If you are planning to construct a home, then one of the things that you need to take into account is what type of external cladding do you intend to use for the same? The fact is that external cladding is the main thing that makes your home stand out for all the right reasons. Sure, you could build your home on spacious, well-appointed grounds but without the right external cladding, it is going to be a tad underwhelming. For those not in the know, external cladding is the exterior of your home, that protects the interior and along with external cladding, you need to ensure that there are several other layers including weather membranes, insulation, flashing and vapor barriers, each designed to protect the interior of your home while keeping you cozy, and warm. There are various types of cladding materials that you can use for external cladding – do check out some of the top choices posted below.
- Wood: Wood is a popular choice where external cladding is concerned. For one, the material does not cost that much and for another, you can use reclaimed wood and even composite and recycled wood for the same. It should provide your home with a nice antique look and feel, and one which can be reinforced with several layers of insulation and other barriers to provide your interiors with adequate protection, from weather and other external elements. You can also use charred wood along with the burn and oil finish, which should help protect the wood from bugs and other forms of infestations. You can also paint the wood, as per your preference and give it a new, glossy look that matches up with the rest of your residence.
- Vinyl sliding exterior cladding: The best part about using Vinyl sliding is that it comes with insulation and furthermore, it is not as expensive as some of the other materials. It is widely available in various colors and can be easily installed without much hassle. The only downside to this particular material is that it happens to be made mainly from polyvinyl chloride, which is toxic when it burns and can cause you cancer.
- Brick and mortar: Brick and mortar have been the popular choice and have adorned buildings as external cladding for thousands of years. In fact, most of the ancient buildings, including castles, mausoleums, and even ancient churches that you come across, would have brick and mortar as external cladding. In fact, the most famous church of all Hagia Sofia, located in Turkey has brick and mortar as external cladding. The fact is that brick and mortar make for a great combination and they can provide your interiors with adequate protection. Furthermore, this material happens to be durable and robust, the fact that the buildings, built with brick and mortar are still around after thousands of years is a mute testament to the same.
- Metal cladding: This is more of a new addition, but metal cladding seems to be gaining popularity of late. The fact is that it is easy to use and easier still to install; and you can paint it over, once you have installed the same. It is both durable and robust and often comes with long term warranty. The only downside is that it can easily be dented and all it would take is for one hail storm to destroy that metal cladding.
These are some of the choices that you can use for external cladding and make your new home, all the more awesome to look at. There are a few other materials that you can opt for, but if you are still not sure if you are making the right choice, then you can always ask a professional for some advice on the same. Just remember to choose the right material for external cladding and with it, your new home should start attracting the right amount of attention.
