ADVANCED CONTRUCTION

TECHNOLOGY

CLADDING TO EXTERNAL WALLS

GROUP SEVEN (7) MEMBERS:
VICTOR KINYANJUI KAHIGA-B66/34968/2014
DENNIS NGATIA GITHUI-B66/34990/2014
LILIAN MORAA NYABICHA-B76/4025/2015
EDWIN KIPLAGAT BUNYOLI-B66/34982/2014
JACKLINE KONCHELLAH NASIEKU-B66/34924/2014
AMOS MASESE ONCHOKE-B76/4026/2015
FAITH MORAA MAGOMA-B66/34584/2014
JOHN GATHOGO MUNGERE-B76/4028/2015
MURIU SAMUEL KUNG’U-B76/4027/2015
MUTEGI MITHAMO-B66/34885/2013
AZANGALALA SHICHENJE ARNOLD-B66/34984/2014
MARTIN MWANGI NJOROGE –B66/34963/2014
MWIHIA ALEXANDER- B66/35002/2014
ONYANGO MAURICE OUMA-B76/4029/2015
DEFINITION:
The application of one material over another to
provide a skin/layer intended to control the infiltration
of weather elements or for aesthetic purposes.
Rather, Cladding can be understood as a general
description for materials used to clothe external faces
of buildings to provide protection against wind and
rain.
However ,it is a non-structural finish and NOT a load
bearing external construction.
REASONS FOR CLADDING:
To hide bricks.
To hide signs of aging.
Aesthetic purposes and creation of external facade.
To create a controlled internal environment.
To provide privacy.
To provide thermal insulation.
To prevent the spread of fire.
To protect the building from external conditions.
To provide access points, ventilation and natural light
into the building.
The illustration below is an example of a house designed by Ikon Designs
director Manmit Jabbal in Nairobi.The exterior walls of this house have been
cladded with a mix of natural stone and plywood core.

IMAGE SOURCE: Business Daily Magazine October 16 th,

2016.
MATERIALS USED FOR CLADDING:
External walls of block or timber frame construction can
be cladded with the following materials:
1.Tiles
2.Timberboards
3.Plastic Board Sections
4.Metal
5.Stone and Brick
6.Glass
7.Patterned Reinforcement Concrete
8.Fibre Cement Cladding
TILES
Used for external cladding.
They are of three (3) types;
(i) Plain roof tiles
(ii) Ceramic tiles
(iii)Granite and marble tiles
PLAIN ROOF TILES
They could either have a patterned bottom edge or a
straight bottom edge.
The way of application is the same as to roof
application in that the tiles are applied to the vertical
surface the same way as to a sloping surface.
 However, when it comes to cladding, the gauge is
wider and each tile is usually nailed twice as compared
to the roof.
CERAMIC TILES
Ceramic tiles of various sizes are used to clad the
exterior of buildings.
It is important that all building industry consultants
get involved in the decision to use ceramic tiles on
exterior walls.
Large tiles which are heavier require care in fixing to
avoid them falling down and causing injuries.
The most used adhesive in Kenya that sticks these tiles
to the walls is cement slurry-regularly termed as ‘wet-
set’. Other adhesives are available such as ‘thin-set’.
CERAMIC TILES
This is a mixture of cement, sand and a chemical
called methylcellulose. Methylcellulose holds water
allowing the tile to be laid dry.
The image below shows an example of a building that
has employed ceramic tiles as an external wall
cladding.
CERAMIC TILES
A shopping mall along Luthuli Avenue Nairobi.
GRANITE AND MARBLE TILES
These are quite expensive as compared to ceramic
tiles.
They are very appealing to the eye.
They require little or no maintenance since they are
naturally occuring.
GRANITE AND MARBLE TILES

Corner House along Kimathi

Street,Nairobi.
TIMBER CLADDING
Timber cladding comes in either;
a) Horizontal boards
b) Shingles
c) Panels
TIMBER CLADDING
They are usually fixed to battens either; horizontally to
vertical battens or vertically to horizontal battens.
It is a popular choice for many because the look of real
timber on homes gives it a high aesthetic value.
It is also a good natural insulator and environmentally
friendly.
TIMBER CLADDING
They may require frequent ongoing maintenance to
keep them in a good condition thus becoming an
expensive choice.
TIMBER CLADDING
PLASTIC BOARD SECTIONS/VINYL
CLADDING
It is a plastic exterior siding system.
It is manufactured primarily from polyvinyl chloride
(PVC) resin.
It comes in many colours as well as recyclable,
economical and uses fewer resources when it’s being
manufactured.
Requires little maintenance and you can add
insulation to it pretty easily.
PLASTIC BOARD SECTIONS/VINYL CLADDING
Mode of application

It is similar to that of timber boards.

 The Battens to which the claddings are fixed, in both
timber and Plastic board sections, should be properly
treated with anti-fungi and beetle preservative.
Moreover, they should also be fixed with corrosion
resistant nails.
METAL CLADDING
It is an external form of cladding commonly made
from either steel or aluminium.
It is a strong form of cladding, lightweight and long
lasting.
It comes in a range of colours to suit your choice.
METAL CLADDING
STONE AND BRICK CLADDING
Various patterns and looks can be created using
different coloured bricks in a brick cladding system.
Bricks are easy to work with, lightweight and a good
insulator.
They also don’t need too much maintenance hence are
an economical choice to the client.
STONE AND BRICK CLADDING
STONE AND BRICK CLADDING
Stanbic house along Kenyatta avenue in Nairobi and
the Mamlaka Building of The University of Nairobi are
examples of a buildings that employed Brick Cladding
as depicted below.
STONE AND BRICK CLADDING

Stanbic House , Kenyatta avenue

 STONE AND BRICK CLADDING

Mamlaka Building,University of Nairobi

STONE AND BRICK CLADDING
Stone cladding comprises of thin layers of natural or
simulated stone(simulated stone is much cheaper than
real stone)on the exterior of homes or buildings.
Homes with stone cladding tend to enhance the
aesthetic value of the involved building.
STONE AND BRICK CLADDING
SECTIONAL IMAGES
SECTIONAL IMAGES
SECTIONAL IMAGES
 COMPARISON OF CLADDING MATERIALS
TIMBER CLADDING


Availability: Available in most locations. Transport considerations should address the
high mass, low volume of these products when transported long distances.

Embodied energy: Among the lowest embodied energy cladding materials currently
available.

Maintenance: Moderate. Requires painting. Surface and dimensional stability reduce
frequency of maintenance. Usually pre-primed.

Durability: Highly durable. Suitable for sites subject to seismic or geotechnical
movement.

Breathability: Good (depending on finish) with low condensation risk. Can encourage
mould growth (by providing nutrients) if exposed to regular condensation. Breathable
sarking with a condensation cavity is strongly recommended in condensation prone
climates.
 COMPARISON OF CLADDING MATERIALS
TIMBER CLADDING

Waterproofness: High.
Insulation: Negligible.
Fire resistance: Good.
Toxicity: Non-toxic. Natural timber resins are used to bond particles under
high temperature and pressure. Paints and sealants can have toxicity issues.
Finishes: Must be painted. Available in a diverse range of patterns, shapes
and finishes.
Resource depletion: Virtually nil when product is made from forest waste.
Recycling/reuse: Generally not recycled due to finishes. Limited reuse is
possible but often not implemented due to low cost of new materials.
 COMPARISON OF CLADDING MATERIALS
WEATHERBOARD

Availability: Various products and profiles widely available.

Embodied energy: Among the lowest of all cladding materials.
Maintenance: High. Timber is subject to shrinkage, swelling, cracking and rot
unless well sealed. Ongoing movement requires regular retreatment.
Durability: Low to moderate depending on species and maintenance. Graded in
durability classes ranging from 1 (best) to 4 (unsuitable for external use).
Variations are common within these gradings due to sapwood (prone to rot) and
heartwood (more durable) content and exposure during milling.
Breathability: High but can be decreased with paints and finishes. Joint
detailing generally allows enough breathing to prevent condensation. Breathable
sarking is essential and vapour cavities are important in climates with high
condensation risk.
 COMPARISON OF CLADDING MATERIALS
WEATHERBOARD

Waterproofness: Generally good but dependent on profile and stability (shrinkage, cupping,
splitting, warping). Vertical tongue and groove or lapped systems are more common sources of
leaks because joints can open or ‘pop’. Horizontal weatherboard systems are generally more
waterproof in rain exposed locations. Natural timber defects (e.g. knots) can also compromise
waterproofness.
Insulation: Varies with thickness, sealing and density.
Fire resistance: Poor with the exception of a few hardwood species.
Toxicity: Non-toxic if untreated. Some treatments (e.g. copper chrome arsenate, or CCA) have
known toxicity issues. Paints and sealants can have toxicity issues.
Finishes: Generally painted, oiled or stained. Requires regular retreatment due to natural
movement and deterioration
Resource depletion: Renewable when plantation grown
Recycling: Difficult to recycle due to the fixings and the additional joins required as lengths
decrease with each use.
 COMPARISON OF CLADDING MATERIALS
FIBER CEMENT

Availability: Commonly available due to high level transportability.

Embodied energy: Generally low.
Maintenance: Low maintenance due to stability but requires painting to
maintain waterproofness.
Durability: Highly durable and dimensionally stable. Suitable for sites
subject to seismic or geotechnical movement.
Breathability: Good (depending on finish) with very low condensation
risk. Can be subject to surface mould growth if exposed to regular
condensation.
Waterproofness: High. Varies according to thickness and finish.
Insulation: Poor insulator.
 COMPARISON OF CLADDING MATERIALS
FIBRE CEMENT

Fire resistance: High.

Toxicity: Non-toxic. Paints and sealants can have toxicity issues.
Finishes: Available in a diverse range of patterns, shapes and finishes.
Resource depletion: Plantation-grown cellulose reinforcing fibre is
renewable. Cement is non-renewable. Sand and fines are abundant but non-
renewable.
Recycling/reuse: Generally not recycled due to finishes. Limited reuse is
possible but often not implemented due to low cost of new materials and
deconstruction damage.
 
 COMPARISON OF CLADDING MATERIALS
BRICK CLADDING

Availability: Most common cladding system.

Embodied energy: Very high in quantities used.
Maintenance: Lowest maintenance if unpainted and not rendered;
otherwise high.
Durability: Highly durable on well designed footings. Less suited to
seismic loads and reactive soils.
Breathability: High with very low condensation risk when breathable
sarking is used, due to well ventilated, wide cavity.
Waterproof: Low. Requires wide cavity, flashings and cavity drainage.
Insulation: Poor insulator.
COMPARISON OF CLADDING MATERIALS
BRICK CLADDING

Fire resistance: Excellent

Finishes: Diverse range of (unpainted) colours and
finishes.
Toxicity: Non-toxic.
Resource depletion: Abundant but finite resource.
Recycling/reuse: Increasingly recycled into new
bricks.
 COMPARISON OF CLADDING MATERIALS
VINYL CLADDING

Availability: Not common

Embodied energy: Very high
Maintenance: Lowest maintenance.
Waterproof: Good
Insulation: Poor insulator.
Fire resistance: Poor
Toxicity: High
Resource depletion: Abundant but finite resource.
Recycling/reuse: Low recycling rates
 COMPARISON OF CLADDING MATERIALS
METAL CLADDING

Steel
Availability: Available
 Embodied energy: High.
Maintenance: Very low.
Durability: Durability is very high: galvanised corrugated steel can
last more than 100 years on a building and is a material highly sought
after for decorative reuse
Breathability: Steel cladding is a vapour barrier and its excellent
conductivity makes it highly susceptible to dew-point formation and
water vapour condensation. It should always be fixed via a breathable
cavity (often provided by the profile).
 COMPARISON OF CLADDING MATERIALS
Steel

 Waterproofness: Among the most waterproof of cladding materials.

 Insulation: Zero insulation.
 Fire resistance: High.
 Toxicity: Non-toxic.
 Finishes: A range of standard colours and finishes including galvanised and
zinc/aluminium corrosion treatments. A range of standard baked enamel pre-
finish colours is available.
 Resource depletion: Steel is a non-renewable resource.
 Recycling/reuse: Steel sheeting is highly reusable and 100% recyclable.
 COMPARISON OF CLADDING MATERIALS
Aluminium

Aluminium cladding has a similar range of profiles to steel but also includes a
folded weatherboard product. It is more corrosion resistant than steel.
Availability: Available
Embodied energy: Highest of any cladding. Most appropriate in highly
corrosive environments where products with lower embodied energy have a
reduced life span.
Maintenance: Low. Powdercoated finishes generally have a life expectancy of
15 years and, although fading is common, they rarely require repainting for
protection.
 Durability: Durability is very high due to corrosion resistance of the material
itself (rather than protective coatings). Life span and corrosion compatibility
of fixings and flashings is essential.
 COMPARISON OF CLADDING MATERIALS
Aluminium

Breathability: Aluminium is a vapour barrier and its excellent conductivity

makes it highly prone to dew-point formation and water vapour condensation. It
should always be fixed via a breathable cavity
Waterproofness: Among the most waterproof of cladding materials.
Insulation: Zero insulation.
Fire resistance: Good.
Toxicity: Non-toxic.
Finishes: Generally powder coated in standard colours but for special orders
any colour can be supplied.
Resource depletion: Aluminium is an abundant but non-renewable resource.
Recycling/reuse: Aluminium cladding is highly reusable (if screw fixed) and
100% recyclable.
CURRENT TRENDS
HardieLinea
HardieLinea cladding is an innovative and unique
solution for cladding.
It is a premium exterior product that combines elegant
aesthetics with unrivaled durability.
 This type of cladding provides you with the best in
appearance, materials, quality and durability.
Breaks free from the flat lines of typical modern
homes. Its multi-dimensional lines cast stunning,
deep shadow lines across any home’s exterior design.
CURRENT TRENDS
It is manufactured from advanced formulation fibre
cement with a unique tongue and groove assembly for
ease of installation and is also available in today’s
popular colours.  
An advantage of this HardieLinea cladding is that it
provides long-lasting beauty due to its unsurpassed
protection against outdoor elements.
CURRENT TRENDS
 Resistance to shrinkage, swelling and cracking as well
as mold and mildew, vermin, harsh weather and is
non-combustibility are other advantages that this type
of cladding has posed.
 
CURTAIN WALLING
Definition
Curtain Walling is a vertical building enclosure which
supports no load other than its own weight and the
environmental forces which act upon it.
They come in a variety of types ;
i. Proprietary(off peg systems)- are constructed using
a manufacturer’s standardized components
ii. Bespoke (custom systems)- are purpose designed for
each particular object
iii. Semi-bespoke systems- adapt a proprietary system
to meet the specific project challenges.
How are Curtain Walling Systems presented
to the site?
This is done in three basic ways;
a) As a framework of site assembled components-
This is used to support pre-installed infill panels

b) Sections of Pre-fabricated wall- are pre-glazed and

transported to site as unitized frames

c) Pre-fabricated unitized frames – pre-glazed and

hung on a site assembled carrier framework.
Materials used
ALUMINIUM framing majorly in curtain walling
applications.
 This is because of its excellent strength to weight ratio
and it also holds the ability to be extruded in complex
shapes.
The majority of Aluminium curtain walling is
constructed using 6000 series heat-treatable
magnesium silicone alloys that are highly extrudable
and are thus ideal for the creation of complex shapes.
• It is important to note that although
aluminium forms a protective layer of oxide
as soon as it is exposed to air, most
components of Curtain Walling MUST be
treated or coated.

• The available options for this include Natural

and Coloured anodising.

• Most specifiers nowadays, however , prefer

an electrostatically-sprayed polyester powder
coating. This is because it provides a high
quality surface with excellent adhesion,
accurate colouring and a film that is thick
and even.The colour choice is vast.
DESIGN PRINCIPLES
1 WATER TIGHTNESS
It is the aim of every curtain walling installation to
ensure total elimination of water ingress in accordance
with the Building Regulations. This means that
specifiers need a good awareness of the forces acting
upon a building façade and the solutions available to
ensure a weather tight exterior shell.
2.DESIGN SOLUTIONS
There are three basic categories of curtain walling
systems. They conclude; Front sealed , Secondary
sealed and Pressure equalised systems.
1. FRONT SEALED SYSTEMS: Rely on exact
positioning of glazing panels and perfect mastic
seals. They are designed to be totally impervious.
Limitations
 Effectiveness relies effectively on quality of
workmanship during installation
 Only appropriate for use in low rise buildings in
sheltered locations
 Effectiveness also relies on longetivity of sealing
mastics and glazing gaskets
cont’d
SECONDARY SEALED SYSTEMS: Designed to collect
and drain any water that penetrates through holes and
slots.It suggests that a purely weathertight system is
hard to achieved for the life of a façade.
PRESSURE EQUALISED: Here an external barrier
provides protection.
Protected openings allow air into the cavity hence
facilitating equalization of pressure.
Types of Curtain walling installations
STICK. Installed on site,component by
component.They are supplied in knock down form
after being prepared in the factory.
They are economical and easily reliable if correctly
installed but however slow to install
UNITISED.Installed as a series of factory assembled
frames usually with interlocking mullion and
transoms.
How do we differentiate between Cladding
and Curtain Walling?
  Cladding is bound to the masonry wall whereas
Curtain walling either replaces a masonry wall or
is some distance from the latter.

An example is in high rise buildings where only the

slab, beams and columns are used as the structural
elements and curtain walling can be used in place of
the masonry wall to reduce the weight of the building.

 Cladding forms part of the dead load as it is

supported by structural components of the
building whereas curtain walling supports its
own weight and the environmentally imposed
loads.
The Shard (tallest building in London) Courtesy of google images.
To demonstrate curtain walling is a photo of NHIF building in Upperhill.
STRUCTURAL GLAZING
Structural glazing is a type of curtain wall systems
consisting of glass that is bonded or anchored back to a
structure without the use of continuously gasketed
aluminium pressure plates or caps.

The glass can comprise of monolithic, laminated, dual-

glazed or triple-glazed insulating glass units.

This is no ordinary glass since it’s treated by heating to a

high degree of strength(7x stronger than ordinary glass).
• This system creates a completely clean, flush exterior
appearance while the interior members have many
different options depending on design and budget.

• Structural glass systems can provide striking store

front appearances, giving Architects and Designers a
chance to offer unique uninterrupted glass structures
without any visible framing.
• Frameless glass facades can be achieved before
incorporating a combination of stainless steel fittings
and structural glass support fins. These facades can be
created using single toughened glass, toughened
laminated double glazed units
Comparing Structural Glazing and Curtain
walling
Curtain walling systems are non-structural while
Structural Glazing systems are structural. The latter
bear part of the structure’s weight. A case is where
structural glazing is used in floors of African Nazarene
university library, or in place of the masonry wall, or as
roofing to allow natural lighting.
The aluminium frame is the main structure, in Curtain
Walling, in-filled with glass or stone panels while
Structural Glazing involves glass panels with no
aluminium framing.
REFERENCES
Your Home-Chris Reardon,2013
External Cladding by James Hardie
Exterior Wall Finishes for Tall Buildings.(Article
by Francis Gichuhi in A4Architect)
Barry Volume 1
Principles of Curtain Walling
uk-gg.com
wwglass.com