Metal Cladding 101: All Your Frequently Asked Questions, Answered

The Industrial Revolution of the late-18th century ushered in a change in how metals got used in construction.

Metals were once used mainly for fabricating small things like hardware and railings. However, with the advancement of technology, metal soon found its way to structural roles such as wall metal cladding.

One of the popular ways to use metal these days is in the application of metal cladding.

In the mid-1930s, aluminum entered the arena of architecture. But it wasn’t until after World War II that it exploded in popularity. Some of its most common uses today are for aluminum metal cladding of residential and commercial buildings.

In this article, we’ll go over the uses of metal cladding and also some of the most frequently asked questions.

What Is Metal Cladding? Metal Cladding Definition

There are multiple types of siding for a building to have. Metal cladding is one of those.

Cladding is the application of one material over another to provide a skin or layer. In construction, cladding is used to provide a degree of thermal insulation and weather resistance, and to improve the appearance of buildings. Wikipedia. Exterior cladding is what is used as a protective outer covering on structures. It can include things like walls, windows, doors, and trim.

Advantages of Metal Cladding/Siding

Besides a roof, a home or business’s wall siding is an important decision.

Metal cladding/siding is beneficial to a building for several reasons:

To update and improve the appearance;
Reduce the need for maintenance;
Protect the structure, and;
Provide insulation.

Now, metal cladding also helps a building to be eco-efficient. Most are now long-lasting, low maintenance, and recyclable. In our age of reducing waste and preventing harm to the environment, whether a resource can be reused is an important consideration.

How Much Does Metal Cladding Cost?

There are a variety of factors that will affect how much a metal cladding side will cost you.

The price you pay depends upon the choice of metal material, the difficulty involved for installation, and the location of the building being worked on. In general, the average range to install metal cladding as siding is between $18.00 and $45.00 per square foot.

What Are the Different Types of Metals Used for Metal Cladding?

There are numerous types of materials to choose from for metal cladding.

Each type of metal has its strengths and weaknesses. Some of the factors that will influence your choice are the aesthetic you want, what your climate conditions are, and your budget.

The following are some of the most common materials used in metal cladding:

Stainless Steel Panels Cladding

Steel Cladding that has an outer layer of chromium oxide is referred to as stainless steel Cladding. Because of the chromium, the metal is resistant to rusting. Stainless steel is a popular choice for its polished finish.

Stainless Steel Cladding Benefits:

Steel maintains its color and finishes well.
Steel siding has a longer life expectancy than other types of metal panels.
This type of metal is dent-resistant.

Stainless Steel Cladding Drawbacks:

Though steel is coated with a rust-resistant finish, if you live in a coastal area, it will rust no matter what.
This type of siding is expensive.

Aluminum Composite Panels Cladding- ACM Panels

This type of metal siding has a natural resistance to rusting. That makes aluminum composite panel a popular choice for cladding in modern homes and businesses.

Aluminum Panel Cladding Benefits:

Aluminum siding is a cheaper alternative than other types of metal.
it is more malleable and cheaper to manufacture and install
it has a lot of variety in colors and textures vs stainless steel and other metals

Aluminum Panel Cladding Drawbacks:

Aluminum’s finish fades or turns chalky over time.
This metal is softer than other types and prone to dents and scratches.

Galvanized Steel Panel Cladding

This metal is coated in a layer of zinc. This helps to prevent rusting in the same way that chromium does on stainless steel.

Galvanized Steel Panel Benefits:

Galvanized steel has a unique mottled aesthetic known as “spangle”.

Galvanized Steel Panel Drawbacks:

If you live in a coastal setting, galvanized steel will eventually fall prey to rust.

Titanium Panel Cladding

This metal is popular among architects for its lightweight strength and reflective surface. It’s been used in many modern residential and commercial buildings.

Titanium Panel Cladding Benefits:

Titanium develops a protective oxide on the surface over time; this helps with resistance to corrosion.

Titanium Panel Cladding Drawbacks:

This type of siding requires more maintenance. If it’s not cleaned properly, it can stain brown.

Zinc Panel Cladding

Another popular choice in siding, zinc is both affordable and resistant to rust.

Zinc Panel Cladding Benefits:

Zinc is weatherproof.
This type of siding has some self-healing, where if scratched it can eventually remove it.

Zinc Panel Cladding Drawbacks:

This type of metal siding can be expensive.

Copper Panel Cladding

This metal is remarkably lightweight and durable. As with most of the other cladding options, copper is also recyclable. Copper cladding is extremely corrosion-resistant, enduring in salty conditions and areas with a great deal of acid rain

Copper Panel Cladding Benefits:

This is a cheaper alternative for metal cladding siding.

Copper Panel Cladding Drawbacks:

Its surface turns a greenish color over time.

The Overall Performance Benefits of Metal Cladding

Metal is great as a cladding material because of its resiliency.

Modern Wall Metal cladding can help enable a structure to last for decades with little to no maintenance. However, some types of metal choices are softer, such as aluminum.

All metals are fire-resistant. This makes metal cladding as a siding an enhanced safety feature for any structure. Even if a home is struck by lightning or exposed to wildfires, it will remain sturdy.

Unlike most other siding materials, metal cladding is environmentally friendly. Metal is reusable and recyclable, making it a perfect choice for anyone green-conscientious.

Choose Metal Cladding for Your Next Project

Metal cladding is a great cost-efficient, eco-friendly choice for your new home or business building development or to resurface and refinish your current one without structural changes.

There are a variety of benefits to choosing metal cladding for exterior paneling. Perhaps the strength metal cladding holds is that it’s environmentally friendly though. Pollution is an increasingly pressing concern and with metal being 100% recyclable, that makes it a smart choice.

With an improvement in technique and technology, metal cladding even comes in a variety of appearances. It is now possible to get metal cladding that is meant to appear similar to wood. This makes it a great option for a homeowner who wants their home to have wood paneling, without the threat of termite infestations, cracking in the cold or fire.

If you live in the Toronto, GTA or Ontario region and would like metal cladding done for your residential or commercial building, CLADCAN can help. We have a full stack team of architects, carpenters, Installers, skilled tradesmen and in-house manufacturing facilities to ensure a quality Cladding production and installation for any project size.

Metal Cladding 101: All Your Frequently Asked Questions, Answered