Weatherproof your home with uPVC Cladding
Each home needs to be repaired, especially after bad weather. To make the home habitable, prevent damage, enhance its beauty, and sell it, one must repair it. The best method for a quick makeover is to use cladding on the exterior walls. Cladding can be used as an extra covering for plaster or bricks, which are prone to damage due to weather conditions such as rain or snowfall. These building materials can be protected from damage by cladding boards. uPVC cladding, also called rigid cladding, is a popular building material in the UK and the US. It has almost become a standard in the construction sector over other components, such as metal, wooden or brick cladding, that were traditionally used. Read more now on https://www.a1-cladding.co.uk/
Advantages of uPVC Cladding
uPVC cladding has many advantages over other cladding options on the market.
Unplasticised Poly Vinyl Chloride (uPVC) is a premium quality building material extracted through a slow manufacturing process to produce durable plastic boards. uPVC cladding is made up of dense plastic components and can be used for many years without major repairs.
uPVC cladding is thermally insulated. Unlike metal or wooden cladding, a uPVC cladding helps to preserve heat in the room. Thus, it saves energy bills for cooling or heating the room.
It is lightweight so it is easy to move and doesn't add much weight to your building. Using uPVC cladding on the exterior of a building is possible without putting too much pressure on the foundation. While using wooden, concrete or metal cladding, one has to check the load threshold of the foundation to eliminate possible collapse.
uPVC cladding is soundproofing. The property of soundproofing depends on the density of the uPVC material. Higher density means better protection against external noise. Due to this property, it is an ideal building material for hospitals, libraries, museums and schools.
It has impact-resistance properties. Consequently, uPVC cladding is able to withstand strong winds and heavy rains without causing any damage. While buying uPVC building material, look for impact resistance options.
Contrary to popular belief, uPVC cladding does not act as a fire catalyst. It has a high combustion temperature which inhibits the spread of fire to other areas for a longer period than normal plastic products. It does not cause the formation of fire dropslets during burning. High quality uPVC building materials have high levels of chlorine, which acts as a fire retardant.
How do you install uPVC Cladding?
Installing uPVC cladding is very simple and can be done without hiring experts. There are two types of plastic cladding available in the market - shiplap cladding and V joint cladding. Both types are made from the same raw material, and both have similar properties. Only the final product's shape and form is different. The installation process involves fixing the first layer of the cladding to a wooden frame on the wall by nailing them. Then, cover it with a top layer to achieve high quality finished surfaces. However, if you want to install cladding on a large area, it is better to call in experts. They have years of experience and can fit different pieces of cladding together to create a perfect fit. It is impossible to enjoy its thermal insulation and soundproofing properties without proper installation.
Look for industry standards that the British Board of Agrement (BBA) recommends before you buy uPVC cladding in Britain. Look for reputable uPVC producers approved by the BBA. CSTB (French Scientific and Technical Centre for Building), also certifies uPVC fascias and soffits. Ensure that the product carries the BSI kitemark to make an informed and safe decision.