Types and Uses
Cladding can be an important part of a building’s aesthetics, with a variety of materials and colour options offering a wide choice to architects. Options include a weatherboarded, shiplap look; brick, stone or pebble dash effect; and composite panels in solid colours or timber grain effect.
Just as important, if not more so, are the benefits that cladding – known as siding in some countries – brings to a building’s protection against the elements, if installed using the rainscreen principle.
All UK residents know how testing our climate can be, with driving wind and rain a frequent feature. With the rainscreen principle, the outer layer of cladding deflects rain and there is a ventilation cavity behind that equalises air pressure, deals with condensation and allows a building to breathe. The system gives great flexibility to improve the thermal insulation of the building.
There is a huge choice of designs and colours available in sustainable façade or rainscreen cladding, meaning that a bold and attractive ‘skin’ can be created for all kinds of new build and refurbishment projects. These include woodgrain panels indistinguishable from real wood and metallics for a striking aesthetic.
Where to buy cladding
- Plastivan UK - Unit 4 Bonville Industrial Estate, Bonville Road, Brislington, Bristol, BS4 5QU, 0117 300 5625
- Ash & Lacy Building Systems Ltd - Bromford Lane, West Bromwich, West Midlands, B70 7JJ, 0121 525 1444
- Dura Composites Ltd - Dura House, Telford Road, Clacton On Sea, Essex, CO15 4LP, 01255 423601
- Kedel Ltd - Daisy Mill (Unit 2, Gate 3), Daisy Street, Waterside, Colne, Lancashire, BB8 8ER, 01282 861325
- Sorba UK Ltd - Office F15, Dugard House, Peartree Road, Colchester, Essex, CO3 0UL, 01206 766 320
- Vector Foiltec Ltd - 1-5 Vyner Street, London, Greater London, E2 9DG, (0) 20 8821 2900
- Silva Timber Products - Unit 4, Albright Road, Widnes, Cheshire, WA8 8FY, 0151 495 3111
- Kalzip Ltd - Haydock Lane, Haydock, St Helens, Merseyside, WA11 9TY, 01942 295 500
- Jtech Services - PO Box 685, Telford, Shropshire, TF7 5WZ, 01952 404 352
- MSP (Scotland) Ltd - 1/9 Telford Road, East Lenziemill Ind. Estate, Cumbernauld, Lanarkshire, G67 2AX, 01236 729591
- Buildworld – Building & Timber Merchant - 74 Forest Road, Leicester, Leicestershire, LE5 0DG, 0116 212 3456
- Vivalda - 99 Victoria Road, London, Greater London, NW10 6DJ, 0208 963 9999
- Architectural Profiles Ltd - Cockayne House, 126-128 Crockhamwell Road, Woodley, Reading, Berkshire, RG5 3JH, 0118 927 2424
- Round Wood of Mayfield - Newick Lane, Mayfield, East Sussex, TN20 6RG, 01435 867072
- Celuform Ltd - Bilet Lane, Normanby Enterprise Park, Normanby Road, Scunthorpe, Lincolnshire, DN15 9YH, 08702 406107
