There are many different materials that can be used when cladding exterior walls. Wood, UPVC, metal, and stone are all popular options, but none of them have the same benefits as composite cladding.
Adding it to your home will provide it with extra protection, better insulation and may even increase its value.
In this article, we’ll examine some of the best benefits that composite cladding has to offer. We’ll also compare it to two of the other most popular cladding materials to see how they stack up against it.
We’re sure that you’ll agree that composite cladding is the right choice for you and your home.
Composite Cladding Explained
Like all other composite materials, composite cladding is made with reclaimed wood materials and recycled plastic. This gives it many benefits when used as an exterior wall cladding, such as durability, longevity, eco-friendliness, and much more.
When compared to other exterior cladding materials such as UPVC and wood cladding, composite wall cladding has a number of advantages. This is why it is fast becoming the most popular choice for use on interior and exterior walls.
Modern composite cladding has become more cost-effective than it was in the past, meaning it’s no longer a very expensive option. When upgrading your exterior wall cladding, there really is no better option.
Composite Cladding Vs Wood Cladding
Maintenance
Composite exterior cladding is very low-maintenance and doesn’t need to be sealed or treated. It only needs to be cleaned once every 3 to 6 months which makes it one of the most low-maintenance cladding materials on the market.
Wood cladding requires regular maintenance to prevent it from rotting, staining and fading. This means that you have to spend time and money treating and sealing wood cladding to properly maintain it.
Eco-friendliness
Wood cladding can be made using wood from sustainable sources. However, this still means that trees need to be cut down in order to make it. The chemicals that are used to maintain wood cladding are also often harmful to the environment.
Composite cladding is made with recycled wood fibre and plastic, which means that trees don’t need to be felled for it to be made and less plastic ends up in landfills.
All of our composite cladding boards and panels are made with 95% recycled materials making them the perfect choice for eco-conscious customers.
Longevity & durability
All composite products, such as composite decking and cladding, are renowned for their incredible longevity and durability. Composite cladding is highly resistant to water, meaning that it doesn’t rot or mould as wood cladding does.
Wood cladding is very prone to water absorption, and even pressure-treated wood will start to rot over time if not properly maintained. Wood cladding is also susceptible to warping as the moisture in its core causes it to contract and expand more than composite cladding.
All of our composite cladding panels and boards come with a 25-year warranty to give you peace of mind and demonstrate the confidence we have in the longevity of our products.
Appearance
When choosing an exterior wall cladding, its appearance will be a big factor as you’ll want your cladding to perfectly complement your home. Many people still view wood cladding as the most aesthetically pleasing option due to its natural finish.
However, composite exterior cladding also contains wood and has a natural, wood-grain finish that gives it a traditional look. It’s also more versatile than wood cladding, with many different colours to choose from.
Some of the colours in our composite cladding range include spiced oak, silver birch and midnight.
Cost
Composite cladding still tends to be more expensive than wood cladding in terms of upfront costs. However, for all of the reasons we’ve listed above, composite cladding is less expensive than wood cladding over the course of its service life.
Composite cladding is so low-maintenance that you will save money over time by not needing expensive treatments and sealants. Its amazing longevity and durability also mean you won’t have to pay for it to be repaired and replaced.
Composite Cladding Vs UPVC Cladding
Maintenance
When it comes to maintenance, both UPVC and composite cladding require very little. Like composite cladding, UPVC doesn’t need to be painted, sealed or treated as it’s made from 100% plastic.
UPVC cladding also only needs to be cleaned occasionally with either a power washer or warm, soapy water and a soft-bristled brush. This means that composite cladding and UPVC both have an advantage over wood cladding in terms of maintenance requirements.
Eco-friendliness
One area where composite cladding has a big advantage over UPVC is eco-friendliness. During the UPVC manufacturing process, harmful chemicals are released into the environment, which contributes to land, air and water pollution.
This is not the case for composite cladding, as no harmful chemicals are released when it is manufactured.
UPVC cladding is also very difficult to recycle, and at the end of its service life, it is usually either incinerated or left in a landfill. This, of course, is also bad for the environment.
Longevity & durability
UPVC is a fairly durable material, and like composite cladding, it’s resistant to rot, fading, and warping. However, some UPVC cladding has been known to sag over time which is not an issue with composite cladding.
On average, UPVC cladding lasts for between 20 and 25 years. This means that it may last for 5 to 10 years less than composite cladding.
This will lead to increased costs and will also give you the hassle of having to replace it sooner than you would if you had composite cladding.
Appearance
One of the main downsides of UPVC decking is that it lacks the aesthetic values of both composite cladding and wood cladding. As it contains no wood materials, it doesn’t have the same natural finish as composite cladding and wood cladding.
One upside is that, like composite cladding, the colours of the panels are set during the manufacturing process. This means that a wide range of colours is available.
However, when compared to composite cladding, UPVC decking still has a more artificial appearance and doesn’t tend to look as good on the exterior of your home.
Cost
Depending on the type of UPVC cladding, it is often still cheaper than composite cladding when it comes to upfront costs. However, as it’s less durable and long-lasting than composite cladding, you may have to pay for repairs and replacements, which increases the overall cost.
Our composite cladding range starts from £55.88 per square metre, which makes it a very affordable option, especially when you consider the savings you will make over the course of its service life.
However, both UPVC and composite cladding will cost you less over their lifespans due to the lack of maintenance that is required.
Can Composite Cladding Add Value To Your Property?
As we’ve discussed, the upfront costs of composite cladding tend to be higher than both wood cladding and UPVC cladding. However, something that needs to be factored into this initial cost is that adding composite cladding to your home can actually increase its value.
There are several reasons why it can increase your property’s value. One of them is that your property will look more attractive to potential buyers.
If you have an old, tired-looking brick veneer, then covering it up with composite cladding is an easy way to improve the look of your home.
Adding composite exterior cladding will also improve your home’s insulation. This means that buyers will know that they will save money on their energy bills and that your home will also be more eco-friendly as less energy will be wasted.
Composite cladding also increases the value of your home more than wood cladding does. This is due to its longevity, as buyers will be aware that they won’t need to replace it for a very long time.
The same can’t be said for homes with wood cladding, as this will need to be replaced sooner.
FAQs
Why do people clad their homes?
There are many reasons that people choose to add cladding to their homes as it has a number of benefits.
Some of the reasons are that it reduces water absorption, improves the mechanical strength of the building, makes the property more resistant to UV light, increases the building’s resistance to cracking during temperature fluctuations and improves the insulation of the home.
What is a composite cladding facade?
Facade cladding is made up of cladding panels or boards that are not load-bearing. Instead, they are fixed onto a pre-existing structure. This means that the panels don’t support any weight except for their own. They don’t support other panels or any other parts of the system.
Can I drill into composite cladding?
Composite wall cladding can be drilled into if it needs to be secured with nails or screws. It’s always best to pre-drill holes into composite materials before using nails or screws to reduce the risk of the boards cracking or splitting.
Our cladding boards are secured using hidden fasteners, so there is no need for you to drill into them.
Does composite cladding need to be ventilated?
As with all cladding materials, composite cladding needs to be properly ventilated so that it has enough airflow to dry out properly. This means that you should always leave at least 35mm of space between the panels or boards and the wall.
Explore Ecoscape’s Incredible Range Of Composite Cladding Today
If you’re ready to start planning your home improvement, then take a look at our amazing range of composite cladding. All of our panels and boards are low-maintenance, resistant to fading, water, and scratching, and easy to install.
Our cladding comes in two styles and a wide variety of colours, so you’re guaranteed to find something that will complement your home perfectly. So, browse our range and order a free sample or quote today!