Cladding is an increasingly popular way of finishing a home’s exterior as it is aesthetically pleasing and low maintenance. Cladding makes new builds look more attractive and, for older properties, it is a great way to give the exterior a lift. But as with many home improvements it is really important that you get it right as failure to do so will not only look unsightly, but could do more damage than good.
When done well, cladding adds an extra layer of insulation as well as protecting your home from the elements. It also suffers very little from wear and tear which means you won’t have to pay for repainting or render repair – or the costs and damp risks associated with damaged render or brickwork.
The benefits of cladding
- Cladding is relatively cheap and simple way of making your home look fresh and modern,
- It is low maintenance and will last a long time,
- There is a huge variety of different cladding types, colours and materials available,
- It offers protection from the elements and prevents damage to your home’s exterior,
- It is relatively easy to install,
- If done properly it can add to your property’s curb appeal.
With so many pros, it seems like cladding is just too good to be true; but there are a few disadvantages:
- With the massive and ever-growing market, it can be challenging to know what type of cladding is best for you in terms of materials, quality and price,
- Installing cladding yourself can be time consuming and a bit more complicated than people often imagine,
- If you choose natural wood (timber) cladding, you are likely to need to treat it once a year or so,
- Depending on the size of your house, its location and elevation, cladding can be expensive to install (especially if you need to hire scaffolding).
Cladding and planning permission
Whether you need planning permission should be the first question that you ask yourself every time you consider making home improvements, from cladding to building a garden shed, or converting your garage. Failure to get planning permission when you need it could lead to expensive complications if you ever come to sell the property. Generally, properties don’t need planning permission for cladding, but if you own a building that is in an AONB, national park or conservation area, or if the building is listed, then you may want to double check before you do any work (you should be accustomed to checking permissions before making changes).
Provided that you don’t live in a listed building or a protected area, then the world of cladding is at your disposal! It is very wise to look up the various options available to you and take some time researching before getting a couple of quotes from trusted local builders.
Follow Trust A Trader on Facebook or Twitter; next week we will look at the different types of cladding available.