STRUCTURAL COMPONENTS BUILDING ENVELOPE


against the home’s brick exterior and the greenery of the garden. Vertical cladding in a bold colour such as red or yellow can also be a creative choice for a garden room. Another approach is to ‘mix and match’ by using horizontal cladding on the main walls and vertical cladding on areas such as the entrance or gables to add texture and contrast.


WEATHER PROOF, EASY TO INSTALL & BUDGET FRIENDLY?


While both orientations will completely protect your home from water ingress,


they require different installation methods. Horizontal sidings are typically installed from bottom to top, with each next weatherboard covering the top of the plank underneath it, creating a cascade system to keep the rain away from the facade. With a vertical installation, the weatherboards are lined up vertically next to each other, covering the facade. To ensure the fl ow of air the vertical battens need to be installed fi rst, then horiontal battens installed on top to which the vertical sidings are then attached. There is also a difference in how the


two arrangements of cladding handle water. Because the vertical design leaves fewer joints where the water can infi ltrate when it runs down the facade, it can be seen as more effective for a rainy location. This is heavily preferred in areas with continuous, driving rain. With horizontal cladding water can sit on the overlaps of horizontal cladding. However, if installed properly, this shouldn’t be an issue. A ventilated rainscreen cladding system is applicable whether the cladding is installed vertically or horizontally. It’s important to have a 30mm ventilation gap behind the boards. This airfl ow allows any trapped condensation to dry rapidly, protecting the primary wall from damp.


Horizontal cladding is generally quicker and easier to install, needing just a single-battening system while vertical cladding requires a double-battening system which can increase complexity and cost. While horizontal cladding may be less expensive, in particular because of the labour, a facade of vertical cladding remains an affordable option, especially when taking into account the lifespan and maintenance costs of the material of the weatherboards.


Lisa Grosse is brand manager at Cedral


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