood charring technique is also called Yakisugi. It’s a traditional wood preservation method that has been around for centuries. Shou Sugi Ban is known for intensifying the natural colors and patterns of the wood, making them appear more luxurious and more visually appealing.

Charring timber endures semi-tropical weather, as well as snowy and cold environments. The burnt wood is highly resistant to fire, water, insects, and decay, making it ideal for long-term use. When given proper maintenance, charred wood cladding can last up to 100 years.

Since it’s made up of 100% wood, Shou Sugi Ban siding is natural and eco-friendly. Aside from being a greener alternative, Yakisugi follows the current contemporary exterior design trends.

A Solution That Lasts

Now that you have a better idea of what kind of materials you can use to achieve the look you want, you will need an experienced provider that knows how to install your siding flawlessly.

Degmeda.eu provides quality charred wood cladding, flooring, decking, and fencing, among other exterior design products for various projects. You can find the most popular types of charred timber in our catalog, such as Accoya, larch, pine, spruce, cedar. We also provide wood charring services, and we offer worldwide shipping. You can find more information by simply visiting our website.