A Complete Guide to the Different Types of Wall Cladding

Are you looking to enhance your property’s sales value and aesthetic appeal or improve its protection and insulation?

Given the wide variety of wall cladding materials and designs for different applications, how do you choose one that matches your aesthetic?

What is Wall Cladding and Why is It Important?

Wall cladding is essentially an outer layer or covering applied to the walls of a building. It acts as a robust barrier against harsh weather, including rain, wind, extreme temperatures, and moisture that could lead to structural damage, mould growth, or deterioration of internal finishes.

Furthermore, many of its types offer excellent insulation properties, helping to regulate indoor temperatures. This can lead to increased energy efficiency, resulting in reduced heating and cooling costs over time.

Beyond its significant role in fortifying structures against the elements, it's also a powerful design tool capable of transforming a building's appearance from ordinary to extraordinary. It allows for incredible design flexibility, enabling architects, designers, and homeowners to create unique visual appeals and add texture, depth, and character to a property.

Types of Wall Cladding Materials

When considering wall cladding, the choice of material is paramount, as it dictates the aesthetic, durability, maintenance, and overall performance. 

1. Wood Cladding

Both natural and engineered wood cladding offer an undeniable natural appeal, bringing warmth, texture, and a touch of organic elegance to any building.

Highly sustainable when sourced responsibly, it is a popular choice for residential homes seeking a rustic, traditional, or contemporary Scandinavian aesthetic. The beauty of wood creates a unique facade that ages gracefully with its varied grains and tones.

However, wood cladding does require regular maintenance. The upkeep includes staining, painting, or sealing to protect it from moisture, rot, and insect infestation, ensuring its longevity and preserving its charm.

2. Metal Cladding

Metal cladding provides a distinctive modern aesthetic, often associated with contemporary and industrial designs. Renowned for its exceptional durability, malleability and longevity, it can withstand severe weather conditions. Metals such as aluminium and steel are commonly used, offering fire resistance and minimal maintenance requirements.

This versatility makes metal cladding an ideal choice for both large-scale commercial buildings and sleek residential properties seeking a bold and sophisticated appearance. Moreover, its ability to be shaped and coloured also offers extensive design freedom.

3. Vinyl Cladding

Vinyl cladding stands out as an incredibly affordable and remarkably low-maintenance option for exteriors. This type only requires a simple cleaning routine, making it a popular and practical choice for those seeking minimal upkeep.

Manufactured primarily from polyvinyl chloride (PVC), it’s a lightweight yet durable solution that offers excellent resistance to moisture, pests, and rot without the need for painting. Commonly used in prefabricated or mass housing developments due to its cost-effectiveness and ease of installation, vinyl cladding comes in a wide array of colours and styles, mimicking the look of timber or other materials.

4. Stone Cladding

Whether natural stone or engineered stone, stone cladding exudes luxury and timeless elegance, elevating any property. It's ideal for creating stunning feature walls and grand facades or accentuating specific architectural elements. Moreover, its natural variations guarantee that each installation is unique, beautifully reflecting the beauty of the earth. This, coupled with its reliable durability, ensures long-lasting performance with minimal maintenance requirements, delivering enduring elegance.

For those seeking the sophisticated look of natural stone with a contemporary flair, Forté Reno Supplies offers waterproof panels featuring marble patterns, available in both glossy and matte surface finishes. These panels are perfect for creating marble-like feature walls in living rooms, shop fronts, TV walls, and bedheads. Beyond supply, we also provide marble wall panel installation services to ensure a truly impeccable transformation.

5. Composite & WPC Cladding

Representing modern innovation in exterior materials, Composite cladding masterfully fuses wood fibres or sawdust with high-quality polymer resin, while Wood-Plastic Composite (WPC) cladding expertly combines wood fibres with recycled plastics.

These engineered solutions are specifically designed to beautifully mimic the look and feel of real wood, yet they provide exceptional durability and robust resistance to weathering, UV rays, moisture, and common pests. They also require remarkably low maintenance compared to traditional timber, delivering a sustainable and cost-effective alternative that maintains its pristine appearance for years to come.

6.Concrete & Fibre Cement Panels

Fibre cement, a composite material crafted from cement, cellulose fibres, and sand, is remarkably versatile. It's readily available in a wide array of textures, colours, and finishes that can convincingly mimic the natural appeal of wood, the rugged beauty of stone, or the sleek simplicity of smooth concrete.

Concrete cladding, on the other hand, is made from specially blended concrete and comprises pre-formed panels or tiles expertly crafted via moulding, often referred to as precast concrete wall panels. While typically presented in a natural grey, the material can be infused with various colourants or expertly painted, offering extensive design flexibility to perfectly match any aesthetic vision.

Both options are durable, offering fire resistance and sound-insulating properties. Beyond their protective qualities, they are also remarkably cost-effective, demand minimal ongoing maintenance and consistently provide a strong, monolithic appearance, ideal for large buildings or modern homes.

Types of Exterior Cladding Designs

Beyond material, the form and installation of wall cladding can also influence design. 

Fluted and Slatted Panels

Fluted panels feature concave grooves, while slatted panels consist of individual slats, both creating strong vertical emphasis. These types of wall cladding panels are incredibly popular in modern residential facades and contemporary commercial designs, adding sophisticated visual interest, subtle textural backgrounds, and the illusion of height.

For instance, if you're planning to create high-impact feature walls and moody entertainment rooms, our Premium Black Fluted Panels can exude modern luxury with their deep black finish. Meanwhile, our Slat Panels come with stone and wood designs that can bring warmth, natural patterns, or structured depth to your space. Forté Reno Supplies further enhances these offerings with professional slat and fluted panel installation, guaranteeing a flawless and sophisticated application.

Seamless Panels

Seamless panels are characterised by their large formats and precision engineering, designed to create a continuous, uninterrupted surface.

When installed, the joints between these types of wall cladding panels are either completely invisible or extremely discreet, resulting in a sleek, monolithic appearance. This design choice is frequently employed in premium or large-scale commercial builds where a clean, sophisticated, and expansive aesthetic is desired.

PanelClad™ Systems

PanelClad™ systems offer a sophisticated, pre-engineered approach to wall cladding, ensuring streamlined and efficient installation. Their inherent design delivers a consistently impeccable finish, significantly simplifying the construction process while providing architects, designers, and homeowners the creative freedom for distinctive transformations.

For homeowners and business owners prioritising sustainability, Forté Reno Supplies presents an ideal solution.

We are proud to offer eco-friendly cladding panel options that don't compromise on either style or quality. Crafted from high-quality, durable materials, these versatile panels boast a wide range of textures and finishes, allowing you to achieve your precise aesthetic vision. With their easy installation and low maintenance requirements, PanelClad™ solutions provide lasting elegance and practicality, effortlessly elevating any space.

Choosing the Right Wall Cladding for Your Home

Selecting the ideal wall cladding for your house or commercial space involves careful consideration of several factors. Consider these factors:

• Weather Conditions: Assess the climate your property is exposed to. Do you experience heavy rain, strong winds, extreme temperatures, or high humidity? Different cladding materials offer varying levels of resistance to these elements.

• Design Preference: Ask yourself what aesthetic you are aiming for because each material and design type offers a distinct visual appeal.

• Budget: Wall cladding panels come at various price points. So, factor in not just the material cost but also installation and long-term maintenance expenses.

• Maintenance Level: How much time and effort are you willing to dedicate to maintenance? Some cladding types, like natural wood, require regular sealing or painting, while others, like vinyl or certain metal types, are virtually maintenance-free, requiring only occasional cleaning.

• Installation Complexity: Some cladding systems are easier and quicker to install than others. Prefabricated systems, like our PanelClad™, can significantly reduce installation time and complexity, which can impact overall project costs and timelines.

Ready to Pick Your Wall Cladding? Final Tips for Selecting the Right Wall Cladding

Ultimately, choosing the right wall cladding is a crucial decision that significantly impacts the functionality and aesthetic appeal of your property. With a wide array of materials and diverse types of cladding panels and designs, there truly is an option for every architectural vision, budget, and maintenance preference.

For truly expert advice, access to comprehensive product ranges, and professional customisation and installation services that deliver uncompromised quality, consult with our team of specialists. Let our seasoned expertise guide you between different cladding materials and designs, helping you select the ideal one for your space.