Exterior cladding is a building’s skin. It’s your first impression and biggest opportunity to make a statement.

There are now cladding products to suit any aesthetic you have in mind. Consider the design of your building, how the exterior cladding interacts with interior elements, and how your material choice affects the building’s performance.

Each building site poses a unique challenge. Not only do building designs differ, but each project is exposed to different weather and geographic conditions.

These conditions can have a major impact on your choice of cladding and its long-term performance. When designing a building, consider geographic factors like:

• Local building codes and restrictions
• Whether your area is prone to pests like termites (this is common in rural areas and properties near bushland)
• The threat of bushfire and Bushfire Attack Level (BAL) requirements
• Unique local conditions, such as high winds and salty coastal air
• Local weather patterns, ambient temperatures, humidity and snow fall
• Wind loads and whether your cladding needs to act as structural bracing

Some types of cladding require more maintenance than others. While all buildings can benefit from regular cleaning, cladding materials such as timber may require additional care.

This also has an impact on where cladding materials are placed. Cladding that needs regular cleaning or recoating is not suitable for hard-to-reach applications such as highrise buildings.

The materials used in your facade can represent a large proportion of the project cost.

While the upfront expense is important, cladding also has ongoing costs in maintenance, repair and replacement. Make sure you consider the cost efficiency of your chosen cladding material across the life of the product.

For example, vinyl cladding is inexpensive, but it may need to be replaced sooner than an alternative like natural timber. This reduces the long-term cost effectiveness of vinyl cladding.

Does your project have sustainability targets or requirements? Some projects are required to meet certain environmental standards. Your choice of cladding has a dramatic effect on building performance, use of materials, recyclability and power consumption.

For example, commercial buildings often incorporate aluminium cladding because it offers excellent thermal insulation. It can be used to shade the sides of large buildings, reducing heating and cooling costs.

This can help project managers achieve targets such as a particular NABERS rating.

Exterior cladding must provide protection against moisture. In some cases, it may also need to resist UV rays, pests, bushfire and sound transmission.

Each cladding material provides its own degree of mechanical performance. Consider your local building requirements and the unique challenges of your project (e.g. prolonged sun exposure) before settling on a cladding product.

The weight of cladding materials can be a major factor, particularly for highrise and commercial projects. When you’re constructing a multi-storey building, heavy cladding materials place excessive strain on the building’s facade.

We quote the weight of cladding materials in kilograms per square metre. Aluminium is often the lightest option, making it a common choice for large structures and commercial projects.