Factors to Take Into Account When Selecting External Cladding for Your Custom Home Build

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Carrie's Construction Tips

Welcome to my blog. I'm Carrie and I would like to share some of the top tips I have learnt about construction and repair work in the home. My passion is for buying old property and carrying out work on them to bring them into the 21st century. I started out doing this a couple of years ago. I used some money I had inherited to buy a wreck of a place and if I am honest, I didn't have a clue what I was doing. I was really lucky to find some great contractors who helped me out a lot and taught me lots of very cool things.

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Factors to Take Into Account When Selecting External Cladding for Your Custom Home Build

19 March 2021
 Categories: Construction & Contractors, Blog


When wrapping up the construction of your custom home build, one of the finishing touches you should never underrate is the type of external cladding that will be installed. Although some people think that the only purpose that external cladding systems serve is to keep their walls free from grime, the reality is that it does so much more!

Not only does external cladding function to provide your property with a layer of protection against moisture and UV exposure but it also works to enhance the structure's mechanical strength. However, if you are to make the most of this inclusion, you need to determine which cladding system will work best for your needs. Keep reading for some of the factors to take into account when selecting external cladding for your custom home build.

The style of the external cladding

Although the visual appeal of the cladding may seem like a shallow consideration, the reality is that it does play a crucial role in the overall appearance of your property. A major benefit of investing in a custom home build is getting the opportunity to construct the home of your dreams. Hence, in addition to integrating all the amenities that you want, you also get the chance to ensure that your home matches your aesthetic preferences.

Therefore, it only makes sense that the external cladding is an extension of your vision for the property. Supplies such as stucco, concrete and vinyl are an ideal choice for homeowners that want the flexibility to customise the appearance of their cladding.

The R-value of the external cladding

R-value is a measurement used to denote the thermal resistance of a material and this is invaluable when looking to enhance the energy efficiency of a property. R-value is especially important in Australia due to the extreme weather changes experienced throughout the year. From stifling summer heat to chilly winters, if your home is not energy efficient, you find that you are heavily reliant on artificial heating and cooling. And although your HVAC system is highly convenient, you will have to contend with costly electricity bills each passing month.

To help you save some money while simultaneously keeping the interior of your custom home comfortable, you should consider investing in external cladding with a high R-value. Materials such as concrete, brick and wood have a high thermal mass and this makes them better suited at insulating your external walls whereas supplies such as steel and iron offer little to no insulation.

Further factors to take into account when selecting external cladding for your custom home are the durability offered, the degree of upkeep required and the structural advantages provided by the materials available.