The exterior walls of your home are always exposed to very harsh elements like rain, snow, UV rays, among other factors. For this reason, it becomes tough for you to maintain the excellent look that your walls have.
Your home is one of the most critical assets you have invested in. You have to look for options that will help you give your exterior walls a look they deserve and prevent them from the elements they are exposed to.
Cladding is one of the things that you should consider doing to your walls. One good thing about cladding is that there are different types of materials you can use. However, you have to make sure that you take your time to select the best materials.
Types of materials used in cladding
Different materials are used in cladding and include stones, metal, weatherboards, timber, vinyl, and stone. It’s good that you look at each of these materials’ pros and cons before deciding which material is best for your exterior walls.
Timber cladding is one of the most common claddings that many people choose for various reasons. For instance, timber is mostly amicable, and its price is cheaper as compared to other materials. They are also replaceable, durable, and environmentally friendly. However, timber cladding rots fast, they may be infested by bugs, and are difficult to clean.
On the other side, weatherboards are made of timber or hardwood and make very excellent cladding of your home. They are durable and provide high-quality cladding for your home. They are also useful, resistant to moisture, do not rot fast like wood, and are very strong. Some of the disadvantages of weatherboard cladding are that they change colour over time, and since they are made of timber, they may split with time. They are also sharp if they are made of metal, and therefore, they can injure you.
The vinyl cladding has become very popular today since they are easy to install and maintain. They are affordable, unlike most of the cladding materials, and they come in different colours. The other good thing about them is that they retain their colours for a very long time and are resistant to strong winds. Although they may be strong, they crack and get dents, especially if the weather is extreme and are not waterproof.
Metal cladding is a system involving sheets and boards of shingles made of either aluminium or steel. This type of cladding lasts for a very long time and is very strong. They are resistant to many elements, including fire and bugs. The fact that they are waterproof also makes them resist water, and therefore they do not rot. Maintaining metal cladding is too easy, but they are susceptible to rust. They may be more expensive, but they fade fast, get scratches or even dents.
Stone cladding is a cladding material that is made using cement, sand, and fibres. They are very durable and naturally beautiful. They also come in different colours and textures, unlike many cladding materials. They never rot, resist fire and require low maintenance.
However, stone claddings are very fragile and difficult to install, not to mention their high prices.
How to select the right cladding material
When you are selecting the material you will use in cladding; you have to ensure that you consider the following factors;
- The performance of the material
- Durability and material quality
- Cost of installation
- Maintenance level
- The appearance of the materials
- Availability of the materials
Make sure you purchase natural cladding stone only from reliable and reputable sources.
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