Why cladding?
Cladding is both a stylish and functional addition to your home. It protects the underlying structure of your home from the elements, therefore increasing its lifespan. It also improves your home’s overall appearance, making it more attractive.
There are different kinds of wall cladding materials you can choose from based on your personal taste and the style of your home. Some popular options include:
- Vinyl cladding
- Palliside cladding
- Metal cladding
- Timber cladding
- Stone cladding
The two most popular options among home owners are palliside and vinyl cladding. Palliside cladding is touted as being better than vinyl cladding and we’ll take a look at some of the reasons why.
Palliside cladding versus Vinyl cladding
Both kinds of wall cladding materials are the most affordable of all the other options and are flexible and easy to install. They both give a uniform look in a variety of colors and designs and are durable with little maintenance required.
Palliside cladding is thicker having a minimum of 7mm. This makes it much more resistant to physical damage from elements such as hail and strong winds. Vinyl cladding is only 1mm thick at best offering no structural strength making it more vulnerable during strong winds or hail.
Palliside cladding also does not powder or warp like vinyl cladding due to its cellular core that allows for expansion and contraction even in the most extreme weather. The cellular core also provides insulation against temperature change, protecting the underlying structure as it maintains the temperature of the home.
Palliside cladding is joined using a water proof system with an air cavity behind the boards to allow circulation of air. Vinyl cladding is fitted with polystyrene foam, which in the winter may cause the wall to get damp and develop fungi and mildew. This also affects its capacity to insulate the home as effectively as palliside cladding.
In regards to color retention, palliside cladding is superior to vinyl cladding. Palliside cladding has sufficient UPVC stabilizers that ensure color retention for up to 25 years. It has a zero fire ignition rate providing adequate insulation against fire, which is especially important in areas prone to bush fires. Vinyl cladding is much thinner and may melt during hot seasons.
Recent building code classifications indicated vinyl as a type B material that should not be used for construction but only for decorative purposes. Palliside was categorized as type A which can be used as a primary construction material.
Well, it is clear that palliside cladding beats its counterpart hands down. So it is time to make that change, don’t you think?