Home improvements can be time-consuming and costly, but they can offer many tremendous benefits when they are done right.
Investing in the best materials can help you achieve great results that last a long time when properly installed.
This article explores versatile and long-lasting composite cladding boards that can help to protect your home and provide a stylish finish.
What Is Composite Cladding?
Cladding is a material that can increase the weather resistance and has thermal insulation properties when applied over the existing outer walls.
Composite cladding is made from a wood-plastic composite mix with significant advantages over traditional wood cladding.
Ecoscape composite cladding boards are created using recycled plastic and reclaimed wood to ensure consumers have an eco-friendly way to improve their properties.
The versatile designs are available in various styles and colours, making them perfect for traditional and modern applications.
Composite Cladding Uses
Composite cladding is a versatile construction material that is applied to building exteriors for various reasons, including:
Protecting building materials
One of the primary purposes of cladding on exterior walls is to protect the building materials from the weather. Composite cladding boards are great for the UK weather and can extend the life of your walls. The hard wearing material won’t warp, split, or splinter like traditional timber cladding.
Because of this, you can expect a longer life from this material over alternatives. As well as being weatherproof, you won’t need to worry about pests like woodworm, as the plastic helps to protect wood composite cladding boards.
Improving aesthetics
Painting a house can help change the aesthetics significantly, but it must be regularly maintained. Composite cladding offers a long-term solution that can transform the appearance of all types of buildings.
Ecoscape composite cladding boards are available in panel and slatted styles for different finishes. There is a range of colours that tie in with the other products, including high-quality composite decking, fencing, and balustrades.
New cladding can also improve curb appeal by enhancing the style of the home and covering unsightly exterior walls.
Energy efficiency
Another excellent use for composite cladding is to improve thermal efficiency. The additional protection from cold weather and the ability to create a thermal barrier can help to make homes more energy efficient.
This is a huge advantage for anyone trying to be more eco-friendly and can also help to reduce energy bills by minimising heat loss.
Advantages Of Composite Cladding
There are many reasons why installing composite cladding is a smart move, for practical and aesthetic reasons, as well as being a great investment.
Durability
Each Ecoscape composite cladding board uses repurposed, responsibly sourced wood and plastic that has been recycled to create a durable material that can withstand poor weather conditions that are all too common in the UK.
As well as handling cold, wet UK weather, they are UV stable and come with a 25-year colour guarantee to protect you against significant fading. Rigorous testing against salt spray, heat, moisture, indentation, fungi resistance and artificial weathering ensures each Ecoscape composite board is ready for use and up to the task.
Low-maintenance
Nobody likes spending their whole summer tending to traditional wooden fixtures like cladding or decking. Regular maintenance is time-consuming and expensive, which is why composite cladding material is the perfect alternative to wooden cladding.
The low maintenance qualities of composite materials make them an extremely popular choice. It will not need paint, stain, or treatments to weatherproof or protect it from wood-boring insects.
Bi-annual cleaning is advised and can be carried out using a high-pressure jet washer carefully. Keeping a distance of at least 20 cm and using a fan beam will minimise the risk of marks caused by a highly concentrated jet of water. Alternatively, you can use mild liquid soap and warm water with a soft-bristled scrubbing brush to remove dirt and debris.
If you have installed composite cladding against an exterior wall and it sustains burn marks when barbecuing, it is possible to gently sand the area with 80 gsm sandpaper.
Long-lasting
If you have done thorough planning before you install composite cladding, you will want it to last. Thankfully, when you invest in Ecoscape composite materials, you will be protected by a guarantee.
As long as you follow the terms and conditions and use the detailed installation guide provided, your Ecoscape composite cladding will have a 25-year product and colour warranty.
Where You Can Use Composite Cladding
Composite cladding can be a welcome addition to homes, but there are many other great uses for it that you will be able to consider, including;
Garden buildings
Whether you have built an outdoor summer room, have a pool house, or have a storage building in your garden, composite WPC cladding can be an excellent option.
If you are going to the time and expense of upgrading your exterior, other buildings on your property can sometimes look out of place. Garden renovations can also make existing buildings look tired, run-down, or out of keeping.
If you have invested in high-quality composite decking, cladding, or fencing, for your home and garden, installing cladding on your garden buildings can help to tie them in with the rest of the property and ensure your garden looks fantastic.
New builds
New builds can sometimes look a little soulless in comparison with more traditional properties. New homes, especially in housing developments, also risk looking a little uniform.
One way to stamp your style on your new home is by investing in cladding to change its appearance. Another great reason to do this is that your walls will be relatively new, so installing cladding can help to protect them right from the start.
Renovations
Renovations can be a lot of hard work, but it can also be so rewarding to turn an older building around and give it a new lease on life.
If you are carrying out work on the walls, installing cladding can be a great alternative to other finishes and help to protect the work that has been carried out.
Office blocks
Anyone that owns office blocks will understand the expense of keeping them in working condition for their clients. One excellent way to minimise the risk of exterior problems is by installing cladding. This can help resist fungal attacks, rot, and insects and minimises the risk of moisture entering the interior.
Apartments
High-quality cladding on apartment buildings can help to improve safety and insulation, minimise the risk of weather damage, and improve the appearance of the building.
These benefits can be significant for property owners with many critical commitments to ensure their tenants and the property are well looked after.
Man caves
In recent years, the popularity of man caves has grown significantly. The name “man cave” is possibly a bit of a misnomer with men and women enjoying the benefits of an outdoor building to enjoy peace and quiet, set up an area for hobbies, or even create home offices and bars.
If you are going to the trouble of installing one, you will want it to look good, feel good, and last.
The insulation benefits can be a great way to ensure the room doesn’t get too cool in the winter without ramping up energy costs. The protective qualities will help keep the composite material safe from the elements.
Ecoscape Composite Cladding
Ecoscape composite cladding is an eco-friendly way to invest in high-quality composite cladding boards.
The reclaimed wood fibre used in each board is rescued from landfills and is FSC certified. The recycled plastic used in Ecoscape products minimises new plastic production and reduces waste. In 2021 Ecoscape reused 4496 tons of plastic.
The weather-resistant qualities provide a low-maintenance solution for your home, and the 25-year colour and product guarantees ensure you can have faith in your investment.
Slatted cladding
Ecoscape’s slatted composite cladding boards are available in 2,500 mm and 3,600 mm lengths. The width of each board is 121 mm, and they are 25 mm thick. The boards weigh 1.82 kg per metre and have a rebated slatted finish.
You can choose between midnight, silver birch, and spiced oak colours to choose from.
Panel cladding
Ecoscape composite panel cladding boards are 142 mm wide, 13 mm wide, and 3,600 mm long. They weigh 2.23 kg per metre and have a single-sided brushed finish.
Colours include midnight, argent, flint, silver birch, spiced oak, and Havana.
For more details, visit the composite cladding page or give us a call at 0845 9011 988. Our team of experts are happy to discuss our available options and answer any questions you may have.
FAQs
Is composite cladding expensive?
The cost of installing composite cladding will vary depending on the manufacturer, cladding board choice, and size of the area you need to be clad.
Ecoscape composite panel cladding boards cost £55.88 per square metre, and the composite slatted cladding boards cost £76.27 per square metre.
Is composite cladding easy to install?
Yes, it is easy to install composite cladding. We will provide you with a detailed installation guide that will take you through every step needed.
The Ecoscape composite cladding installation guide has detailed instructions on how to install a horizontal facade system, vertical facade system, soffit, gable end, secret door, roof, screen, and planter.
What is capped composite?
Capped composite cladding uses state-of-the-art extrusion technology to mould boards and cover them in a thin, durable wrap that provides additional protection.
This allows Ecoscape to offer a 25-year warranty and helps protect the boards from UV rays and moisture.
How should composite cladding be stored?
Ecoscape composite cladding should be stored in a shaded area and be kept out of direct weather conditions until you are ready to install it. They should be kept in a clean, dry area.
Composite boards should be supported at intervals of 500 mm, and the load should be supported equally. Stack the boards on top of one another and do not exceed 3 m in height. Failure to store Ecoscape composite cladding boards will void the warranty.
What is the best way to handle composite cladding boards?
It is essential to place composite boarding gently when unloading, and they should not be slid on each other. The best way to support the boards when moving them is to hold them in the centre and at the end. Do not drag boards; keep them free of dirt during the installation process.
Final Thoughts
The versatility of Ecoscape composite cladding lends itself perfectly to many uses in the garden and on properties. Easy installation makes it an excellent option for experienced installers, and the expert installation guide takes you through every step of the installation process.
The durable, low-maintenance material is perfect for UK homes and minimises the time and expense you might have to spend on other materials. You won’t have to worry about the issues that timber cladding faces, and the long warranties protect you for a considerable time.
Composite cladding is an excellent way to increase your home’s visual appeal, and the range of styles and colours available with Ecoscape makes it perfect for all projects.
Contact Ecoscape today for more information on how we can help you with all your composite cladding, decking, and fencing needs.