TIME FOR A SMART NEW MAKEOVER?
Here is a selection of materials and styles to update your home’s facade
TIMBER
Also called weatherboards, timber comes in different woods, grains and colours. It’s lightweight, thermally efficient, easy to repair and can achieve many effects. Look for companies that purchase their wood from PEFC (Programme for the Endorsement of Forest Certification) and FSC (Forest Stewardship Council) accredited sources.
Hardwood is hardwearing, but softwood has to be treated to withstand the elements. All should be made fire-retardant. Also ask about the wood’s resistance to rot and fungus.
The latest trend is to leave woods untreated, allowing them to weather over time. For instance, red cedar weathers to a delicate silvery grey. Charred timber cladding, used for centuries in Japan, is currently popular and can look stunning.
BRICK SLIPS
These slips are thin cuts of real brick or specially made thin brick tiles, which create the look of an authentic brick wall. Available in insulated or non-insulated form, they can be used on internal as well as external walls. Lightweight and quick to attach, they’re especially good where full brick would be too wide.
STONE
Whether it’s panels of stacked veneers, or tiles of the same stone, these are available in many colours, effects and treatments and will create an upmarket result.
‘The monochrome look has always been hugely popular with designers and architects, and this continues,’ says Jack Jago of stone-cladding suppliers Norstone UK. ‘Our palette of light grey to ebony remains very popular, as it blends or contrasts with the entire colour spectrum.’
RENDER
This is basically a cement-based material applied in layers or sprayed over an exterior brick wall. Crisp white is always in demand, but render is also available in colours.
SLATE
Choose slate for an elegant contemporary look. It’s natural, sustainable and long-lasting and comes in uniform tiles or a more rustic format. You can hang it horizontally or vertically.
METAL
Often used on the outside walls of warehouses and office buildings, steel can also add an industrial edge to the exterior of a house. It can be installed horizontally, vertically or at an angle and painted or treated to create a burnished-metal look.
TILES
Available in concrete or handmade clay, tiles produce a more traditional finish and add character. They’re not one of the cheaper options, though, but can create so many different effects, from mosaic to wood. Large-format porcelain tiles are now also available and give a more modern look.
FIBRE CEMENT
Originally developed as a low-maintenance alternative to timber, this man-made cladding material is now widely used as a budget-friendly substitute for slate, and has become popular as a material in its own right. It’s long-lasting, and comes in a variety of colours and finishes. Glass reinforced concrete is also now available.
UPVC
One of the most cost effective options, uPVC is light, easy to fit and requires minimal maintenance. It just needs a gentle wash over with soap and water, or a hose down with a pressure washer once in a while, according to Colin St John from Freefoam. It’s available in white, woodgrain and colours.
Cheaper boards, however, can discolour over time. If you’re worried about this, look for better quality boards that come with up to 20-year discolouration guarantees for white, and minimum 10 years for coloured.