Cladding material

Cladding is the
application of one
material over another
to provide skin or layer
intended to control the
infiltration of weather
elements, or for
aesthetic purposes.
 Cladding

• Cladding (sometimes referred to as paneling)

is most commonly applied to the exterior
walls of buildings and
…..is used for a variety of purposes; to transform
the exterior of a property, provide protection
from the elements, to help insulate a building
or to match the appearance of an extension
with the rest of the house. A variety of
materials can be used for cladding.
Stone Cladding material
Aluminum cladding
Panels
Wood cladding
Timber
is the
most
popular
cladding
material
Brick cladding
Exterior wall insulation
Cost of cladding
 Cladding
• Cladding does not necessarily have to provide a
waterproof condition but….
….. is instead a control element.
This control element may only serve to safely direct
water or wind in order to control run-off and
prevent infiltration into the building structure.
Cladding applied to windows is often referred to as
window capping and is a very specialized field.
 Floor cladding
• The type of floor put into a house depends on the design
and construction methods. The common types are:
• Concrete pad.
• Wooden – either suspended timber strip-lined floors or
pressed composite materials.
• The advantage of a house built with a concrete pad is
that the concrete floor can act as a thermal heat storage
mass which, if used in conjunction with insulation in the
walls and ceilings, keeps that stored heat inside.
• In all cases the floor should be insulated.
 Cladding for exterior walls
• Brick or masonry veneer – it may have a higher initial cost but
the advantage is that it requires virtually no maintenance.
• Autoclaved aerated concrete which has good insulation
properties and comes in blocks, reinforced panels, and lintels.
Note: not all products are accepted by some BCAs - check
before specifying.
• Weatherboards which can be made of timber or from
composite materials. Some do not need painting. They have
very good weathertightness properties. Depending on the
weather tightness risk score a cavity may be required behind
the weatherboard.
• Monolithic systems - for example, textured wall surfaces
made out of plaster, polystyrene or fibre cement sheet .
 ……exterior walls
• Aluminum, for example, extruded aluminum
weatherboard.
• Profiled metal. This requires careful detailing and
workmanship.
• Plywood sheet.
• Concrete masonry blocks - they don't rot, can provide
good heat storage, but they need to be installed
correctly. Note: in some areas additional thermal
insulation may be needed. All single skin masonry will
require the application of a waterproof coating.
 Roofing and roofing design

• Metal which comes in a variety of shapes, some

already finished. Each profile will have specified
minimum slopes that it can be used for.
• Tiles which can be made out of concrete,
pressed steel, clay or wood.
• Synthetic rubber roofing membrane, which
must be laid to fall to ensure water will run
towards a gutter or drain.
 To keep maintenance of the roof to a
minimum:
• Have a simple roof shape.
• Have as few penetrations as possible.
• Make sure there is enough pitch to allow
water to drain and not pool.
• Check it annually, clearing out downpipes and
gutters, and making repairs where necessary.
 Joinery
• Aluminum – this is commonly used in New Zealand but
has some disadvantages. Low cost sections are
thermally inefficient and often result in condensation
forming on the frame as well as the glass. Double
glazed options are available. There should be vents in
the framing to allow for drainage and ventilation.
• Wood – less common these days because of the cost
and the need for regular maintenance.
• PVC - this is commonly used overseas but is relatively
new to New Zealand. Imported sections may suffer
under the effects of New Zealand's strong ultra-violet
radiation.
 uPVC and composite cladding

• uPVC can be used for exterior cladding but is

most commonly applied to property interiors.
It is a good option for wet areas like the
bathroom, utility room or kitchen as it creates
a hygienic, water resistant environment. In
comparison to tiling a room such as the
kitchen, installing uPVC cladding is a cheaper,
much easier to install alternative, which
comes in a variety of colors and styles.
 Ventilated rain screen cladding

• When applying exterior cladding, it is essential that

waterproofing and ventilation are taken into account. This
means having a weatherproof outside layer which acts as a first
defence against the elements, such as sealed stone or treated
timber. A ventilated cavity should alsobe applied between the
cladding and interior wall to act as a second measure against any
moisture which does manage to penetrate the exterior and to
allow for ventilation, which will protect your home from damp.
The ventilated cavity will have a gap at the top and the bottom,
which uses wind force and the difference in air pressure to drive
any moisture heavy air out through the top of the cavity, as well
as allowing some water to drain out at the base of the building.
 Wood cladding

• Timber is the most popular and traditional cladding

material.
• Wooden cladding has the added advantage of being a
natural, eco-friendly product, which is renewable.
• To ensure that you choose the most sustainable wood
possible; look for a certification from either the
Programme for the Endorsement of Forest
Certification (PEFC) or the Forest Stewardship Council
(FSC). When choosing which type of wood cladding
you are going to use.
 wood cladding you are going to use, consider
• The species – in general, higher grade timbers are sleek in comparison to low grade,
rougher options. Softwoods such as pine, cedar or larch are common choices but
hardwoods such as maple or oak can also be used – each result in a different aesthetic
finish.
• Durability and maintenance – bear in mind that certain woods are naturally
more durable than others. Cedar and oak for example are particularly hard wearing
options which can last up to 60 years. Pine, on the other hand, is much less robust and
needs to be regularly treated. Depending on your choice, you will need to regularly
paint or re-stain your timber cladding to keep it in good repair.
• Finish – applying varnishes and paint will protect the wood but also creates a different
finish, for instance, you could paint wood cladding white for a beach effect, or use a
dark stain for a modern look.
• Size, length and orientation of boards – timber cladding comes in different
board lengths and widths, which result in different styles – it may be best to consult a
professional when deciding which type would best suit your property. The orientation of
the boards also needs to be considered; while they can be placed horizontally or
diagonally for design purposes, vertical boards are most practical as they allow for
effective rain water run-off.