If you’re considering installing cladding on your home then you’ll probably be aware that there are a number of different materials to choose from.
Adding cladding to your home has many benefits, such as improving insulation, increasing your property’s value, and revitalising the look of your home.
The type of material that you choose is very important as you want it to last as long as possible, look great, and provide excellent protection for your property.
In this article, we’re going to closely examine some of the main benefits of using composite cladding and why we think it’s the best choice for you. We’ll also compare it to another popular cladding material to highlight the advantages of composite cladding.
What Is Composite Cladding?
Composite wall cladding is made from a combination of reclaimed wood and recycled plastic. This gives composite cladding material an amazing level of durability and longevity, as it’s very resistant to rot and mould.
Composite cladding is also really low-maintenance and only needs to be cleaned occasionally to keep it looking great. This means that if you install composite cladding, you will save money in the long term as you won’t need to buy expensive sealants or paint.
Like our composite decking, our range of composite cladding boards is made from 95% recycled materials and FSC-certified wood. This makes it one of the most environmentally-friendly cladding materials on the market.
The Top 5 Benefits Of Composite Cladding
Composite materials have many benefits when used for cladding which makes them the best choice for your home or business. In fact, there are too many benefits for us to fully cover, so we’ve decided to focus on 5 of the best benefits of composite cladding.
Like composite decking, composite cladding is fast becoming the most popular choice of cladding material due to its reliability and performance. Currently, there is really no other cladding material that can compare to composite cladding.
1. Low Maintenance
One of the greatest benefits of all composite materials is how little maintenance they require once they’ve been installed.
Composite cladding doesn’t need to be stained, treated or painted. It is naturally resistant to rot and mould and doesn’t need to be maintained to keep this resistance.
Composite cladding is also insect-resistant as the plastic content makes it inedible to bugs and pests. This means there’s no need to treat it with any chemicals to make it resistant to insects.
You also don’t need to worry about composite cladding panels fading in the sun as they have a high rating for UV resistance. This is another factor that makes composite cladding very low maintenance, as you don’t need to add UV-resistant paints or stains.
The panels may fade very slightly during the first few months of their lifespan but this is a normal process that will cease within a short space of time.
The only maintenance that composite cladding requires is an occasional clean. You can do this with a power washer or by using warm, soapy water and a soft bristle brush.
The fact that composite cladding is so low-maintenance will not only save you a lot of time and hassle but will also save you money over the course of its lifespan.
2. Aesthetics
Another big benefit of composite cladding is how aesthetically pleasing it is. As they contain reclaimed wood, composite cladding boards have a natural wood grain finish that gives them a traditional yet contemporary look.
Our composite cladding panels are available in a wide range of colours which means it’s very easy to find a style that will compliment your home. Our ranges include colours such as spiced oak, silver birch, argent, and Havanna.
Our composite cladding panels are also available in two styles. You can choose between our smooth-finished panels or our slatted boards. This will give you complete control over the final look of your composite cladding.
If you have composite decking installed at your home, you can choose a composite cladding colour that will match this. Or, you could choose a different colour to add contrast.
Although composite cladding does expand and contract, it is built to withstand this and won’t warp or crack due to temperature fluctuations.
However, if you want to reduce heat absorption further, you can opt for a lighter colour which won’t get as hot during high temperatures.
3. Easy Installation
Composite wall cladding is really fast and easy to install. Both of our composite cladding ranges use a hidden fixtures system with aluminium cladding clips to make the installation process as straightforward as possible.
These clips are also designed to accommodate any contractions and expansions within the composite cladding panels after they’ve been installed.
During installation, you simply need to fasten the clips to any of our aluminium, treated timber or plastic battens or joists. This will save you a lot of time and can also save you money as you won’t need to hire a specialist contractor to install the boards for you.
The fact that the fasteners are hidden also adds to the aesthetic value of your composite cladding, as there is no need for nails and screws.
If you’d like to add stylish trims to your composite cladding, then you can choose from our wide range of attractive trims that perfectly accompany the range of panels.
4. Extra Protection
Like other cladding materials, composite cladding adds a layer of protection to any building which will make it more durable and shield it from the elements. Composite is the ideal cladding material for this due to its high level of water resistance.
The fact that it’s made with a blend of reclaimed wood and plastic means that water doesn’t penetrate into the core of the panels. This prevents moisture from being absorbed into the walls of the building and stops mould and rot from developing.
This is particularly beneficial for wet climates such as the UK, where things like moisture are a common issue. A layer of composite cladding can give you peace of mind that your home will be protected against moisture and rot.
5. Property Value
When you add anything to a property that has a fairly high cost, return on investment is always an important thing to consider.
Whilst the initial outlay on composite cladding is worth it, even if you’re not planning to sell your property, it’s good to know whether it will add value.
The good news is that composite cladding will add value to your property. This is due to many different factors.
As we’ve already mentioned, composite cladding can increase the aesthetic appeal of your property, which will make it more attractive to potential buyers and cause its value to increase.
‘Curb appeal’ is an important aspect when trying to attract potential buyers, and composite cladding will certainly help with this.
The stylish and attractive panels can be used to cover up any fading exterior walls and give your property a re-invigorated look. This will draw buyers in and is one reason that you should install composite cladding if you’re considering selling your property.
The fact that composite cladding is so low-maintenance will also make it a more appealing prospect to buyers than other materials, such as wood cladding. Buyers will recognise that composite cladding will save them money over time as it requires little care.
The longevity of composite cladding should also help to add value to your property, as prospective buyers will know that the cladding won’t need to be replaced for a very long time.
How Does Composite Cladding Compare To Wood Cladding?
Other than composite cladding, the other most popular cladding material is traditional timber cladding. The main appeal of wood cladding is that it’s visually pleasing and has a classic look that people often associate with homeliness.
However, composite cladding has many advantages over traditional timber cladding and is a more modern upgrade. When choosing the right cladding material for you, it’s important that you compare different options so that you can make the most informed choice.
So, let’s take a look at how composite cladding compares to wood cladding and why we believe that it’s the right choice for you.
Eco-Friendliness
When compared to wood cladding, composite cladding is the far more eco-friendly option. Although wood cladding may come from a sustainable source depending on the supplier, it does mean that trees need to be felled in order to make it.
Composite cladding is made from reclaimed or recycled wood, which means no trees are cut down in order to make it. Composite cladding also lasts for a longer time than wood cladding which means it needs to be replaced less often.
This lessens its environmental impact even further and means that less material is going to waste.
The chemicals that are used to treat, stain and paint wood cladding are also often harmful to the environment. Over time, they can be released into the water table and contribute to pollution.
Like composite decking, composite cladding doesn’t need to be treated, stained or painted, meaning that there is no need to use harmful chemicals.
Durability
Composite materials are very durable due to the fact they’re made with a mixture of wood and plastic polymers. They are far more durable than wood cladding materials and last for longer.
Even hardwood cladding has less durability than composite cladding, and softwood cladding has even less. Although softwood cladding can be made firmer through the use of chemicals, it will still be less durable than composite cladding.
Wood cladding is prone to rotting, moisture absorption, splintering, and insect infestation. Composite cladding is resistant to all of these things, which is why it’s considered to be so reliable when it comes to durability.
Aesthetics
Many people like the look of wood cladding as it has a natural finish, and each panel can be unique. However, without the use of lots of paint and stains, wood cladding is actually very limited when it comes to visual appeal.
Although there are different types of wood to choose from with different tones and colours, the difference is not usually that great between them.
Composite cladding offers a lot more versatility as it’s coloured during the manufacturing process. As it contains real wood, it also has a fairly similar texture and finish to traditional timber cladding. In fact, many composite panels are actually indistinguishable from timber ones.
This gives you a lot of choices when it comes to textures, hues, tones and colours. Whatever the style of your home, you should be able to find a composite cladding style that matches it perfectly.
Water Resistance
Another area where composite cladding is superior to wood cladding is water resistance. A timber cladding system is susceptible to water absorption and will require painting or sealing to try and mitigate this.
This makes cheap wood cladding more prone to rotting and moulding than composite cladding and is one of the reasons why it doesn’t last as long.
Water absorption also makes wood cladding more likely to warp than composite products. This is because when water penetrates into the core of wooden panels, it makes them expand more during higher temperatures and contract more during lower temperatures.
Due to its low rate of water absorption, composite cladding tends to expand and contract less than timber cladding which means it is more resistant to warping.
Cost
Materials such as composite decking and cladding tend to have a higher upfront cost than wood. This is partly due to the fact that the manufacturing process is more labour intensive which drives up the costs.
However, one of the main benefits of composite cladding is that it’s very low maintenance. This brings the cost of the material down significantly over the course of its service life.
You won’t need to buy sealants, stainers, or paints to maintain composite cladding, as it’s naturally fade-resistant and rot-resistant. The fact that it lasts so long also means that you’re unlikely to have to spend money having it replaced.
FAQS
Why is cladding used in construction?
Installing cladding on the exterior of a structure is done for many reasons. It’s a great way to protect the structure from the elements, lower the maintenance needs of the property, and it can even increase the fire rating of the building.
Composite wall cladding, in particular, is fade-resistant, water-resistant, and insect-resistant, which gives more protection to the exterior of the building than other materials such as plastic and wood.
What other types of cladding materials are there besides composite?
There are several different types of cladding other than composite that are commonly used for buildings. These are UPVC cladding, wood cladding, concrete cladding, metal cladding, brick cladding, stone cladding, glass cladding, and weatherboard cladding.
Although all of these materials have certain benefits, composite cladding has advantages over all of them and is the best choice for any building.
Will composite cladding help to insulate my home?
Adding any type of cladding to the exterior of your home will provide an extra layer of insulation. This will help to keep your home warm during winter and will reduce energy wastage. This is good for the environment and will also save you money on your energy bills.
Can I install composite cladding over brick?
Composite cladding can certainly be installed over brick. There are many reasons you may want to do this, such as covering up a tired, brick veneer that may be stained or faded.
Composite cladding is easy to install, and installing it over brick should be a fairly straightforward task.
Check Out Ecoscape’s Range Of Composite Cladding Today
Now that you’re up to speed on why composite cladding is the best choice on the market, it’s time to start planning your own home improvement journey. Take a look at our amazing range of composite cladding and request a free quote or a free sample to get started.
Our composite cladding panels and slatted boards both come with 25-year warranties and are low-maintenance, resistant to warping, scratching, splitting, and staining, and UV-stable. There really is no better choice for composite cladding.
