The term “cladding” seems to be used to describe a variety of different of tasks you can undertake within your home which is why for the average consumer it can be hard to know what is meant by “cladding”. Below we look at the different types of cladding which can be found throughout your home and offer some of our most useful “cladding” tips.

Cladding – The Essentials

1)       The word cladding, when used within the building trade, refers to the application of a certain material to cover another material in order to make it more weather-resistance. The principal reason for using cladding is to make your building more weather-proof and prevent infiltration of rain or wind.

2)       Window cladding is something which is best considered if you have parts of your property which have been neglected as it will completely restore the windows, making them look brand new in a way that is not possible with paint.

3)       Wood Cladding – Traditionally the cladding found on the outside of buildings is made from wood. This is because wood as a material is extremely workable and aesthetically pleasing. Although on the whole wood cladding can be long-lasting, it will require the property owner to invest time in maintaining the wood cladding, to ward off rotting and deterioration. This is often off-putting for the average property owner which is why wood manufacturers now produce wood cladding products which are specially designed to ensure decreased maintenance time. Furthermore, technology has also advanced paint’s ability to allow moisture gain and escape from wood surfaces.

4)       PVC Cladding – This type of cladding came about with the idea of replacing wood cladding completely. Although this has not happened, PVC cladding still supplies a viable alternative to wood cladding and is worth considering. Some of the advantages associated with PVC cladding include its relatively low price, low maintenance and the fact that it does not require painting.

5)       Stone Cladding - natural stone has become only one of many material choices available for use in cladding systems. Stone cladding is often used for its considerable benefits including its durability, aesthetically pleasing look, longevity and its quality.

6)       If you have just moved into a property with cladding which you are hoping to remove, you will definitely need to call the experts in. Cladding on brickwork, especially the sort which was popular during the seventies, can be almost impossible to remove. A professional, however, will be able to assess the type of cladding you have on your brickwork and evaluate how viable an option total removal is.

The first step in your project is to hire the right builder. Use www.findalocal-builder.co.uk to get a list of builders in your area, and then look at our other advice articles to see how to make sure you choose the best builder for you.