Cladding refers to any material that is used to cover the external part of a structure. Cladding is merely a protective layer put over a surface such as an exterior wall or a roof. Cladding works like a human skin. Similar to how the skin protects internal organs, cladding offers protection against elements and cover against harsh environmental conditions.

Cladding doesn’t necessarily have to be waterproof, but it usually controls how various elements hit or falls on the surface. This is more like the way a raincoat prevents water from soaking your clothes but rather allow it to slide and drain off. Besides, cladding can also be used for decoration purposes. It can be used to conceal a more structural but ugly “substrate” (a stronger material that is put underneath a surface to serve as a stabilizer).

Cladding has been in architectural for quite a long time. Cladding materials have evolved cross the ages. The top five cladding materials that are recently in use are metals, wood or timber, vinyl, stucco, and bricks and stones. Among the most common questions in online forums regarding cladding is; what’s the best material for external cladding? After an intensive analysis of the top five cladding materials listed above, metal has turned out to be the king.

Metal cladding is the best for the following reasons:

• Metal cladding is the best weather resistance material, it requires low maintenance, and it’s an excellent insulator. Besides, it’s durable and easy to install.
• Metal cladding has also scored poorly when it comes to direct impact on the environment.
• Metal has poor longevity but can still be recycled and reused for cladding.
• All the above factors in conjunction with its excellent insulation capabilities result in the least environmental damage of production making it the best cladding material.

This information will help you to make an informed decision when buying cladding material. We know there are plenty of disaster stories out there, such as the Grenfell Tower fire, where the materials simply should not have been used, but this was due to an incompetent government, and as long as you do your homework on the materials you’ll be fine. Wood is a good quality option for cladding, but there are so many different types to choose from, and it of course depends on the type of building you’re installing the cladding to, so you have to assess your options.

Obviously brick, stone and render are familiar options, with timber weatherboarding, vertical tiling, flint, metal and modern synthetic materials used less frequently, but that’s not to say they are not effective. Cladding boards come in all shapes, styles and sizes, so do your homework, ask professionals and you’ll have no concerns over the completed look, safety and energy efficiency.