FROM 2 WEEKS
Everything You Should Know About Cladding Panels
Thinking of changing up the external appearance of your building? Looking for a cost-effective but durable solution? Why not try cladding panels.
Here at Colour Clad Profiles, we have plenty of experience in working with metal roofing and cladding sheets, so we’re well-equipped to give you the lowdown on this type of roofing and cladding material.
What Are Cladding Panels?
Cladding itself refers to the outermost layer of a building, added to improve heat resistance, aesthetics, and weather resistance. What distinguishes cladding from the rest of a building is its ability to bear load. Metal cladding is an extremely lightweight material and is not designed to carry weight in any form — it is purely an add-on that has no bearing on the structural stability of a building (unlike purlins, for example). Aside from being fitted to an existing building, cladding can also be incorporated into the design of new buildings as a core feature too.Cladding is primarily a wall-based feature, but the metal sheets used to clad can be for roofs and walls alike. When it comes to ‘cladding panels’, then, we mean a batch of metal cladding sheets, mass-produced in one size, finish, colour, and thickness to be fitted onto a building at once.
By fitting these large, uniform cladding panels at the same time, buildings can take on this ‘second skin’ quality far quicker and easier than if small individual strips of material were used.
What are the different types of cladding panels?
There are four main different types of cladding:
1. Timber
2. Stone & Brick Cladding
3. Fibre Cement & Vinyl Cladding
4. Metal Cladding
When it comes to cladding panels and sheets, though, it is only metal that can be manufactured in this way. Here at Colour Clad Profiles, we have an impressive range of metal cladding panels and roofing sheets.
As for the different types, all our cladding panels are organised by
• Colour - Download our colour chart here
• Profile - Including Box Profiles, Pantiles, and Corrugated Profiles
• Thickness - Ranging from 0.5mm to 0.7mm
• Finish - Galvanised Steel, PVC, Polyester-coated, and Anticon
The type of cladding panel you’ll need will be different depending on a variety of factors, including the type of building being modified, the aesthetic preference, the weather conditions in the area, and more.
For example, some agricultural buildings tend to use the Galvanised Steel panels with a corrugated finish; whereas a commercial setting might prefer an Anitcon finish due to its moisture-drying properties.
What are the benefits of cladding panels?
When rejuvenating a building, or adding to its exterior, you may want to weigh up all your options first. If you’re wondering, ‘Why use cladding panels instead of another option?’, keep reading to learn of the unique benefits of cladding panels.
1. Aesthetics. Cladding panels can massively improve the exterior look of your building — residential, commercial, agricultural, or otherwise. Due to the number of customisability options (especially the colour), it is an easy way for a building to blend in with or stand out from its surroundings. If the outside of a building is cracked or dirty, a new set of cladding panels is a quick and effective way to freshen things up.
2. Little to no maintenance is required. Unlike other cladding options like stone or wood, metal cladding sheets require very little upkeep and attention after installation. In fact, apart from the odd scrub down or wash with a hose/pressure washer, metal cladding panels are as low maintenance as they come, maintaining their condition for years.
3. Protection. By adding cladding panels to a building, you are also adding another layer of protection — from the elements, from damage, and from heat loss. Metal cladding panels will help with waterproofing a building since the rain rolls right off them. This means the chances of a building developing damp, corrosion, and mould are significantly reduced.
What Size Cladding Panel Do I Need?
When working on a project, the budget can be tight and there is often little room for error. So, there needs to be a fool proof process for working out how much of a certain material you’re going to need.
What’s unique about metal cladding panels is that you’ll need to order a specific number of panels, rather than by the foot (like with timber, say). To work this out, copy the steps below:
1. Measure the number of lineal metres on the wall
2. Decide on the length of the cladding panel you want
3. Divide the number of metres by the length
4. Round the answer to the nearest 0 decimal place (EG 52.15 pieces will be 53 panels)
5. Add 10% extra for wastage and/or overlap
How To Fit Cladding Panels
When you have the correct sized panels, it is time to start putting them in place on the walls of your building. As a tip, it is important to direct panels away from prevailing winds. This reduces the chance that any rain will find its way behind the panels. Another best practice is to allow for an overlap (to ensure water tightness and sturdiness) — this is what that 10% comes in handy for. For example, 39-inch panels will only cover 34.67 inches due to this overlap.
When screwing down your panels with fixings, it is important to place the screw on the high seam section. This again allows for a greater level of water tightness as the screw is exposed to less water as it’s not in a rut. All screws should be placed in regularly spaced intervals along the panel known as ‘screw lines’ and there should be a screw that falls on the overlap section between panels.