Is Composite A Good Material For Cladding? Composite vs Alternative Cladding Materials

Cladding is widely used throughout the UK as a popular option for improving the aesthetics of pretty much any building! It can greatly enhance the visual appearance by adding colour, depth, and texture.

In this article, we’ll go through the 4 most common cladding materials, and outline why composite cladding might be the best choice for your area.

4 Most Common Cladding Materials

• Composite Cladding
• Timber Cladding
• Aluminium Cladding
• Plastic Cladding

Composite Cladding

Composite Cladding is made of a combination of three main materials – a wood fibre, recycled plastic, and a bonding agent. Depending on the quantities of each material in the finished product, the quality can vary. OVAEDAs composite cladding has a relatively high ratio of the bonding agent, meaning it is extremely strong and hardwearing.

Composite cladding has become increasingly popular over the last few years, due to its wide variation of colours and finishes available. It is a quick and simple way of dramatically improving the aesthetics of buildings and structures.

Pros of Composite Cladding

• Long Life Span
• Visually Appealing
• Easy to Install
• Cheaper than some alternative materials
• Resistant to fade (depending on the supplier – OVAEDAs Cladding is fade resistant)
• Environmentally friendly

Cons of Composite Cladding

• Not usually fireproof – so not suitable for high rise developments

Timber Cladding

Timber Cladding is a natural product, and comes in many different variations. It has been a very common choice for homeowners over the past years, due to the fact that it is a common and readily available material, with good aesthetics.

However, as it is a natural material, it does also have its drawbacks. It is affected by the weather quite dramatically, and can fade and rot very quickly. Choosing a good quality and correctly treated timber cladding can help to increase its lifespan, however this also increases its cost.

Pros of Timber Cladding

• Natural Looks
• Low initial cost
• Environmentally friendly

Cons of Timber Cladding

• Hard to & Expensive to maintain
• Susceptible to Rot
• Fades Easily
• Short Lifespan

Aluminium Cladding

Aluminium cladding has become increasingly popular over the last few years in the UK since the Grenfell tragedy. This is because it is fire resistant, and will not burn or spread fire in any way.

It is usually an extruded product, that is then powder coated in a separate process to improve its aesthetic qualities. It is primarily created for safety and practicality, however it also has modern aesthetics that may appeal to some homeowners.

Pros of Aluminium Cladding

• Fire resistant
• Long Lifespan
• Resistant to Fade and Rot

Cons of Aluminium Cladding

• Very High Initial Cost
• Aesthetics are not the most attractive

Plastic Cladding

Plastic Cladding is a lightweight and durable cladding option that is commonly used in buildings throughout the UK. Being plastic, it is resistant to water and is not susceptible to rot. It is available in multiple different colours and finishes, however in most circumstances does not look as natural as timber or composite cladding. This is obviously due to the fact it has no natural components.

Pros of Plastic Cladding

• Weather resistant
• Easy to clean
• Low Maintanence

Cons of Timber Cladding

• Can fade easily
• Aesthetics are not appealing to all
• High initial cost
• Expands and Contracts significantly

What Cladding Material Is Best for You?

Now that you’ve had a short overview of each material, you may be swaying towards one material or another. Each material has its own benefits, however the below table will help you to compare which may be the best material for your project.

Getting started with your Cladding Project

Choosing the best material for your next cladding project can be a big decision. However, we hope that this article has helped you to understand why Composite may be the best material for your next cladding project.

OVAEDAs composite cladding is available in multiple colours, and two different finishes – we recommend that you order samples in order to choose the correct composite cladding board for your project – these can be found directly in our composite cladding section.

Please do get in touch with our friendly team to discuss your project further, we look forward to hearing from you!  Contact Us