With time, just like any other component of a building, you may need to invest in professional cladding repairs. Choosing to repair any cladding that has started to experience wear and tear quickly, will avoid having to pay out on a full cladding replacement in the future.
What Is Cladding Repairs?
There are no known limitations in terms of the material type that cladding is able to cover. Whether your building is made from aluminium, timber, ceramic or many more, you could most definitely benefit from cladding. Although cladding is mainly used to protect the building from all weather conditions and insulate, it can also prove beneficial in controlling noise and also stop infiltration. Infiltration happens when water, whether this may be from rainfall or from pipes, enters the soil underneath the foundations, risking the stability of the structure of the building.
During cladding repairs, depending on the type of damage, panels can be reshaped, filled, sanded and even resprayed to ensure that a pristine finish is achieved and all signs of previous damage are removed.
Different buildings experience different problems, which means that there is not just one reason as to why you may need to consider cladding panel repair. In some cases, panels may only require one of the repairs mentioned above and others may need all. Here we discuss the different reasons for cladding repairs.
Paint Damage
More times than not, paint damage occurs when the original paintwork was not applied to an adequately prepared surface, and preventative measures were not taken. You will know when this is proving to be a problem if the paintwork on your cladding panels starts to become blistered, flaky or bubbly. The biggest problem that damaged paintwork causes is to the appearance of your building; it will begin to look unappealing to visitors, ultimately risking damaging your business’s reputation.
Paint Blistering
When your paint blisters, you start to notice a series of what appears to be air bubbles underneath the top layer of paint, which will spread across the panels. If left, the layers of paint will completely come away from the panels, uncovering the original material. Many different reasons contribute towards why your paintwork may start to blister, and it all comes down to the original surface, these are:
Dirt On The Surface:
It is impossible to stop dirt, debris and grime from collecting on a wall, but you must make sure that it is thoroughly cleaned before respraying. Paint finds it incredibly tricky to stick to a surface which is clogged with dirt as it is made from lots of small loose particles. This layer of dirt will eventually make the paint lift.
Excess Moisture:
All surfaces must be entirely dry before applying any type of paint. Any excess moisture on cladding panels, whether this may be water droplets or even humidity, will cause small water-filled bubbles to form. In some cases, if you know that you did ensure that the surface was dry before starting the application process, it may be an indication that there is a leak. It is also important, to reduce the risk of blistering further, to let each coat thoroughly dry before applying the next.
Extreme Heat:
Although it is unlikely, there is such thing as heat-induced blistering and it is caused when your adhesive coat and layers of paint dries at an uneven rate. You may feel one section and notice that it is dry, then continue to add another layer without realising that other sections are yet to dry.
Paint Flaking
As paint begins to flake, you will start to notice cracks varying in size, which eventually will start to peel. Similarly to when paint blisters, excess flaking will, over time, reveal the original surface. The upside to flaking paint is that it is so easy to spot and once solved, is unlikely to cause a problem in the future. We’ve added some of the causes of flaking and peeling paint below:
Poor Adhesion:
It is vital to ensure that you add a high-quality exterior primer to your building before beginning to add any paint to your cladding panels. Again, all dirt and debris should be thoroughly cleaned off before attempting to prime the surface. Primer allows the paint to bond and therefore, stick to the surface and last longer.
Excess Moisture:
Just like blistering, flaking can also be caused by excess moisture. However, this time it is caused when water or moisture is able to get behind the paint film. Again, this can be avoided through adequate adhesion to ensure that there is no lift between the paint and surface.
Lack Of Filler:
Always take time, before beginning the application process, to sand down the surface and add filler where needed. Smoothing the cladding panels before painting will help to reveal any cracks that will cause roughness and uneven paintwork, which increases the likelihood of peeling.
Brand Image
The exterior of your commercial building is the first impression that you give potential clients, customers and even employees of your business when they arrive at your premises.
As we experience the ever-changing British weather, it starts to cause significant wear and tear on cladding panels, making them look dull and tired – not the first impression that you want to make to visitors. The constant switch between hot and cold temperatures will begin to deteriorate your panels, which if not regularly well-maintained, will cause a huge replacement fee.
Instead of waiting until your cladding panels become entirely irreparable, we suggest opting for on-site spraying, which is also a form of cladding repairs. Cladding spraying is a relatively straight-forward job, which can have a significant impact on the appearance of your building. You can either opt to match your cladding panel colours with your branding, or switch to a neutral, contemporary shade. Professional on-site spraying companies are even able to respray just one section of your cladding using colour-matching equipment to ensure that repairs blend in seamlessly.
Cut Edge Corrosion
Cut edge corrosion is caused when the protective plastic coating on the edges of your cladding panels is removed. All cladding panels are covered entirely, including the edges, with the plastic coating during the manufacturing process. However, in many cases, cladding panel installers are forced to cut down the size of panels, so it fits perfectly onto your building, therefore, removing the plastic covering and exposing edges to corrosion.
Although at first, cut edge corrosion is unlikely to cause a serious issue, if left unsolved for a long period of time, will begin to corrode the rest of the panel. If corrosion does begin to spread, unfortunately, the whole panel may become unsalvageable, and a full replacement will be the only solution.
If you do have cladding panels fitted, which have had to be cut to size, it is highly recommended to enlist the help of a professional cladding repair specialist, who is able to spray the edges with a protective layer. Not only will this increase the cladding lifespan, but it’ll also help to create a seamless appearance.
Rusted Cladding Panels
Rusting will only ever cause an issue on cladding if the exterior of your building is covered with metal panels. Just like any other form of metal which is exposed to the outside air, a reaction between the oxygen and water will occur and begin to form rust; this is called oxidation. Rust looks incredibly unappealing, particularly due to how quickly it can spread, but it will also start to eat away at the panels. Once rust spreads and begins to disintegrate panels, they become weak and extremely dangerous. Panels will no longer be able to hold their own weight and risk falling from the building.
Those who are over-exposed to a lot of rust will also start to notice a negative impact on their health. Rust which has been left to spread for a long time starts to release dust into the air, which when inhaled can start to irritate the lungs and cause a severe cough.
Similarly to cut edge corrosion, repairing panels with a protective barrier will stop rust from spreading and becoming a serious health hazard.
Stay Ahead Of Cladding Panel Maintenance
Ignoring cladding maintenance can not only have a negative impact on the appearance of your building but also on the health of individuals who are inside. As cladding panels deteriorate, they become unstable and incapable of holding their own weight, which means that you cannot guarantee that they will remain securely in their position.
If you are ever unsure on the safety of your cladding panels and are worried that they may become a risk in the future, our expert cladding repair specialists at Advanced Refurbishment are happy to book you in for a free on site survey. Here they will assess the condition of all cladding panels and recommend the best route of preventative measures to take.
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