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Cladding is a type of exterior finishing system that is very similar to the additional non-load bearing coating known to serve multiple purposes. The finishing system not only helps in ensuring that the interior of your house is protected from some harmful elements, but it also plays an important role in making the exterior attractive, decorative, and in enhancing its aesthetic appeal.
When done by professionals, it’s quite easy to install, and is not only robust but is also quite durable. It can last for many years if looked after properly. Durability is also affected by the prevailing weather conditions as well as the quality of materials used in its construction.
Why Do You Need Cladding?
The external cladding of a structure can take on varying forms. However, the sole reason for cladding is to support a structure to be able to withstand the atmospheric/external impacts against it, for instance:
- To protect the building against weather—in this case, weather elements include; heats, which can either, be indirect heat or direct heat from the sun, pollution, cold, rains, and wind.
- To ensure that the exterior façade is provided with thermal insulation as well as helping maintain internal heat load conditions.
- To assist in the provision of acoustic barriers against the busy metropolitan conditions that are outside its exterior.
In the early years, wall cladding was mainly deemed as a part of the aesthetic appeal of a given structure. But as time has gone by, many people have now started seeing it as a necessity, something that they must have in their buildings. In addition, choices, including the functions performed by cladding, have undergone an evolution.
When it comes to wall cladding, building owners now have more options than they did in the past. Choices include laminate, wood, vinyl, metal, plastic, and ultra decking. These choices have been enhanced further by the increased availability of cladding materials suppliers across the United Kingdom.
Today, even consumers are in search of something that possesses good quality. The end-users are looking to work with composite decking supply companies that can provide durable products; products that will not easily be affected by changing weather conditions and will continue to maintain their aesthetic appeal for many years.
Cladding Benefits
Aesthetic appeal is always a major consideration when a client is dealing with a cladding project. There is, however, a need to understand that cladding brings much more to a project than just improving the way it looks. Common benefits that you are bound to enjoy in the long run thanks to the cladding process will include:
- Your structure will have an increased service life
- Reduced energy costs
- Your building will increase its overall value
- It will lower its maintenance costs
- Improved appearance
- Improved airtightness and protection from water penetration
- Improved natural daylight performance, acoustics, and thermal performance
- Elimination of internal problems
- Optimized use of substantial updraft mass
Cladding Material Options
Cladding materials have come a long way over the past decade. Depending on the kind of project at hand, you will have lots of materials to choose from to help with the ultra decking or home renovation project. However, our focus today is on composite decking as a cladding material.
Composite Decking: What Is It?
When it comes to composite decking supply, there is a need to note that this type of decking material is often made from a combination of wood (lumber byproducts like sawdust) and plastic. The lumber byproducts are taken through a processing process to help them look like wood.
While the finished product does not possess the same strength as wood, it does tend to be heavier, does not need to be painted, sealed, or stained, and it doesn’t give splinters or begin to warp. This is part of what makes it an ideal outdoor flooring material, especially given the fact that you will not have to worry about regularly maintaining your deck, as you would when you use wood.
Another important reason for using it is that you do not need to worry about attending to spills and stains immediately they happen. All you have to do is put in some effort to make sure that the deck is scrubbed at least twice a year.
Types of Decking
As a building owner, you have two options when it comes to this type of decking. You can either opt for hollow or solid decking. The latter tends to be more popular than hollow decking due to its weight and appearance. Additionally, solid decking is known to contract and expand more when the air temperatures begin to fluctuate.
Hollow decking is traditionally more susceptible to damage even before the installation process can begin. This type of decking often involves using forty to seventy percent wood. As such, it will need to be regularly treated using antifungal chemicals and preservatives to ensure that it will not start to rot immediately you expose it to the weather elements.
This type of decking may be non-wood based plastics, polyethylene-based, or polypropylene-based. Products made from the latter are considered to be stronger and are less likely to be affected by fluctuating temperatures. This means that you do not have to worry about your cladding materials expanding or contracting.
Using Composite Panels as a Cladding Material
Composite panels are considered ideal for use in commercial and industrial projects. Many building owners favour their use as they help to ensure economical and fast installation. This is in addition to being able to provide excellent acoustic performance, and enhancing water and airtightness.
Amalgamated decking businesses should consider supplying cladding materials due to the many benefits that they have to offer. Apart from requiring little to no maintenance all year round, cladding materials are made using recycled products. This is good for the environment as it reduces pollution, and ensures that no additional trees will be felled to build decking materials. The building owner also gets to benefit from having a quality and durable material.
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This content is brought to you by Shahbaz Ahmed.
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