One of the most important aspects of a home is its exterior. Choosing the external cladding for your home is a big decision. Not only do you need to consider what materials will be best for your climate and situation, but you also want to find something that looks good with the style of your house or building. There are many different options available on the market today, so it can be difficult to make a choice! In this article, we will take a look at some of the most popular types of exterior cladding as well as some important things to consider before making any decisions.
External Cladding: What Is It?
Architecturally, external cladding is a process by which materials are applied to the exterior of a building or a house. Aluminium, glass, wood, vinyl, bricks, and steel can be used. The choice depends on the kind of cladding, the material properties, and the budget available.
Its main purposes are to serve as a protective layer against the weather, an insulation system, and an aesthetic system for enhancing the building’s appearance.
In Australia, you have several options for exterior cladding, depending on your tastes and budget. Because Australia has harsh and extreme weather conditions with very hot summers, and driving rain, choosing the right external cladding for your home is very important. Materials and designs that will withstand heat transfer during the summer by absorbing sunrays while preventing wind-driven rain from entering the home are key requirements.
In Australia, the following types of cladding systems are commonly used:
Plywood Sheet Cladding
There are many benefits to using plywood for cladding. Its natural beauty makes it as appealing as real wood – because it actually is real wood in many ways. In addition to its durability, insulation, impact resistance, flexibility, affordability, and even strength, plywood has many other advantages.
Vinyl Cladding
Maybe surprisingly, vinyl cladding is a great option. Easy to install, offers good insulation, and requires little maintenance, vinyl cladding provides great value. PVC and other materials are used to make vinyl cladding. The vinyl cladding boards provide good insulation, are durable and easy to install. Material made out of vinyl is resistant to heat, cold, and mould.
Scyon Cladding/Fibre Cement Cladding
Scyon cladding and fibre cement cladding are other external options. Scyon is a timber composite panel that’s made out of an aluminium mesh with a polyethylene core, while fibres in the mix help to make it fire-resistant. It comes in various colours and styles, making it easy to achieve just about any look or design.
Fibrous cement sheeting is another option that can be used externally. This material is durable and has a similar insulation value as weatherboards.
Fibre cement cladding is made from a mixture of clay, sand, and other natural products such as seashells or limestone. This material provides good insulation against heat and cold extremes while offering the look of stone or brick at an affordable price.
This type of cladding can also be used outside and inside. For example, the James Hardie Axon cladding provides a timber look, fire-resistant, and durable solution for your home with a vertically grooved panel.
Aluminium Cladding
Aluminium is a popular choice for external cladding of homes. It’s lightweight and corrosion-resistant, and has excellent thermal insulation properties.
The aluminium panels are durable with an average life span of 50 years. This type of cladding offers both appearance and durability as well as low maintenance costs once it is installed.
The lightweight nature of aluminum also makes it a breeze to install compared to many heavier products which makes lifting and alighnment more tricky.
It is also completely recyclable, making it an environmentally-friendly choice.
You may also like to read our article on metal as a building product.
Timber Cladding
Timber cladding for exterior walls is a popular choice in many countries around the world.
This type of material can be used on an existing building or to create new homes from scratch with a timber front facade and other materials more appropriate for their location within the home.
The natural beauty of this type of material not only creates stunning visuals but also provides a beautiful texture to the walls of your home.
This may not be suitable for areas that receive high levels of rainfall as it is vulnerable to weathering and decay, however, there are many new innovations in this area with products that offer UV protection and other treatments designed to make timber cladding more durable against harsh climates
Another good thing about timber cladding is that it has the potential for eventual recycling.
One issue to consider is that, unlike some other options, timber cladding is not maintenance-free and requires some attention every once in a while to keep it in good order.
Brick Cladding
For an architecturally pleasing and functional look, one option is to use brick for the external cladding. This type of cladding can be used on any building style from Victorian terraced houses to modern steel-framed apartment blocks with a bit of creativity. Brick provides thermal insulation properties as well as protection against weathering such as rain or wind damage through frost action.
The main disadvantage of using this material is that it costs more than other options available in Australia which means you may need a larger budget before beginning your project.
A brick cladding is also an option on the interior of a home. Many remember the classic double brick Australian suburban home.
On the subject of bricks, check our article on how many bricks come on a pallet.
Concrete Cladding
Durability and performance are two major features of concrete cladding. In addition to insulation and thermal protection, concrete cladding provides noise absorption and weather resistance. It requires no maintenance after it is installed, aside from a little regular cleaning to maintain the building’s appearance.
The material is hard-wearing, making it a popular choice for outdoor living areas. The style of the cladding can be selected according to your needs and preferences. It comes in many colors including natural stone gray which will give an old-world feel to any space.
Stone Cladding
Stone cladding is great for any style of home, and it can be used on the exterior or interior. It provides protection from heat transfer during the summer months by absorbing sunrays while preventing wind-driven rain. Stone’s natural absorption prevents wall decay as well.
Natural stone comes in a variety of finishes including polished, honed, and rustic, all of which are designed to be resilient.
Stone cladding is a popular choice for exterior walls in Australia because it provides protection from heat transfer during the summer by absorbing sunrays while preventing wind-driven rain. The absorbency of natural stone prevents wall decay as well.
Natural stone comes in a variety of finishes including polished, honed, and rustic. All three are designed to be resilient in the face of tough environmental conditions.
Weatherboard Cladding
Weatherboard cladding is a style of horizontal cladding that can be made of various natural and synthetic materials such as hardwood timber, vinyl, aluminium, or fibre cement.
Weatherboards are a very common style of external cladding for residential structures in Australia. Each horizontal board overlaps to provide protection from the wind and rain, while also providing an additional layer of insulation. Some more updated options are more like a tongue-and-groove arrangement.
Because of its affordability and versatility, weatherboard is one of the most popular cladding systems.
Steel Cladding
Last but not least is steel cladding which provides excellent insulation for your home from the elements and UV rays. Steel cladding has also been designed to mimic other materials including wood, aluminium or bricks so it is perfect if you want something unique that suits your needs then steel is the way to go. It is a relatively common site in Australia to see colorbond steel, not only on the roof of the home but also as a wall cladding system. Steel cladding provides excellent insulation for your home from the elements and UV rays.
Cladding Brands In Australia
Mordek Cladding
Mordek metal products offer two options when it comes to cladding: steel or aluminium which both come with many benefits over weatherboards made from timber or other materials such as fiber cement boards (commonly known as “fibro”). Choosing between the two can be tough but if you’re after durability then steel is probably your best bet, while aluminum may be better suited if you want something lightweight that won’t cause cracks in walls due to its lower density than iron or stainless steel.
Mordek cladding has been designed to resist warping, cracking or peeling and will not rot as quickly in wet conditions. Mordek uses galvanized steel nails that are resistant to corrosion and are coated with zinc for added protection against rusting.
This type of cladding is available in a range of colours that can be selected to match your brickwork or house.
The design and finish on Mordek Weatherboards is clean, neat, and easy to maintain. You will not find any sharp edges or rough surfaces with this type of weatherboard as it has been carefully designed for durability and longevity so you don’t have to worry about maintenance costs going up in the future. This product does not require painting but if desired, acrylic paint may be used for long-lasting protection against UV rays that cause corrosion on other types of steel products.
James Hardie Cladding
James Hardie cladding is a type of siding made from cement and fibres. James Hardie Cladding has been used in the construction industry for years to create seamless, weatherproof surfaces that are durable and beautiful. The company’s hallmark product remains its fibre-cement panels which have contributed significantly to making this brand one of the most well-known names in building materials today. James Hardie also have an interesting decking product made from fibre-cement.
Weathertex Weatherboard
Weathertex weatherboards are a type of building material used to cover the exterior walls of houses. They provide both aesthetic and functional benefits, as they have low maintenance requirements while also protecting from winds by blocking drafts. Unlike many other types of cladding products, Weathertex has no nails or screws on its surface which makes it easy to paint over without any messy prep work in advance. It is durable enough that it resists cracking at cold temperatures and does not need additional insulation for protection against heat loss during the winter months.
EasyCLAD
EasyCLAD is another type of cladding product used for the exterior walls. It is made from aluminium, which has a low risk of corrosion. EasyCLAD provides an aesthetic appearance while also having excellent noise reduction properties and resists damage caused by strong winds.
NovaShield Weatherboards
NovaShield weatherboards are yet another option that offers natural insulation without any added formaldehyde levels in them like many other products out there on the market today. They can be painted over after installation with no prep work needed! NovaShield’s surface includes large holes between boards to circulate air and prevent heat loss during winter months as well as resist cracking or warping due to cold temperatures. These features make it one of the best options available when looking at different types of Weatherboard materials or Cladding.
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