Cladding is the outside layer of the exterior of your home or building. Cladding has two main benefits; It protects the building from the weather, and brings an aesthetic appeal to the building facade.
When it comes to the later, the design features that can be achieved with cladding these days is quite amazing. Architectural cladding brings spectacular interest to building exteriors, creating big and visually dramatic design features of a house. You need to approach the façade of your home, just like you would when you are doing the interior. It’s best when you aim to achieve a balance of colour, tone, texture and everything else in between.
to building exteriors, creating big and visually dramatic design features of a house. You need to approach the façade of your home, just like you would when you are doing the interior. It’s best when you aim to achieve a balance of colour, tone, texture and everything else in between.
There are further benefits of cladding, it can help with sound and thermal insulation, along with reducing maintenance and increasing the levels of fire protection. Adding cladding to your home will affect the cost and the value of your home. It is a vital element that you need to get right to protect your home. Adding or changing the cladding on your home is a big job, and it won’t happen within a day. If you are thinking about installing cladding we advise that you phone a few builders first and get their advice. Designers and architects can also play a big role when it comes to material specification as they know the constraints of the requirements and materials that are best for your environment.
Here are further factors and design ideas that you need to think about when planning to use cladding.
Timber cladding
Timber cladding is a terrific option for adding to the exterior of your building, or for internal walls as a feature or a design element which separates a space as an alternative to a solid wall. Timber sheeting or timber battens come in a variety of finish and grades, they can be durable and are readily available. We suggest you check this type of cladding out and speak to some builders as there are a few timber boards that have a poor fire rating and low insulation properties.
Shingles add variation and texture
The use of shingles has taken a contemporary turn over the years. It is increasingly seen in many homes to add texture and add detail and interest to a home’s exterior. Shingles are overlapping elements that go over timber battens or sheathing. These are laid in rows or courses from the bottom to the top. Each course will overlap the one below it. Shingles are applied in a single or straight course, but some variations can be used solely for decorative effects. Timber is a popular material used for shingles, and in Australia, the western red cedar wood is often used.
Dark and contemporary cladding using Zinc
Zinc is a versatile cladding material that is a popular choice for contemporary style architecture. Zing is a soft and malleable material that allows for flexible construction. Zinc is low maintenance and very durable. It can resist oxidisation by creating a protective layer that is called the patina, which helps to achieve a lifespan of around 60 years. Zinc is a sustainable choice and is non-toxic and recyclable. It takes less energy to create Zinc than the other types of metals. Zinc is fire-resistant, so it works well in the fire-prone areas.
Add colour with autumnal steel shades
Corten steel is a beautiful option as it has a rusted effect that really brings out shades of brown, red and orange. These shades blend in well with rural, natural, industrial and urban settings. Corten is a copper chromium steel that is weather resistant. It has a chemical make up that reacts to the pollutants that are in the atmosphere, which then creates an early formation of the protective oxide film that keeps regenerating over time.
These are just a few of our suggestions for ways you can add design interest to your home or building using cladding. There are so many ways to create something unique with cladding, the possibilities of materials, colours and design are truly endless.