Our Top Modern Exterior Wall Cladding Designs
Installing a layer of cladding to the exterior of a property ultimately dictates the overall look of a home. It is important to research all the different types of cladding, what they will look like and what other functions they have. Although it is a cheaper way to restyle a property, decorating it with the wrong cladding can become a costly project to undo. There are a number of claddings to choose from depending on your desired look, these include:
- Timber
- Brick
- Stone
- Render
- Vertical Tiling
- Flint
- Metal
- Porcelain Tile
- Fibre Cement
- PVCu
While all cladding materials can be adapted to look modern, each material will give a different look to your property. For example, stone and flint cladding will give a modernised rustic appearance to your home while metal will create a futuristic feel.
Timber Cladding
Timber is a renewable, sustainable and eco-friendly material that can create a stunning property while also protecting the environment. It has become increasingly popular amongst environmentally conscious individuals. This is because timber creates a renewable home without compromising on style. Timber cladding naturally fades to a beautiful silver-grey colour, complementing your property from the first instalment and as it ages.
As your property ages, so does the cladding, if you wish to change the colour or design of your property, timber cladding can be easily transformed with a coat of paint. Applying a layer of paint or staining the timber cladding, can renovate a property without having to replace the cladding. Onsite coatings will transform your home instantly, so timber works well in long term endurance. Regardless of your budget, timber cladding can be installed at a low cost. With softwoods, hardwoods, and modified woods available, you can choose an affordable material to decorate your beautiful home.
Not only does timber look good on exterior designs, it also has excellent thermal and sound insulation abilities. Cost-effective to install as well as keeping your monthly heating bills slightly lower, timber works as the perfect material to protect your home, keep you warm and make a statement on your property.
Stone Cladding
Adding a sense of elegance and sophistication to your property, stone cladding shows off your classy side when added to any traditional or contemporary property. With new builds popping up in brick and blocked designs, make a statement by adding small details of stone across the exterior of your property. Covering a small section of a property can have an extremely big impact on the overall look; so you don’t have to spend excessive amounts of money to make your home into the perfect design. Consider covering the lower or upper half of your property to create a unique design that keeps the contemporary style of new builds while making the design your own. This will add character to your property without completely covering your home and stretching your budget.
The perfect thing about stone cladding is the variety of designs that you can create due to its wide range of different tones and textures. Depending on your design, you can choose from light and dark tones to create a rustic modern appearance. The array of dark stones can be beautifully contrasted with light colours within other stones such as granite, to create a stunning texturised look. Use stone cladding wisely to ensure that you give your property a subtle hint of elegance while also making a big statement. Not only is there a wide variety of colours to choose from, but there are also an array of finishes that can add texture to your design. Smooth or rough stones can dramatically change the appearance of a property and complement the colour of your chosen stone. Light stones tend to look best with a rough finish while dark stones stand out more when given a smooth, almost glossy texture.
Stone cladding can also be used to create a beautiful front facade to enhance the properties entrance and make a statement before arriving at the doorstep. Accentuating the entrance to your home will add a sense of style and class to your property through a low-cost project. Be creative with your stone cladding entrance and create a pathway leading you to the front door or a stone porch that stands out against a white home. Keep the stone theme around the exterior of the property by incorporating it into the garden. Create a back porch, garden wall or even garden ornaments using stone cladding to create a beautiful added feature.
Metal Cladding
One of the most growing trends in futuristic design is using metal cladding to completely cover the exterior of a building. Metal cladding is a fantastic way to create a rustic contemporary look or a shiny futuristic property due to its modern production techniques. The metal can be aged to perfection or coated to preserve the original shine of the metal, allowing you to design the cladding to suit your aesthetic. More traditional-style homes can be modernised with a coat of metal applied to a small section of the property. Incorporate a mixture of metal and stone cladding to create a rustic contemporary yet traditional look. There is an endless amount of designs using metal cladding that can make your property individual and unique to others.
Regardless of the shape of your property, metal cladding can be moulded to fit around all curves, edges and unusual shapes. This makes metal cladding ideal for older homes as the design is more complex than the new block brick homes being built around the UK today. Metal cladding looks stunning on block shapes as it gives a futuristic industrial look to the property. Properties with curves and pillars also look striking with metal cladding as the sun beautifully reflects off the curves, making your home appear bigger. If you are not ready to commit to a completely metal home, install metal cladding to the top section of the property so that the sun reflects off, making your property stand out even from a distance. Small amounts of metal cladding added to the exterior of a home can have a big impact, adding small details of class and elegance.
There are a variety of different types of metal claddings that you can choose from. Depending on the design that you are going for will determine the material that you use. Each metal has a unique look even when first installed; they also age differently, so make sure that you choose a metal that will suit your aesthetic in the future.
Aluminium is a lightweight yet strong material that is easily shaped to fit any corner, bend or edge. Its waterproof abilities make it perfect for protecting against moisture, ensuring that your home does not get damp and mouldy. Aluminium also needs little maintenance, making it suitable for long term designs.
Another metal cladding material that gives a unique look to a property is zinc. Zinc is exceptionally flexible and easy to fold into any shape, therefore allowing for easy construction if you are to install cladding personally. Like aluminium, it is extremely durable and needs little to no maintenance, which makes a cost-effective solution to looking stylish. For the environmentalists out there, zinc is perfect for sustaining a renewable home due as it being recyclable and non-toxic.
Although zinc and aluminium change their appearance over time, copper dramatically changes its appearance as it ages, giving a unique look to a property. Copper is first installed in a beautiful warm bronze tone and transforms into an iridescent brown as it weathers. For a modernised home that looks rustic over time, copper gives a property character as it ages.
Render Cladding
Render is a cement-based cladding material that is smoothly applied to the exterior of a property to transform the colour and style all in one application. As you may notice the housing along London streets, render cladding is extremely popular with smaller homes. This is because render cladding is easy to maintain and can be refreshed with a coat of paint every so often. It is also easy to change the colour and style of your property by applying a different colour of paint every now and then.
The most common form of render cladding is the french style of ‘monochouche’, which is applying a single layer of plaster along the house so that it does not disturb its structure. Monocouche renders are traditionally applied with white cement and are pre-coloured. Although this method is initially slightly more expensive, there is less labour involved, meaning that you do not have to spend as much money on highering a professionals time. Installed with one 15mm thick coat, render cladding is the perfect way to add a layer of waterproof protection while looking good. It is also the perfect cladding to use for easy and quick maintenance as scratches are fixable with cladding panel repairs.
Fibre Cladding
For a long-lasting and low maintenance option, fibre cladding can provide a stunning finish to a home. Fibre cladding is perfect for anyone looking for a colourful home as it is available in a wide range of colours and shades. Be bold and make a statement with fibre cladding, it is easy to maintain, and the colour of the cladding can be easily adapted to suit your changing style. Once you have chosen your desired colour, the property will be given a strong water-based or acrylic topcoat which will improve resistance against weather conditions.
Fibre cladding is most desired for its uniform and perfect appearance, giving a smooth finish to the property. Sheets of fibre cladding are rolled over and pressed to extract moisture, making sure that the property does not get damp and mouldy. Due to the mixture remaining pliable for a short period of time, it is easy to mould around unusual shapes and into all the corners of the property.
Composite Cladding
Composite cladding comes in a wide variety of colours and is the perfect way to add vibrancy and style to your building. This particular cladding is easy to apply, so if you are planning on installing cladding yourself then composite cladding may be best. The planks of composite cladding can be cut to the correct length of the property to ensure that your home looks effortlessly edgy.
For a safe coating to the property, composite cladding adds a layer of fire-resistance and is an eco-friendly material that lasts year after year. Although it is durable and has low maintenance, you may occasionally need to higher a professional for composite cladding panel repair. Add a layer of composite cladding down the centre of your home or on the top layer, to add subtle detail to your property. Deciding to make this cladding a vibrant colour can make a dull property look exciting and unique.
What Cladding Will You Choose?
The wide variety of cladding materials that you can choose from make choosing the perfect material for your aesthetic easier. Each material can be transformed and moulded to suit your desired design. With different colours and textures, you can make a statement with cladding strategically placed on the exterior of your property. While these cladding materials can transform your property into a stunning contemporary home, they can also be used to add traditional elements. Stone cladding and metal cladding can be used to create an old fashioned look which adds character to your home throughout the years. If you are unsure on which cladding while give you your desired design style, then ask a professional about materials and installing techniques.