Cladding is one of the most striking and intricate elements of building construction. It is a picturesque covering that encircles a building to protect the inside spaces from the weather. Cladding is the application of one material over another to restrict the entry of weather elements while also providing an attractive appearance. Cladding is extremely quick to install, sturdy, and may endure for a very long time if properly maintained. In this blog, Gharpedia sheds light on the best facade cladding materials for your home exteriors.
The major role of facade cladding is to protect the structure from wind, extreme heat, and moisture, as well as to assure the overall thermal performance of the structure. Cladding increases the structural strength of the structure and protects it from a range of external forces. These buildings are more resistant to fractures induced by climate change, and the surface functions as a barrier, protecting against sunshine, rain, high winds, humidity, and all types of pollutants.
Facade Cladding Materials
Facade cladding has changed the way buildings have always appeared. End customers are looking for something fresh in today’s world, and architects are working hard to innovate and develop significant solutions. Given below are the facade cladding materials for your home exteriors.
1. ACP for Sleek and Smooth Exterior Finish
Aluminium composite panels (ACP), made of aluminium composite material (ACM), are flat panels consisting of two thin coil-coated aluminium sheets bonded to a non-aluminium core. They are weather and UV-resistant, giving the structure all-around protection. ACPs are frequently used for external cladding or facades of buildings, insulation, and signage.
2. Long Lasting Ceramic Facade Cladding
Ceramic cladding is lightweight and requires little upkeep. It comes in a variety of textures and styles, making it a favourite option among architects. The material is long-lasting, simple to clean, and weather-resistant. Since ancient Egyptian times, ceramic has proven to be a one-of-a-kind cladding material! Because it is made of natural clay, it is devoid of heavy metals and hazardous chemicals, making it a truly sustainable material. Furthermore, ceramic facade coating provides excellent thermal and fire protection while also isolating the structure from outside disturbances. Besides this, since it is a porous substance, it allows for back ventilation, resulting in a healthy interior atmosphere.
3. Natural Slate for Cloudy Grey Home Exteriors
Natural stone facades, such as slate, with colours ranging from dark grey to black, provide sobriety and refinement to any facade. This material improves thermal comfort and the simplicity of installation on vented facades. The slate is resistant to severe temperatures, snow accumulation, and fire and is completely waterproof. It is 100% natural, and has a lower environmental effect.
4. Concrete Facade Cladding for Customised Exteriors
Concrete is an easy way to get a trendy and realistic aesthetic. This is inexpensive, lightweight, and simple to cut and install. Precast concrete cladding is created by producing precast concrete panels. These panels have a wide range of uses. Concrete cladding, in addition to its structural merits, may be an excellent method to incorporate sculptured shapes and textures into external cladding systems. More significantly, concrete cladding is extremely durable and reliable while also being quite inexpensive.
5. Wood Facade Cladding Emitting Rustic Vibes
Wood adds warmth and heat to any project due to its natural and unique hues and tonalities; it is a material that may appeal to a wide range of interests. Although wood facades are commonly used, they are often untreated, making it difficult to preserve the same look and feel over time.
Wood plastic composite (WPC) cladding is a recent invention. This is a hybrid material manufactured from recycled wood and plastic to generate a maintenance-free surface that looks like wood. This type of cladding not only protects the building but also saves energy owing to its insulation capabilities.
6. Give Earthy Appearance with Brick Cladding
Brick is the most conventional type of facade cladding. More than its characteristic retro style, it is incredibly durable, resists fire and extreme weather, takes minimal maintenance, is non-toxic, and provides excellent sound insulation. Additionally, brick cladding is eco-friendly, because it can be recycled.
7. Stone Building Facade for a Natural Touch
Stone cladding provides the walls with a more natural appearance and a touch of elegance. Stones are cut into minute pieces to minimise the weight of the cladding. Natural stones such as sandstone, limestone, and travertine are some popular cladding materials. Additionally, they increase the building’s mechanical stability. Natural stones are permeable and easily soiled by impurities, so make sure to thoroughly coat the stone surface during installation.
8. Tile: A Versatile Material for Facade Cladding
The tile cladding’s beauty gives a house a modern look. The design possibilities are versatile, as you can combine a variety of tile sizes to create a one-of-a-kind look.
Outdoor porcelain tiles are available in a variety of colours, styles, and textures. They are made of a fine-grained clay mixture and additional components. Porcelain tiles offer improved features such as moisture resistance, durability, weather resistance, and colour-fastness in the presence of UV radiation.
9. Glass Cladding for a `Sassy Exterior
Use glass to create an indoor-outdoor connection in places that open out onto the balcony or the lawn. Glass creates a sensation of lightness in an all-white home, while also allowing plenty of light into the rooms.
How to Select the Material for Facade Cladding?
Before choosing which facade cladding materials to use, you must first grasp the parameters that are appropriate for your needs. In general, building facade materials should provide the following benefits:
- Protection – The cladding must provide protection to the structure against extreme weather and environmental conditions, such as storms, rain, heat, moisture, and corrosion. Different materials provide varying levels of protection because exterior cladding materials are adaptable. This means every area has a perfect suit.
- Cost – Before deciding on exterior facade cladding materials for your project, consider whether they fit within your budget and provide good value for money. Your first two objectives should be high-quality safety and aesthetics; if there is still enough in the budget for other features to meet your needs, go ahead and include them!
- Well-being – Buildings have a greater impact on our health than we realise. Toxins, heavy metals, and other substances in building materials may cause significant health conditions ranging from migraines to asthma. When selecting facade cladding materials for buildings, conduct some studies on the components and their impact on our health and safety.
- Aesthetics – After all, architecture must be visually appealing. Choose a material for facade cladding that complements the overall aesthetics of your structure, its surroundings, and the overall impression you want the building to convey. Wood cladding creates a warm atmosphere, while metal cladding creates a more modern and contemporary look.
- Availability- Before zeroing in on an external cladding material, check its availability. Do not check the availability only for today; think of the long run because if there is a need to replace a few pieces, they must be available. If not, then you will end up changing the cladding on the entire wall.
- Sustainability – Choosing a sustainable cladding material is beneficial not only to the environment but also to your utility bill!
- Maintenance – You should plan for facade cladding maintenance; will this work be inexpensive and simple? The ideal exterior cladding will be extremely durable and require little to no care, but it will undoubtedly be more expensive. As a result, you must consider this and select the best option.
- Insulation – It is one of the most significant purposes of facade covering. It might be due to severe temperatures, noise, or unpleasant natural light. Different materials have different insulating qualities depending on their density, thermal mass, opacity, and other considerations.
- Durability – A material’s durability indicates its resistance to time and possible harm. Durable exterior claddings are cost-effective since they completely protect the building and do not require regular maintenance or replacement. Extreme weather conditions necessitate exceptionally robust facade cladding as well.
5 inspirational designs from India
1. 72 Screens, Jaipur, Rajasthan
Courtesy - Sanjay Puri Architects
Sanjay Puri Architects created the sculpture-like, six-story office structure known as 72 Screens. Folding plates of perforated screens, or Jaali cover this structure, which also helps cope with Jaipur’s oppressive heat and pays homage to the rich Rajasthani tradition. Glass fibre-reinforced concrete, also known as GFRC or GRC forms lightweight screens. This unique composite has high-strength, alkali-resistant glass fibre mixed with cement.
2. Hive House, Surat, Gujarat
Courtesy - Openideas.co.in
OpenIdeas Architects’ Hive House is a smart and eco-friendly family house. The client’s occupation as a manufacturer of machinery for the diamond industry served as the design model for the home. Natural hexagonal structure patterns have an impact on the design of the solar-sensor-based facade.
3. Krushi Bhawan, Bhubaneswar, Odisha
Courtesy - Studio Lotus
Studio Lotus created Krushi Bhawan, a government building that re-examines the bond between the state and its citizens. It promotes regional context, skill, and sustainability as fundamental elements of social infrastructure. A brick-louvred screen that expresses itself in the pattern of regional weaving, with colours that reflect the local uniqueness of the area, makes up the facade and serves as a solar shading mechanism.
4. Private Residence by BlocherBlocher India, Ahmedabad, Gujarat
Courtesy - Blocherpartners.com
The architects created an exceptionally atmospheric home for a family of business owners in the South Bopal neighbourhood on the western outskirts of the bustling Indian city of Ahmedabad. Indian traditions influenced the 1,800-square meter mansion’s location, layout, and use of space. This luxurious home has two wings arranged like blocks. It contains floating areas where the interiors connect to the exterior lawns, and is located on one side of a sizable plot of land. The rhythmic interaction of the warm wood and cold concrete creates a dynamic contrast between the facade’s elements.
5. Temenos, New Delhi
Courtesy – Studiolotus.in
Temenos is a modern business complex in Delhi’s Lajpat Nagar by Studio Lotus. It merges like a “jewel” in the urban skyline. The exterior features two layers of beautiful champagne-coloured perforated metal panels that are folded like origami. For a peaceful inside user experience, the holes have been precisely tuned to exclude sun glare and muffle outside noise.
Conclusion
Cladding refers to the components attached to a building’s structure to generate non-structural exterior surfaces. While wooden cladding was formerly the sole choice, there are now other materials for facade cladding available in various colours, weights, textures, anchoring techniques, and other factors to choose from. Based on your needs and budget, make the right choice of facade cladding material for your house.
Also Read: 5 Facade Engineering Ideas to Amp up Your Design
Author Bio
Sonam Maheshwari – Sonam Maheshwari is a civil engineer and a sustainability consultant by profession. She believes that writing fuels her enthusiasm for anything she does. As a Writer, Editor, and Researcher she has worked with various global design and digital platforms. Passionate about sustainability and green buildings and she is an IGBC-accredited professional, She is also the co-founder of Constructivist which is a sustainability consultancy firm.