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External Wall Cladding

Adding cladding to the exterior walls of your property can be a great way to add security, value and energy efficiency to your home. Cladding need not be expensive, it can be made from wood, plastic or brick, which all create different looks and have different properties that you should consider.

Why should I consider adding cladding to my house?

Cladding is particularly beneficial to homes that lack continuity in their design, adding external cladding can improve the aesthetic feel of your property and transform an old, unattractive building into a new, appealing property, thus increasing its value. The range of cladding means that you can choose a solution that suits your taste and keeps in line with the rest of the house. However cladding is about more than just looks, adding cladding to your home will protect the property’s structure by reducing the effect of weathering, therefore your property’s resistance to heavy rain, sunlight and chemical pollution will be increased. You could also benefit from reduced energy bills as cladding, particularly wooden cladding, offers insulation that will reduce your home’s heat loss.

What are the disadvantages of cladding?

Timber cladding can be expensive so you need to consider how much you will need before building. If wood cladding is beyond your budget you could consider plastic cladding, it can be cleaned easier than wood, is equally as durable and is a lot less expensive than brick and wood cladding. As well as price one disadvantage of cladding is that your choice may not be to everyone’s taste, which could affect the property’s resale value. In order to avoid this choose cladding that fits in with the aesthetic feel of the street and neighbourhood. Finally cladding is not a solution to structural problems and can cause more damage if installed onto a structurally damaged wall, therefore whilst it will provide extra protection once fitted, it should never be used on an already weather-damaged wall.

What maintenance does cladding require?

Generally cladding is low-maintenance, especially when compared to other outside wall maintenance, for example painting. Wood cladding will require some maintenance and treatment to maintain its original look, other cladding such as plastic or metal will need even less up-keep, requiring only a wash. However if damaged or dented small sections of cladding can be difficult to repair.

You should consider external wall cladding if you would like to benefit from the aesthetic appeal of installing cladding: an old, ugly wall can easily be revitalised with a layer of cladding, making your property more attractive and increasing its value. Cladding is low maintenance and after the cost of installation you will enjoy reduced heating bills from the insulation that it offers.