Cladding Benefits And Uses

What is cladding?

The definition of cladding indicates that it is a layer of material that is placed on a built structure or on any surface, we should think of cladding as being a building’s second skin. Fundamentally, it is a layer on top of exposed parts of a building (walls or roofs) that helps protect them against the elements.

Cladding crucially is non-load bearing meaning that it does not support other parts of a facade but rather exists to perform its own unique purposes. Cladding can perform a range of tasks from being purely aesthetic to highly functional.

It serves many purposes including creating a controlled internal environment, protecting the building from external conditions, preventing the transmission of sound, for providing thermal insulation and improving appearance of buildings, amongst other things.

It can also improve privacy and security of exteriors and provide access to ventilation and a hygienic environment and prevent the spread of fire. Cladding not only provides protection but also enhances the architectural concept and appearance of the building giving it that “wow” factor or kerb appeal.

Benefits of cladding

A. Create a controlled centralised environment

The presence of an additional layer on top of a building can also help the structure resist weathering from wind and rain. This is especially true if you select a low maintenance weather resistant material such as composite cladding. 

The composite cladding will need to be maintained occasionally but this is much cheaper and less time consuming than conducting wholesale repairs to the building itself.

Stringent green building regulations and codes demand energy efficiency in project exteriors especially for key construction industry participants including architects and designers.

There are encouraging investments in lightweight and energy efficient exterior panels and boards in commercial as well as residential buildings. The choice of cladding has a significant effect on the environmental performance of a building.

Cladding can help to reduce mechanical and electrical energy needs and so enhance electricity efficiency and lower the running costs.

B. Provide thermal insulation

Environmental considerations have never been so important in UK architecture with more businesses and consumers switching on to the threat of climate change.  The demand for green builds is only going to increase in years to come.

Cladding can improve insulation which can help buildings meet environmental standards. Properly insulated buildings are better at maintaining comfortable internal temperatures meaning HVAC systems have to do less work and therefore use less energy. 

By adding an extra layer to the outside of walls, cladding can help reduce airflow in and out of buildings. In summer this reduces heat loading into a building and in winter it allows your building to trap warm air and prevent it from escaping.

Cladding can improve the R value and the condensation risk can be reduced with adequately designed, correctly specified and installed building membranes and draining cavities.

C. Prevent the transmission of sound

Noise transfer is sound transmitted from an exterior or neighbouring environment into a space. It can travel as airborne sound or mechanical structure borne sound. Any form of unwanted noise can be a nuisance and is especially problematic when reaching into environments where quiet and concentration is needed, whether a home or an office.

Noise transfer can have an impact on a tenant’s quality of life, sometimes completely subconsciously, either through productivity, concentration, stress or anxiety.

When buildings are constructed, architectural acoustics are an important element of design and must meet standards set in building regulations regarding sound insulation and soundproofing laid out in the Approved Document E for building acoustics. 

The document can be found here Glazing, facades and cladding can all prevent noise travelling from the environment into a building dampening it as it travels through the building materials.

D. Prevent the spread of fire

E. Durability and moisture resistance

F. Decoration

With such a variety of material to choose from, architects, contractors and DIYers can use cladding to create interesting and unique effects on their facades, helping the building to stand out from the crowd.

While you need to ensure that your aesthetic choices will not adversely impact the facade’s practical performance. By experimenting with cladding you can add different colours or textures. 

For example a composite cladding board will give a structure a modern look giving a more natural appeal and help a building blend in with its surroundings.

G. Create an external façade

Cladding does play a structural role in transferring wind loads, impact loads and its own weight back to the structure which implies that an ample amount of strength is required both within the cladding system and that it does not crumble under wind load pressures.

Remember there are many types of cladding available and thus a wide range of textures, colours, styles and finishes. The aesthetic outcome is limited only by you or your designer’s imagination, your budget, council regulations or extreme site conditions.

Apart from aesthetic considerations, the colour of the external cladding can influence the claddings capacity to absorb or reflect heat.

The key factors to consider when designing and selecting cladding materials

Teckwood’s fire rated wood plastic composite (WPC) cladding has become a popular material with architects, designers and contractors. It creates an economic, sustainable, attractive and functional building that drives innovation to a new level in eco friendly building products.

It can help in controlling the environment, providing thermal insulation, preventing the spread of fire, the transmission of sound and is durable and moisture resistant.

Before using Teckwood’s composite cladding it is important to understand the opportunities of such an innovative material and how you can use it effectively.

Composite cladding is a very useful material, it is easy to cut and work with, lending itself to creative and unique designs to help your building blend into its surrounding.

To ensure that you get the most from your fire rated composite cladding choose the colour suited to your building project from rich wood tones to grey and black for that modern understated look.

To discuss planning your perfect composite cladding requirements, speak to our expert sales support team today on 0800 799 9082 or email at info@teckwood.co.uk and start giving your home that WOW factor.