Cladding Materials for the Exterior

The concept of the biophilic building emphasises the benefits of incorporating nature into your home. That does not negate the need to protect your house from the elements. While wide windows and inside plants a natural atmosphere to the space, they must also be protected from the elements such as rain, wind, wetness, and extreme temperatures.

External Cladding is commonly referred to the protective ‘skin’ of a building. The technique of cladding involves layering one material on top of another. The term “wall cladding” refers to the process of applying a coating of material to a wall. Siding is another name for it. Not only the exterior walls but also the interior walls can be covered with cladding. Depending on the requirements, a variety of materials can be used to clad the walls. This provides you with many options and gives the structure of the building a new aesthetic look.

Aluminium composite panels, high-pressure laminate, glass, natural stones, vitrified tiles, wood, fibre cement boards, and many more types of cladding materials are available on the market. Every variety of wall cladding materials has its own set of qualities. As a result, when comparing various items, one may become perplexed. We’ve put up a quick comparison of some of the most often used cladding materials.

The basis on Materials Used:

Aluminium Composite Panels:Two aluminium sheets are joined to a Polyethylene (LDPE) core to create aluminium composite panels.

High-Pressure Laminate:Kraft paper is mixed with resins and pressed under high pressure to make compact sheets of High-Pressure Laminate.

Fibre Cement Boards:Cement is reinforced with cellulose fibres to create fibre cement boards.

Vitrified Tiles:Vitrified tiles are made out of a combination of clay, silica, feldspar, and quartz heated to a high temperature and fused to form a glass-like product.

Basis on Texture/ Finish:

Aluminium Composite Panels:Aluminium composite panels are available in a smooth surface and various styles and colours, including wooden finish, matte finish, stone finish, and many more.

High-Pressure Laminate:It is available in a smooth finish in various patterns and colours, including wood, stone, metal, and others.

Fibre Cement Boards:It is also available in a smooth finish with various textures like wood, stone, metal, etc.

Vitrified Tiles:Vitrified tiles are available in a wide range of patterns and colours, with wood, stone, metal, and other finishes, and have a consistent look.

The basis on Panel Size:

Aluminium Composite Panels:The standard panel size of the ACP sheet is 2440 mm x 1220 mm, 3660 mm x 1220 mm.

High-Pressure Laminate:The standard panel size of a HPL is 2440 mm X 1220 mm.

Fibre Cement Boards:Standard panel size of a Fibre Cement Board is 2440 mm X 1220 mm

Vitrified Tiles:The standard unit sizes of vitrified tiles are 300 mm X 600 mm and 600 mm X 600 mm.

The basis on the method of installation:

Aluminium Composite Panels:Aludecor uses Rout and Return and Male Female Rainscreen System for fixing ACPs. These ensure great strength, save cost, easy installation, durability with zero maintenance, facilitate insulation, and enhance aesthetics.

High-Pressure Laminate:Here, we also use Rout and Return and Male Female Rainscreen System to fix HPLs.

Fibre Cement Board:All of the independent panels are attached to aluminium tubes.

Vitrified Tiles:The tiles adhere to the walls with special tile adhesives. Bolts and clips are used to keep tiles in place, as are aluminium tubes, although you’ll need tiles that are at least 8 to 12mm thick in that instance.

The basis on thickness and weight:

Aluminium Composite Panels:They come in a range of thicknesses from 3 to 6 mm. Aluminium composite panels have a typical weight of 1250 kg/m3 hence lighter in weight.

High-Pressure Laminate:They come in a range of thicknesses from 6 to 12 mm. High pressure laminate has a typical weight of 1000 kg/m3, making it moderate in weight.

Fibre Cement Board:They come in a range of thicknesses from 4 to 22 mm. Fibre cement boards have a normal weight of 1800 kg/m3 and moderate weight only if they are thinner.

Vitrified Tiles:They come in a range of thicknesses from 6 to 12 mm. Vitrified tiles have a normal weight of 1500 to 2000 kg/m3, making them quite heavy.

The basis on the resistance against extreme weather conditions:

Aluminium Composite Panels:With proper waterproofing and installation system, ACP Sheets can be a good resistance against harsh weather conditions like rain and storm. ACP panels are less prone to fall during earthquakes due to their lightweight.

High-Pressure Laminate:They have high resilience to rain and storm and are thus unaffected by it. Also, they are less likely to fall during an earthquake and are less likely to be hurt due to their lightweight and the way of fastening.

Fibre Cement Board:They have high resilience to rain. But they may become wet as a result of moisture absorption. Moreover, they are fixed together with screws; however, they might fall during an earthquake; but, if properly fastened, they may not!

Vitrified Tiles:They have strong resilience to rain; thus, they are not impacted by it. During an earthquake, the tiles may tumble to the ground. They are fragile because otherwise, a lousy piece may shatter or fall.

Also read: https://blogs.aludecor.com/16-advantages-of-using-aluminium-composite-panels-or-acp-sheet-as-a-cladding-material/

The basis on resistance to fire:

Aluminium Composite Panels:With fire-retardant core of ACP Sheets, Aluminium Composite Panels can beat the fire, delay in a flame spread, thus allowing 2 hours’ evacuation window. Also, it doesn’t form molten droplets and has low flammability. Due to low flammability and low smoke generation, it helps safe evacuation and saves a life.

High-Pressure Laminate:High pressure laminate has low resistance to fire and is flammable. But if it can be made with a fire-retardant mineral core, it can beat the fire.

Fibre Cement Board:Because cement is one of the main ingredients, fibre cement boards are incombustible and have high fire resistance.

Vitrified Tiles:Vitrified tiles have excellent fire resistance and are incombustible, although they may fall due to heating.

The basis on maintenance and cleaning:

Aluminium Composite Panels:ACP sheets are easy to clean and maintain. The ACP panels must be cleaned regularly to remove the dust that has formed on their surface. It just needs a piece of cloth to clean the ACP sheets.

High-Pressure Laminate:High Pressure Laminate will require periodic cleaning to remove the dust formed on its surface. Just like ACP sheets, HPL panels are also easy to clean.

Fibre Cement Board:It also requires periodical cleaning to remove dirt formed on the surface.

Vitrified Tiles:Periodic cleaning of vitrified tiles is required to remove the dust accumulated on their surface.

Here we have catered a few points basis on which we have distinguished the most acceptable cladding materials these days.

When creating facades, architects must consider a slew of factors, like building rules, sustainability, and dynamic design objectives. They must also guarantee that the facades are simple to construct, install, maintain and help to keep buildings on budget. Aluminium Composite Panels provide a way for architects to fulfil concepts that were previously difficult or unattainable. ACPs (aluminium composite panels) have been lauded as a prevalent material for both cladding and building facades for decades.

Aluminium composite panels are an excellent method to give an attractive and modern touch to your structure by allowing you to create designs that would have been difficult to achieve 50 years ago. They are not only contemporary, stylish, and easy to use, but they also offer a wide range of benefits for which you should consider utilising them. These are just a few of the many reasons ACPs are so popular amongst builders and architects worldwide. Aludecor is a leading ACP sheet manufacturer in India, with state-of-the-art machinery and cutting-edge technologies to assure high-quality goods. If you’re looking for the highest-quality ACP sheets, choose Aludecor. We guarantee 100% quality installation of all our cladding systems since we are industry experts with over 15 years of expertise.

Log on tohttp://www.aludecor.comor call us on our toll-free number 1800 102 0407 to explore the wonders of ACP Panels.

Sanchari Tarafdar
A talented content writer with a passion for words. With a keen eye for detail and a knack for storytelling, [Name] crafts engaging and impactful content that captivates readers. Their expertise lies in various niches, ensuring each piece is tailored to deliver results.
Sanchari Tarafdar

A talented content writer with a passion for words. With a keen eye for detail and a knack for storytelling, [Name] crafts engaging and impactful content that captivates readers. Their expertise lies in various niches, ensuring each piece is tailored to deliver results.

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