If you are in the market for exterior cladding, you have almost certainly already discovered that your choices are nearly overwhelming. Gone are the days when wood was the only material available for cladding, and many homeowners are glad to see the last of them. Although wood cladding still remains the most popular of the cladding choices but nowadays, other materials that are used as wood look cladding are becoming more acceptable in the general public. Wood cladding has always had its drawbacks. Using wood cladding will invite a number of problems. Wood cladding attracts insects like termites, which can damage it significantly.
Reasons to choose non-wooden cladding for the exterior of your building:
Because the sole purpose of exterior cladding is to protect the structure on which it is installed from water, damp, and extremes of heat and cold, damaged cladding means loss of protection and possible weakening of structure itself. If you choose wood cladding, you will have the additional expense of either painting or staining it and will be repeating the process several times over the years. Wood may develop colonies of moss, algae, or mould which can create rot. Finally, wood cladding is vulnerable to fire.
While many homeowners still choose wood cladding for their homes, they do it because wood cladding is simply beautiful. It allows them to choose from an infinite range of plain or stain colours, it is reasonably easy to install, and it is biodegradable if not protected with preservatives. On the other hand, if it is not protected with preservatives, wood cladding invites the sort of problems we mentioned above. The benefits of wood look cladding, that is actually not wooden cladding, when compared to those of wooden, are many. Aluminium siding, for example, is not only fireproof and durable. It is an excellent choice for structures in coastal or other high-humidity environments. Steel cladding is a perfect choice where hailstorms are frequent. Like wood, metal cladding can be painted.
Major benefits of using non-wooden cladding:
Another benefit of some wood-look claddings is their low maintenance requirement. While wooden cladding will need repainting or staining on a regular basis, the vinyl cladding will not. It can be maintained with simple soap and water. Non-wooden cladding is available in so many materials, in fact, that the final appearance of the structure on which it is installed will depend only on the imagination of the installer. Stone or brick exterior cladding creates the look of substance and permanence desirable for many business enterprises. Stucco exterior cladding will evoke a tropical or Mediterranean feeling.