4 Types Of Modern Architectural Cladding Systems
Cladding refers to the modifications that are typically affixed to the core structure of buildings to provide external, non-structural surfaces. The fundamental rationale for employing claddings in facilities is to improve the building’s protection by adding layers. It assures that the structure is impervious to pollutants, moulds, and climatic change, such as humidity, sunshine, and high winds. Architectural cladding is employed to establish a barrier against the elements to improve structural integrity and functionality. Architectural cladding also allows homeowners to express their style.
Argemax Claddings: Myriad of Design Choices
This kind of architectural cladding is created from composite fibre panels, and it’s a great alternative to the latest trends on the market. These are often large format panels that can be easily transformed into any shape or size, allowing for various design options. These massive panels combine harmoniously with all the other materials for an imaginative and clean aesthetic appeal.
- Performance
- Dryness: The ventilated facade system offers comfort and protection. They protect the building exterior from corrosive and destructive external elements, weather, and dirt.
- Ease of Application: They are fixed utilizing screws on the structure.
- Elasticity: They are resistant and stable and averse to deformity and cracks.
- Sustainability: They are composed of natural fibres, cement, and water.
In This Article
Clay Claddings: Environment-Friendly Tough Exterior
Clay cladding is an environmentally sensitive and low-cost architectural cladding popular among modern and contemporary builders. Clay cladding is the ideal option if you reside in a tropical climate.
- Performance
Acoustic Insulation: Clay bricks are excellent sound insulators due to their dense construction. Its density and thickness decrease acoustic transmission and deflects sound from residences, jet flights, and streets.
Control Moist: Builders have started using construction procedures that have resulted in tight walls. This procedure is exceptionally insulated and sealed against air filtering to meet growing requests for the latest trends. Mildew growth, insect infestation, and corrosion have increased due to the compact walls failing to control moisture. It has superior moisture management than any other type of cladding.
Fire Resistance: Clay bricks are the most trusted wall cladding material for providing total fire safety to residents and thus peace of mind.
High wind resistance: Clay bricks are protection from wind-blown debris. It’s to ensure the security of the residents and property.
Thermal Insulation: Clay bricks are one of the most energy-efficient materials available in dwellings. As opposed to concrete cladding methods, clay bricks provide higher thermal insulation. Clay bricks gently absorb and release heat, keeping the house cool during the day and warm at night. As a result, you’ll save a lot of money on your energy expenses.
Ultra longevity: Clay bricks survive long due to their inherent qualities. There are numerous historic and well-known structures made entirely of clay bricks still standing proudly. Clay bricks assure architects that the systems would last longer, increasing their monetary value.
Zero Maintenance Cost: Unlike other wall cladding materials, Clay bricks do not require any upkeep or costs. Furthermore, clay bricks protect against decay, warping, denting, fading, rusting, peeling, and termites.
Wood Claddings: Higher Degree of the Weather Resistance
Planks and shingles are two types of wood cladding available. Oak, pine, or cedar are the most common woods utilized for this. Wood claddings are favored because they are usually eco-friendly and offer excellent weather resistance. When it comes to upkeep, wood takes extra attention, such as a yearly treatment for termite protection. The use of wood is a well-established and sophisticated method of weatherproofing.
- Performance
Adaptability: Wood is a natural material. It is simple to modify, customize, or remove, unlike other exterior finishing materials.
Budget and time flexibility: You can ‘go big’ with any wood cladding job, but dozens of low-cost woods look great and perform well. It’s also worth noting that wood is lighter than other materials, making it easy to transfer and install the cladding.
Functionality: Wood has a cellular structure that contains air spaces as a material. It makes it an excellent natural insulator, allowing the facility to maintain a more consistent temperature. This structure also acts as a sound barrier, keeping outside noises.
Natural Beauty: You can establish a seamless transition between the building and the surrounding flora or create a welcome contrast inside an urban setting.
Sustainability: If you seek a natural, environmentally friendly building material, go no further than timber. Carbon sequestration removes damaging greenhouse gases from the atmosphere and stores them in the ground. It’s a terrific way to include a sustainable story into your project.
- Categorization
Western Red Cedar: Western Red Cedar is a durable softwood with a gorgeous, warm pinkish to reddish-brown cladding wood. It is often the best cladding species due to its straight grain with a medium-to-coarse texture. This resinous species naturally repels all the outdoor horrors it will encounter. It is lightweight, stable, inexpensive, weather-resistant, and has excellent workability and nailing capabilities. Western Red Cedar will not fail you down, whether you’re cladding a house or the exterior of a large real estate site.
Siberian Larch: Siberian Larch is either straight or spiralled with a medium to fine texture. Its colour ranges from pale yellow to a medium brownish hue. Despite being classified as a softwood with a moderate rot resistance, Larch is tougher than cedar. Its density is 575kg/m, making it more scratch-resistant than even many hardwoods. Siberian Larch is also often less expensive, making it a good choice for people on a budget. Siberian Larch is available in two grades: A and B. Siberian Larch is a superb, robust, dense, and stable external wood cladding material. A quality contains few or no knots, but B allows for larger, more frequent knots; this isn’t necessarily bad if you’re going for a natural look.
European Oak: European Oak is a perennially popular hardwood cladding with a magnificent golden brown colour and a distinctive straight grain. It is as tough as nails and with remarkable natural durability. Although it machines well, nailing and bolting might be tricky — pre-drilling is recommended. It is worth noting that it reacts to iron and has high rot resistance, so you’ll use stainless steel nails or screws. The boarding can be supplied in longer, more stable 4.5m lengths because it is affixed and finger jointed. It is the best choice for a stunning, longer-length hardwood external cladding that will lend a touch of timeless class to your outside cladding project.
Metal Claddings: Protect the Structure from Fires and Insects
The architectural cladding of this style is found in retro and modern structures. Steel and aluminum are the most widely utilized metals in metal cladding. This style has the advantages of being environmentally benign, requiring less care, and not being affected by fires or insects. The metal cladding has drawbacks, such as a longer installation time and higher cost. Furthermore, these claddings are hefty and prone to stone dents. Further, metal cladding has an increased risk of rusting or discoloration.
- Performance
Metal’s durability: Metal’s durability is one of the main reasons for its popularity as a cladding material. However, there are a few performance criteria to maximize the benefits of metal in a project.
Acoustic Insulation: Sound insulation is limited between the external and internal environments. Suppliers frequently determine whole-of-wall ratings by considering the insulating infill-wall products’ Rw rating (Weighted Sound Reduction Index) or STC (Sound Transmission Class).
Durability: Metal is quite durable, although some metals are softer than others and can be scratched or dented by hail or other objects. The geographic location and expected lifespan of a building are to be considered in terms of a material’s resilience. Make sure to inform manufacturers of the building envelope’s durability needs so that they can assist you in selecting the suitable material for your project.
Environmental Factors: It is critical to examine the ecological impact of construction material over its complete life cycle, including the manufacturing process, installation process, and long-term maintenance requirements, especially for large-scale projects. A life cycle assessment gives a rigorous approach for measuring each of these criteria when determining which cladding system style is best for your client’s demands.
Expansion & Contraction: Some metals compress and expand in response to variations in temperature, pressure, and humidity, specifying the incorrect material might result in lasting structural damage.
Fire Resistance: Metal is fire-resistant, but it’s still a good idea to check with manufacturers about your cladding’s fire-resistance criteria. To minimize unintended outcomes, it’s also vital to think about how metal cladding interacts with other elements in the building envelope.
Thermal Insulation: Because metal cladding systems often contribute little to overall wall insulation values, a sheathing board will likely need to be attached to the infill walls’ exterior face for weather and thermal protection.
Wind Action: Wind actions must be sustained and transferred to the main building structure, which necessitates the employment of building cladding systems.
- Categorization
Cassette: The open-jointed style can be utilized with massive panels. It is ideal for spacious cladding areas. The cassettes are bent and attached to an aluminum framework with invisible clips, giving them a modern, flat appearance.
Flatlock and Shingle: Flatlock panels fit together to form a thin and flexible façade. The technique can also be laid backward, generating deeper express lines, known as Reversed Flatlock. A shingled metal façade can be built using panels folded into interconnected tile forms for a stunning variant on the flatlock system.
Interlocking: An interlocking system creates a smoother appearance with dramatic, express joints. The width of the metal cladding panels can vary, and they can be designed to run vertically, diagonally, or horizontally.
Standing Seam: Standing seam cladding is one of the most well-known systems, with sturdy folding connections between each panel. Its hidden fixing elements enable smooth architectural exteriors for various typologies. Aluminum galvanized, zinc, titanium, weathering (Cor-ten) steel and stainless steel are just a few metals used with standing seam systems.
Snaplock: Snaplock has a ribbed profile but does not require installing special closing equipment. These are made to snap together for a quick and easy installation.
- Materials
Metal cladding refers to various materials, each with its own set of advantages and disadvantages. Many project-specific elements will influence your material selection, including intended aesthetic, climatic circumstances, structural system, nature of neighbouring construction and materials budget. The following are some of the most common metal cladding materials.
Aluminium: Aluminum is a common cladding material for contemporary constructions since it is naturally resistant to rusting and blistering. It also has a high strength-to-weight ratio, which means its façade attachment systems are less bulky than steel panel attachment systems. However, the material is prone to denting and scratches, and it may oxidize if improperly cared for in specific environments.
Brass: Brass is a very pliable cladding material. It is well suited to adorning sheet metal work, striking a balance between the calm tone of zinc and the warmth of copper. As the surface of brass oxidizes, it develops a golden-brown patina.
Copper: Copper is a lightweight cladding choice that is robust compared to other materials and is 100% recyclable at the end of the building’s life. Due to oxidation, the metal’s faintly reflected look changes with time, turning a characteristic green colour.
Galvanized Steel: As stainless steel’s chromium layer helps prevent rusting, galvanized steel is coated in a thin layer of zinc. Galvanized steel has a variegated aesthetic aspect known as “spangle” due to visible crystallites in the coating.
Stainless Steel: Stainless steel is steel that has been coated with a fine layer of chromium oxide which prevents the oxidation process of corrosion, making the material rust-resistant. It is popular because of its smooth, polished appearance.
Titanium: Architects prefer titanium because of its lightweight, strength, and gleaming reflective appearance. A protective oxide film builds on the material’s surface over time, boosting its corrosion resistance. Titanium cladding, on the other hand, necessitates regular maintenance.
Weathering Steel: Weathering Steel, also known as COR-TEN Steel, is meant to develop a protective layer with a constant rust-like appearance over time which obviates the necessity for painting. COR-TEN cladding has a stunning earthy, industrial look. Still, it must be finished appropriately to maintain a consistent patina over time.
Zinc: Zinc is known for its weatherproof and corrosion-resistant capabilities. It is also UV-resistant and has self-healing properties.
- Finishes
Finishes have a considerable impact on the performance and aesthetics of metal cladding systems. Metal façade panels come in an infinite number of treatments; talk to your manufacturer to pick the right one for your project. Among the most prevalent are the following.
Engine Turned: Its finishes have a delicate geometric pattern etched into the metal, giving them a swirled look with reflecting properties.
Mirrored: Highly polished surfaces are the most reflecting of all finishes and have a stunning look. They require a lot of upkeep to keep their glossiness.
Powder-coated: Powder coating provides a protective layer on metal and a consistent matte appearance. Powder-painted coatings come in an infinite number of hues.
Sandblasted: Sandblasting gives metal a smooth, matte finish that is practically texture-free. Steel that has been sandblasted is susceptible to corrosion and should be protected with a specific paint or other treatment.
Thermowood: Thermowood blends stunning brown tones with exceptional natural durability if you’re looking for a premium wood cladding that’s a little darker. As a thermally-modified softwood pine with medium density, this unique product delivers stability, movement (swelling), cupping, less shrinkage, and distortion than Western Red Cedar but less than Siberian Larch. Thermowood is available in various profiles and is resistant to both screws and nails.
Stone Claddings: Elegant Natural Look
The most expensive type of cladding for structures is stone cladding. These are typically offered in two varieties: synthetic stone and authentic stone. This style of architectural cladding requires a lot of time and effort to install, which raises the final cost. Stone claddings give the framework of the building an attractive, natural appearance. These are also resistant to harsh conditions such as dampness, fire, temperature, and insects and require little upkeep.
- Performance
Durability: Stone is dense and robust, making it ideal for cladding purposes. Keep in mind that some stones, such as limestone, are especially susceptible to weathering. On the other hand, granite keeps its colour and pattern for an extended period. As a result, evaluate a stone’s weathering qualities before incorporating it into your project.
Installation: Natural stone installation, in most circumstances, necessitates the use of professional engineers. Make sure your fabrication crew is well-suited to carry out the construction safely.
Insulation: Thermal insulation materials are designed to limit a building envelope’s heat gain or loss and can be used with stone cladding. Non-combustible, non-absorbent, and rot- and vermin-proof insulation should be used.
Maintenance: Natural stone must be kept clean to avoid cracking over time. Furthermore, the oxidant deposits may cause stones to break down or become slippery.
Sustainability: Stone has a low environmental impact since it requires very little processing to make it usable. It may still be recycled in its natural state.
- Categorization
Early on in the design process, it is critical to analyze the consequences of the weight and qualities of natural stone to develop a safe and dependable stone cladding fixing system.
Rainscreen Principle: Natural stone is becoming more popular as a material for creating stunning and high-performance rainscreen façades. A concealed or open clip system is used to attach stone panels to the building’s facade. Back-ventilated stone-clad rainscreen façades typically have an inner drainage cavity that helps quickly eliminate any rainwater that may penetrate behind them.
Traditional Handset Cladding: Natural stone is affixed to a pre-constructed backing structure in this long-standing building process. These elements work together to form a building’s outer envelope. Granite, limestone, marble, slate, and sandstone are the most frequent natural stone varieties utilized with classic handset façade cladding methods.
- Materials
Natural stone is an ideal cladding material in many cases. Sedimentary rocks, such as limestone and sandstone, are separated into three geological groups: metamorphic rocks, such as slate and marble, and igneous rocks, such as granite. Architects must examine aspects when choosing the best sort of stone, including appearance, intended usage, project size, and, most critically, the composition that will offer adequate strength and durability.
Basalt: Basalt is a dark blue-grey volcanic stone used on the inside and outside of buildings. Basalt is the most frequent type of volcanic rock used in architecture and looks fine-grained. Basalt has a high insulating capacity, one of its most noticeable characteristics.
Bluestone: Bluestone is a common term for various building stone kinds. This category comprises at least twenty different varieties of blue-tinted stone, including basalt and limestone.
Granite: Granite is a coarse-grained stone composed of crystals that interlock. It’s one of the most often discovered stones on the planet, and it’s a popular building material for exterior and interior cladding. Granite is known for its long life and colour and texture consistency.
Jerusalem Stone: Jerusalem Stone is one of the oldest limestones and dolomite combination stones. This type of limestone is exceptionally dense and weather resistant compared to other limestones. As a result, Jerusalem stone is used for exterior cladding.
Limestone: Limestone is known for its versatility and visual variation. Limestone comes in colours, from pure whites to beige to subtle browns with undertones of blue. Limestone comes in various textures, from creamy and delicate to hefty and veined. Limestone is an excellent choice for constructing faces since it is reasonably easy to carve and shape.
Marble: Marble has a long and turbulent history. Marble was formerly the architect’s preferred material. Still, the difficulties of working with it and the emergence of less expensive alternatives have led to a continuous reduction in its use as a façade decoration.
Slate: Slate is a fine-grained metamorphic stone used as a cladding material on both the inside and outside of buildings. It has become a stand-out architectural material in modern design due to its attractive and sophisticated appearance, excellent water resistance, high durability, and low maintenance.
- Aesthetics
The way stone is obtained, processed, and finished impacts its appearance.
Colour: Natural stone comes in a wide range of colours, as discussed in previous sections of this essay. Basalt is the dark grey stone available in pale off-white and golden pink hues. The granite comes in thousands of colours, and limestone comes in various colours ranging from white to black. If you have a specific shade in mind, talk to your manufacturer as soon as possible to see what colours are available and appropriate for your project.
Pattern: The patterns and veining of different stones have a lot of natural variabilities, just like the hue. In some situations, you may be able to order stones specifically for your project. Get a feel of the alternatives available by speaking with your manufacturers.
Texture and Finish: Stone comes in textures, from coarsely fractured to perfectly smooth. Polished, honed, and sandblasted are some of the most prevalent phrases you’ll come across in your material search.
Conclusion
Let us aim to eliminate your operational risks, build your structure, and deliver high quality and safe building solutions through strong and non-combustible modern architectural cladding systems.