Different types of cladding
There are many different types of cladding available, grouped according to the type of construction. Some of the categories are clearly described, like wood cladding, whereas others need more explanation, veneer cladding. The main types of cladding I will be investigating are listed below with full explanations.
Wood
There are many wood cladding materials such as siding and shingles that have been durable enough to last a long time although there is no doubt that the desire on the part of building owners to keep exterior maintenance to a minimum has resulted in a decrease in the use of wood as an exterior cladding material.
the properties that make wood such a versatile material, such as its ease of workability and its appearance qualities, are also applicable to cladding. For this reason, specialty wood manufacturers have been developing wood cladding products which drastically reduce maintenance requirements which brings back the desire for wood cladding. Figure 1 shows the method used when fitting the wood panels. Figure 1 shows the connects for the wood cladding.
Figure 2
Aluminium
Aluminium cladding systems are designed to combine the best of two materials; plastic inside and aluminium outside. In addition to this it opens up an unlimited amout of colours. Since aluminium cladding can be finished in any colour, anodised, film coated, power coated wood look or painted in special colours using modern coating methods, there are no limits on the imagination and all demands can be satisfied.
Figure 3
aluminium roofing & siding sheets constitute an architectural cladding material manufactured in a comprehensive range of forms to meet varying conditions & design requirements:
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CIRCULAR - Familiar profile, roll formed. 0.5mm stucco embossed available in lengths of 300mm multiples.
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INDUSTRIAL - General duty 127mm pitch troughed especially suitable for siding. 0.7mm stucco embossed in 300mm multiples.
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MINIATURE: 3 Miniature Profiles for cladding, infill panels & general decorative sheeting for both interior & exterior use - Miniature Industrial, Mansard & Shallow Trough (Industrial is the strongest). In plain mill or stucco embossed finish.
Figure 2 displays two of the many different types of the aluminium cladding available.
Stone
Figure 4
Stone curtain walls are conventionally small cut stone set in mortar and are supported by attachments to a back up masonry wall, as shown in Figure 3. Slabs of stone with greater surface area may be fastened to framed buildings in several different ways.
Stone panels mounted on a steel subframe. The vertical members of the subframe are attached to the frame of the building. This structure transmits the wind and gravity from the stone facing to the supporting structure of the building. Horizontal members are shaped in such a way that it engages the upper and lower edges of the stone and hold them firmly to the building. A horizontal member is added as each preceding layer of stone is completed. Backer rods and sealant allow the system to have a considerable range of movement. A backup wall made of steel studs and gypsum sheathing panels is not attached to the subframe. It provides a surface to attach the interior finishing system. It also creates an air barrier which can hold the thermal insulation batts and wiring.
Glass
Figure 5
Many of the world's major cities and urban business developments are dominated by prestige buildings utilizing glass curtain walling technology to form the outer building envelope. Curtain walling systems comprise aluminum extruded box sections designed with gaskets to take glass panels and provide a completely impervious facade.
The basic design concept is to clearly distinguish between the functions of the glass and the wind trusses. The dead load of the glass is transferred to the top of the wall by tension rods that support star-shaped glass connectors. The trusses are distinct from the glass. Link struts are pinned at one end to the star shaped glass connectors and at the other end to the wind trusses. The strut trasfers wind loads acting on the glass to the truss through axial tension and compression. The trusses require pre-tensioning to maintain stability.
Figure 4 show the breathe taking finish of glass cladding on a high rise building.
Stainless Steel
The inviting, modern, clean appearance of stainless steel gives consumers the image they seek, clean non-stainable, shiny and pleasing to the human eye, as seen in Figure 5. At the same time it has many technical advantages. For instance, because stainless steel is one of the hardest architectural metals it is able to withstand wear from passing traffic. Its mechanical properties and work hardening characteristics also allow slender and delicate frame members to be used, enabling the architect to achieve designs in which light and spaciousness predominate. The high rigidity of stainless steel doors resists sagging or loss of alignment due to constant usage, so retaining a good fit in the doorframe to keep out noise, dust, heat or cold.
Figure 6
The high strength-to-weight ratio of stainless steel also enables entrance systems to combine lightness and ease of handling with the strength and rigidity needed for security. As a result, it is possible to combine ease of entrance for customers with protection against unwanted intruders. Consequently, stainless steel has been used on all types of entrance systems, including high security bank entrances and doors designed to for Western supermarket shoppers and their trolleys.
Brickwork
A brick front wall must be constructed properly to secure it to the building and to ensure that any moisture penetrating the brick can escape. Brick veneer cladding is used on over 40% of all new homes, or approx. 7,600 dwellings. The 40mm cavity required for brick veneer makes it the most forgiving cladding option in regards to potential disasters or weather-tightness problems. It has certainly stood the test of time and its popularity is continuing to grow. This is particularly true in light of issues surrounding weather-tightness and chemically free timber.
Figure 6 displays the design of the brick cladding option.
Figure 7
Cladding Investigation
Kingspan
Kingspan’s architectural wall systems offer designers a comprehensive range of aesthetic wall solutions for horizontal and vertical applications. Available in cover widths of 600, 900, 1000mm wide, they are ideally suitable for incorporating into modern image buildings, where aesthetics and visual impact are
a key requirement.
A full range of external finishes are available; micro-rib, euro-box, flat, mini-micro and wave profiles offer an interesting blend of appearance options providing clean, crisp building lines. The panel joint details conceals the fasteners and this combined with the external finishes available provide wall construction solutions of the highest quality and appearance.
Features:
- Fully complies with Part L2 (England & Wales) and Part J (Scotland) Thermal Regulations and Standards.
- Insurer approved Loss Prevention Certification Board (LPCB), Factory Mutual (FM) and BS476 Part 22 specifications.
- Can be installed horizontally or vertically.
- Reliable low air leakage - 5m³ /hr/m² .
- Guaranteed U-value lifecycle.
- 100% reliable thermal performance and insulation continuity, no cavities, no gaps, no cold bridges or interstitial condensation risk.
- Concealed fix joint.
- Pre-engineered - single component - single fix
- Complies with HSE and CDM safety requirements.
- Non-deleterious materials.
- Guaranteed long-term performance with up to 25 years to first maintenance and overall life expectancy of up to 40 years.
Spanwall
Spanwall's range of architectural wall cladding systems has an inherent flexibility which allows the company to remain design orientated and to provide its customers with cost effective solutions.
Figure 8
Spanwall offer lightweight curtain wall cladding systems which integrate easily with doors, glazing and louvres to create a total building façade. They are ideally suited for the developments of industrial, leisure, retail, commercial or high technology structures, and for the refurbishment of existing buildings.
The standard sinusoidal wave form cladding sheet was used to great effect on the new terminal building for Belfast City Airport (see Figure 7). Using a built up system of an inner steel liner sheet, rockwool insulation slabs and a sinusoidal outer sheet in three coat PVF2 painted aluminium the main criteria of thermal insulation and fire performance was easily achieved.
Rigidal
Rigidal offers a comprehensive and effective range of cladding solutions. Available in aluminium or steel, in a variety of colours and finishes the range is completed by the availability of integrated fascias, rooflights, gutters and flashings. A full range of fasteners and fixings completes the package providing a complete solution.
Metal Specification
High performance CFC-free polyurethane that is classed as non-deleterious and produced using blowing agents in compliance with the Montreal Protocol.
In the unlikely event of a fire, the fire retarded thermoset plastic insulation core will not melt, form burning droplets or support a rapid and uncontrollable spread of the fire between the panel facings. The construction and mechanical fixing of Rigidal composite panels prevents against and sudden/unpredictable falling off of the facings.
Metal Coatings
Conclusion
In concluding this report I feel that there are many different cladding types with different features and properties. I feel personally that steel cladding is best suited as it has a fine finish, see Figure 5, and has environmental benefits:
- 100% recyclable
- Uses minimum volume of materials
- Clean, dust free construction
- Minimum site waste
- Good end of life options -dismantle and re-use -demolish and recycle -remove steel foundations
- Offsite fabrication in controlled environment
- Adaptable and flexible to suit changing lifetime requirements
Stainless steel, complimented by glass, is becoming more popular with the modern commercial structure. Fine quality polished or satin finish steel gives an extra dimension to entrances, lifts, lobbies, staircases, and clad columns which can transform the ordinary into the spectacular.
