Exterior Wall Cladding Ideas

Exterior wall cladding is about applying a material over the original structural material of the wall. It provides protection from rough weather conditions like snow, rain, heat, and wind, and at the same time, adds some value and elegance to the property.

A number of materials are extensively used to serve the purpose all over the world. Available in an array of designs, textures and colour palettes, cladding materials impart vibrancy and liveliness to the otherwise ordinary walls. 

Apart from protection from weather and environment, and adding aesthetic value to the building; right cladding helps to maintain the buildings weather-tight and cost-effective, at the same time provides thermal insulation, reducing the temperature variation inside the building. It also helps to improve interior acoustic and day lighting.

Stone cladding for exterior walls is not anything new. Many building owners have been cladding their walls with natural stones since time immemorial. Among all the cladding types, the stone cladding is regarded as the most natural and fresh-looking cladding. It can be installed over a surface either made of concrete or steel. This decorative, architectural technique involves applying a layer of natural stones and other materials on outdoor walls to make them look more appealing and protect them from the effects of bad weather.

Stone is a natural element with high resilience towards extreme elements of weather. External wall cladding made of stone is ideal for surfaces such as pool areas, fireplaces, columns, and fountains. Stone acts as an excellent insulator, is resistant to fire, withstands abrasions and scratches, and is easy to maintain. That said, stone cladding comes with a very steep price tag and is difficult to install. Added to that is the negative impact it has on the environment. It can also get difficult to repair stone cladding when damaged and is also known to be susceptible to bacterial and fungal growth.

Bricks are one of the oldest and most popular materials used for exterior cladding. Brick cladding combines a striking finish with exceptional performance and structural advantages. Bricks are fire resistant, thermally efficient, durable, weatherproof, low maintenance and non-toxic, and deliver excellent sound insulation. Bricks are also sustainable and mostly recycled into new bricks, reused or crushed for fill. Bricks come in a wide choice of colours, sizes, finishes and textures, enhancing design flexibility.

The downside of using bricks as exterior wall cladding materials is the negative impact they have on the environment. Bricks are baked in kilns, which require large amounts of energy. Cement industries which produce the cement used to bind bricks contribute around 5% to global carbon dioxide emissions.

No other cladding material can offer the design freedom, ease of handling, range and natural beauty of timber. Timber cladding can create a building to suit almost any environment, taste or style. The natural appeal, versatility and strength of timber makes it the superior choice for external cladding. Through specification, planning, design and finishing processes, timber cladding not only creates a building of superior strength, acoustic and thermal performance but also creates a place of beauty, style and natural appeal.

Timber cladding has an inbuilt flexibility that provides natural advantages on sites subject to high winds, extreme climate, highly reactive soils, subsidence or earth tremors. And unlike masonry and other rigid materials, the natural resilience and high strength to weight ratio of timber enables it to withstand far greater stresses and movement.

Modern finishes give a long lasting and attractive appearance to timber cladding and can be used to change the colour and style of the building, making it a versatile material that will keep pace with changing tastes and fashions.

Metal is commonly used for non-structural, rain-screen cladding systems, where the priority is to provide protection from the elements as well as a striking external finish. Thanks to its foldable, malleable nature, metal panels can be connected together and attached to a building in a wide variety of ways, each system offering different benefits in terms of construction complexity and aesthetic finish.

Metal cladding encompasses a plethora of different materials, each with its own unique strengths and weaknesses. There are four key materials to choose from: steel, aluminium, zinc and copper.

One of the great advantages of metal cladding is that it requires little maintenance other than a yearly wash. While it was once prone to fading, the metal used for cladding is now generally coated with a tinted weatherproof topcoat that should last for many years.

Ceramic cladding is a highly versatile, modern façade solution with excellent mechanical and aesthetic characteristics. Made entirely from natural materials, ceramic cladding can be designed to deliver a contemporary finish, or something more traditional, reproducing the natural beauty and appearance of hewn stone such as granite or marble.

It also has long-lasting good looks. Every ceramic cladding panel offers complete tonal integrity and design consistency, with through-body colour, pattern and graining – ensuring that its aesthetics do not change over time. The material is light, UV radiation resistant and completely impermeable.

Fibre-cement is a manmade cladding and roofing material. Fiber cement is a composite material made of cement reinforced with cellulose fibers. Fibre cement sheet or Fibre cement boards as it is frequently referred to, normally come in the form of planks and panels along with various texture details. These panels are used as an exterior wall cladding material in residential, commercial and industrial buildings.

Fiber cement board may come pre-painted or pre-stained or can be done so after its installation. Fiber cement siding has several benefits since it is resistant to termites, does not rot, is impact resistant, and has fireproof properties. One of the most sought-after attributes of fibre cement is its dimensional stability. Another great feature of fibre cement sheet is its property of water resistance. The maintenance for fibre cement exterior wall cladding is very simple as it involves nothing more than an annual wash with mildly soapy water.

Vinyl (or plastic, or PVC) cladding is an external wall material that is often installed as an alternative to weatherboard planks. Other styles of vinyl cladding are available too, including shingles and vertical panels. Replica logs and stones are also available in vinyl.

Vinyl cladding enhances the look of the building and also provide protection from external elements including waterproofing. It is very popular as it is strong and resists environmental and other damage as compared to natural cladding like wood, ceramic, fiber etc. It is made from PVC or polyvinyl chloride which is a kind of plastic.

Vinyl is the cheapest cladding option available. It is also reasonably durable - it won't rot and it is impervious to insects. Vinyl cladding is light and easy to install, and comes in a wide variety of colours and styles. The colours are cast into the vinyl resin and therefore they won't chip or scratch off.

Vinyl cladding does have some negative features though. It's normally a poor insulator on its own, and may not be as fireproof as some other options. There are also concerns about the environmental impacts of the manufacturing and disposal of vinyl cladding.

Generally, PVC cladding is used in commercial and retail outlets and not much in residential homes.