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Over the last two years, the demand for home improvement has been on a long and steady incline. The rise in home renovations and extensions has been attributed to us spending more time inside our houses during the long lockdowns of 2020 and 2021. Wanting to improve the look and layout of our homes has never been so popular, and it shows no signs of slowing down.
With this rise in home improvement, we have seen more demand for external composite cladding to transform a tired or dated frontage to that of a contemporary and smart one. If homeowners have been thinking about renovating the outside of their home, or business owners are considering giving their premises a facelift, whether it’s for aesthetic reasons only, or for protection from the elements (or a combination of both these reasons), the addition of cladding is a good option. It can be a great substitute for old hanging tiles or to replace aging render finishes, and there are a wide variety of cladding styles and materials to either enhance the look of an existing building, or to completely change the appearance.
What is external cladding?
In short, cladding is the external finish of a building, and in particular – panelling or sheets, which are added to the outside. Cladding is non-load bearing, and as such, panels are attached, but not part of the structure. There are a vast range to choose from when it comes to the material and finish, from timber cladding, through to PVC cladding, cedar cladding, brick, stone and aluminium cladding. When choosing the type, homeowners are often led by aesthetics, but the decision around the type of cladding will also be dependent on location, weather, budget, how much on-going maintenance is needed, and who will install it.
What are the benefits to using external cladding?
There are many benefits to using external cladding, and one of these is to improve the insulation of a property. This is particularly pertinent with the steep rise in heating bills during 2022, and with homeowners now looking for ways to retain the heat in their house, cladding can be a solid, long-term investment. Cladding is also a great protector of the building, acting as a prevention against the forces of weather, which is why it is often seen on beach-front houses. It can be extremely effective against the elements of wind, rain, and sea-air.
Although there are so many advantages, it’s important to consider the impact of the external change to a house, in both the look and quality. How will the change to the façade be received by the neighbourhood? Will the house be too much of a contrast from the others? If the home is semi-detached or terraced, what impact will this have on the neighbours’ house?
Investing in high-quality cladding is also essential. As with any product, cheap low-quality alternatives may mean fading or cracking of the material over time. If homeowners are hoping the addition of cladding will be a ‘quick-cheap fix’, it will be well worth doing some research into suppliers and materials to ensure homeowners are fully armed with knowledge when it comes to making their choice.
What should I look for when choosing external cladding?
There are a range of materials to choose from when it comes to external cladding. At Edge Building Products, we supply the Fortex range of innovative cladding which combines an authentic painted timber grained look with the low maintenance benefits of PVC. PVC, also known as vinyl or plastic cladding, can be used as both interior and exterior cladding, and Fortex cladding can be supplied in a range of nine subtle colours giving the homeowner a really wide choice of options to complement their design ideas. Fortex remains a popular choice due it being light and easy to install, and the comprehensive range of cladding trims available, will ensure a neat and professional finish whatever the application. We understand that deciding on the colour of your cladding is important, and so we have provided a [handy visualiser tool] to help our customers imagine how different coloured cladding might look on a house of the same style as theirs.
If it is a fashionable New-England effect that the homeowner is seeking, then James Hardie cladding could be an option. Unlike timber weatherboarding, Hardie plank cladding is made from resilient, maintenance-free fibre cement, giving the homeowner all the benefits of a stylish wood-like appearance, and none of the hassle of painting, staining and restoring. This cladding is also weather resistant, meaning it doesn’t shrink or crack, and it is lightweight and eco-friendly. Hardie cladding is available in grey, black, white, and cream, meaning most of the popular cladding colours are covered.
We also supply two more additional cladding lines under our brand Edgeline. Shiplap Cladding offers a traditional style of cladding, with clean smooth lines and a smarter finish. Open V Cladding is a popular choice, and although at first glance isn’t dissimilar from Shiplap Cladding, it has a symmetrical profile allowing the cladding to be used in either a horizontal or vertical format.
What are the differences between UPVC and fibre cement cladding?
When choosing between Fortex UPVC Cladding and Hardie Fibre Cement Cladding, it’s important to understand the benefits of each. Whilst PVC is light and easy to install, and available in a large range of colours, Hardie Fibre Cement Cladding meanwhile, is more resilient and durable due to the cladding composition (cellulose fibre and cement). The two types of boarding are both known to be low in maintenance, which is an important consideration.
We understand that for homeowners, changing the external appearance of a building is a decision not to be taken lightly. Edge Building Products can help advise homeowners on which might be most suitable type of cladding, depending on their budget, location, current appearance of their house, and of course – desired appearance.
We have trade counters to supply cladding from our Croydon, Horsham and Chichester sites, and we can provide the broadest range of low-maintenance building and glazing products in the market. For more information on our external cladding and decking ranges, please visit https://edgebp.co.uk/external-cladding-decking or ring us on 0345 021 3333.