Home Improvement: Choosing the Right Cladding Products for Exterior Renovation

If you are planning on improving the exterior parts of your home, you should consider installing cladding on your walls. Exterior wall cladding is a highly beneficial renovation option in comparison to painting the surfaces. In simple terms, cladding involves the application of a strong and durable veneer made from construction materials such as wood, brick, metal and plaster. Therefore, you can expect long-term service. Also, cladding has a wider range of options in relation to aesthetics. You can choose the most appealing cladding to complement and enhance your home. If you are unfamiliar with the exterior cladding products on the market, you should evaluate the below-outlined factors before you start renovations.

Appearance 

When choosing your cladding materials, you should consider the visual impact of the different products. The cladding will determine the aesthetic outcome of your building. Under ideal circumstances, you should check out the full range of products in the market and compare with your home design, neighbourhood and personal preferences. There are different parameters that you can use to narrow down the options and find the most attractive exterior cladding. These elements are the material colour, surface texture, cladding unit profile and finishing levels such as gloss, flat and matte. You should be daring in your selection, but you must be careful not to choose an extremely conspicuous cladding style.

Insulation

Cladding is an exterior layer of material which is applied to an existing wall. In general, it is not intended to serve a structural purpose as part of the wall. However, it can be valuable as part of the wall's insulation. If you increase the thermal protection levels of your exterior walls, you can reduce your heating and cooling bills. Moreover, you will reduce your carbon footprint. Therefore, you should compare the insulation capabilities of different cladding products before purchase. Typically, composite cladding products offer high insulation values and are ideal for homes with non-insulated walls. Timber, stone and brick might also influence thermal performance, depending on your climate and home configuration.

Regulations

Finally, you should check on the local regulations on cladding. There are some rules imposed in some areas on the use of certain types of cladding products, especially on homes with historical significance. If you choose the wrong material, you could experience some legal problems and financial losses. For example, the local council might force you to remove the new unacceptable cladding. You should also note that homeowners' associations often have restrictions on some cladding products. Therefore, you should inquire before proceeding.