If you’ve been thinking about cladding your house for some time, you’ve probably done some preliminary investigation into available options. As a result, you’ve probably heard of composite cladding, which has quickly risen in popularity as a widely used cladding option in Australia.
Composite cladding boards may last longer than timber cladding boards and require significantly less maintenance, which is a major draw for many homeowners making the switch from traditional timber cladding to composite cladding.
What are the materials used in composite cladding?
Composite cladding is constructed from Wood Plastic Composite (WPC), a material created to mimic the look and feel of wood yet withstand much more wear and tear.
Recycled wood fibre, plastic, colourants, and binding agents go into the making of our composite cladding boards. Cladding boards are made by extruding a heated slurry into the desired shape, then embossing and cooling the material.
You can get capped composite cladding boards or uncapped composite cladding boards if you’re interested in wood-plastic composite cladding.
Capped boards are superior to uncapped boards because of the additional layer of polymer plastic that protects them from the environment, fading, scratches, and stains.
How does Composite Cladding help?
When applied to your property, composite cladding can do more than just refreshing its appearance.
The insulation benefits of cladding can greatly reduce your heating and cooling costs, both in the winter and the summer.
It can also shield your house from the sun’s rays, wind, and precipitation. With so much of its surface area exposed to whatever the Australia climate throws at it, your home’s cladding boards will take quite a beating.
Composite cladding is also much easier to care for than wooden cladding boards. Cladding made of wood requires maintenance in the form of periodic washing, oiling, staining, varnishing, and/or painting. Wood cladding is susceptible to warping, splintering, rotting, mildew and algae growth, and insect infestation if proper care is not taken.
However, composite cladding only has to be cleaned much less regularly. Composite cladding boards may be cleaned quickly and easily using a pressure washer set to low pressure, or you can use soapy water and a soft-bristled brush.
When compared to other cladding materials, how long does composite cladding last?
The kind of wood you pick will determine how long your timber cladding lasts. The average lifespan of a piece of softwood is 10–15 years, whereas the longest lifespan of the most expensive hardwood is 25 years with adequate care.
Composite cladding and other Wood Plastic Composite products are likely to last up to 30 years with good installation and maintenance.
When compared to wood cladding, why does composite cladding last longer?
Composite cladding, which is made from recycled plastic, is much more durable than cladding made from wood, which is still a natural material regardless of how it is treated.
When combined with the other ingredients, this recycled plastic ensures that none of them will rot, fade, scratch, or be eaten by insects. In addition, composite cladding does not age poorly by warping, splintering, or sagging.
As opposed to uncapped composite cladding, why does capped composite cladding last longer?
Capped composite cladding is more long-lasting than its uncapped counterpart because of the added plastic coating that protects it. This additional plastic coating offers superior defence against wear and tear, stains, and the outdoors.
Even without a protective top, the recycled plastic and other components used to make composite cladding make it much more weather-resistant than traditional wood cladding boards.