A cladding installation project can have many benefits for you and your property. But when it comes to deciding which cladding material will be the best for you, your wallet and your home, the choices can be quite overwhelming.
In this article, we are going to build the case for composite cladding and explain why you should definitely consider using this material, known for its strength, durability and how extremely low maintenance it is.
What is Composite Cladding?
Composite is a popular cladding material that provides structural integrity, insulation and a contemporary look to your home’s facade.
Composite materials are usually made of plastic and wood materials which are bound together in a high-pressure manufacturing process and formed into panels or boards that are then easily installed on your house’s exterior walls with a subframe and tongue and groove mechanism.
It has a better performance than timber or metal cladding but is able to give you a contemporary style of metal or bring your home the traditional look of timber but without the downsides of either of these materials.
Our composite cladding has been used in many instances for private housing or commercial buildings such as warehouses or hotels, and restaurants. It can really transform any outdoor space easily and provide a new look while being extremely low maintenance and environmentally friendly.
The Five Key Reasons to use Composite Cladding
Composite cladding has a lot of benefits and reasons why it is an attractive alternative to cladding. Below, we will provide you with the top five reasons why there is value in investing in composite cladding.
1. Low Maintenance
When installing cladding or decking on your property, one of the major concerns for most homeowners is the upkeep of materials. This usually requires time, energy and financial resources as materials such as wood need to be sanded, varnished and regularly treated in order to maintain their protective properties.
The good news with composite, however, is that there is very low maintenance involved after it has been installed.
The most you will have to do to take care of your composite cladding is get some warm soapy water and some elbow grease (or a high-pressure cleaner if you have one at hand) and clean it every once in a while.
If taken care of like this, your composite cladding will not disappoint and last you much longer than our initial warranty of 25 years!
2. Durability
Because of the way it has been manufactured, composite has very high durability. The composition of recycled plastic and wood fibres that have been blended together under extreme heat and pressure makes a material that is made to withstand the test of time.
Our composite cladding has been capped with an extra layer of polymer to protect it from the elements, so it is resistant to insect infestations, warping, and rotting, and won’t create any splinters over the years.
Our Ecoscape composite material is UV resistant and will therefore not fade or discolour either.
3. Versatility
Ecoscape’s composite cladding comes in a wide range of colours, from black, over light grey to wood-inspired finishes, which means that you can use it for any taste and style you are looking for.
Whether you want to provide your home with a more contemporary look with grey or silver boards or stick to a more traditional and rural warmth of timber cladding, but minus the downsides of actual wood, you can have it all with our Ecoscape ranges.
In addition to this, you can install your composite cladding in a vertical, horizontal or diagonal manner. There are basically no restrictions when it comes to the style you are going for, whether that is colour finish or installation.
If you cannot decide which colour to go with, you can order yourself free samples from our website and see first-hand in your own home how each colour will look on your property.
4. Cost Effective
Due to improving not only your acoustic but also your thermal insulation, composite cladding will help you increase energy efficiency and save on your energy bill expenditure throughout the year.
On top of that, composite cladding adds extra protection to your building, thus extending its lifetime while also adding value to your property!
The fact that it is extremely low maintenance also means that you will not have to spend an arm and a leg on other materials and resources to clean and maintain your cladding, which will save you not only time and energy but also money.
All of the above means that while composite cladding is not on the lower end of the scale when it comes to material prices, it does pay off in the long run and will help you save quite a bit of money. Thus, basically paying for itself over time.
5. Environmentally Friendly
Sustainability has become important to consumers in recent years. Our home should especially be a place where we care about the source of the products and materials we surround ourselves with.
Not every cladding material is sustainably manufactured or has a low carbon footprint. Some timber cladding may have travelled long distances before arriving at your UK home, meaning that it has quite the amount of CO2 emissions on its back.
Stone cladding can come from mines where human rights and social sustainability have not been adhered to, whereas cladding made entirely of synthetic materials such as UPVC is harmful to the environment, as its production uses a lot of harmful chemicals and the recycling process is difficult.
Our composite cladding, however, has been made with 95% recycled materials sourced from plastic bottles and bags, as well as reclaimed wood fibre in the form of sawdust, for instance. All our wood fibre comes from the timber that was FSC certified and therefore ensures that it comes from sustainable forests that do not have a negative ecological or social impact.
As there is little maintenance involved and no extra resources you will need to use, this extremely durable material is sustainable to its core.
FAQs
Below you will find some further advice on composite cladding.
Is composite cladding easy to install?
Yes, thanks to our easy tongue and groove mechanisms, you can easily install our composite cladding yourself – given that you have some DIY knowledge. It also does not require any screws or nails to be inserted into the boards, as this will potentially damage the structural integrity of the materials.
If in doubt, feel free to contact our customer service team at Ecoscape.
What does FSC certified mean?
The Forest Stewardship Council (FSC) is an organisation which certifies forests that are sustainably grown and produce environmentally friendly timber that does not have a negative impact on the ecosystem or on communities that have their livelihoods depend on these forests and nearby lands.
What colour does composite cladding come in?
Our composite cladding comes in two ranges, the Forma Panel Cladding range and the Slatted Cladding Range.
Our Forma Cladding range offers a slightly wider variety of colours:
- Midnight (black)
- Argent (grey)
- Flint (light grey)
- Silver Birch
- Spiced Oak
- Havana
While our Slatted Cladding range comes in three main colours that are:
- Midnight
- Silver Birch
- Spiced Oak
Final Thoughts
Composite materials are a contemporary solution to cladding, which will not leave you with a temporary but long-lasting outer layer for your home that provides style, protection and value for your property.
If you are now interested in using our composite for your next cladding project, contact our team at Ecoscape and order some free samples to find the perfect match for your home today!
