What Is Concrete Cladding?

Cladding is known as the exterior-most layer of material present on houses and buildings. It is typically used to protect buildings from the elements of nature and add aesthetic value to the surface. Cladding comes in various forms and is made of multiple materials, like metal cladding, stone cladding, wood cladding, concrete cladding, and bricks cladding.

One of the types of cladding is concrete cladding that can be fixed on either a building's exterior or interior. As the name suggests, it is made of concrete pre-formed via moulding or exterior decorative mouldings (known as precast concrete wall panels) into the required panel shapes or tiles. 

The concrete is grey if no addition of colouring agents is done; however, by adding various colourants, different coloured concrete cladding wall panels can be made. Moreover, the concrete can also be painted if desired. One of the best quality of concrete wall panels is that it is resistant to moisture, rust, and pests (like termites). 

Concrete Cladding And Its Advantages

Here are some of the advantages of concrete cladding that make it different and better than other wall panels. 

Cost-Effective

When selecting a cladding, the first thing that is considered is its cost. The most significant advantage of using concrete cladding boards either on the interior or exterior of a building is that their installation is very inexpensive. 

Concrete itself is a reasonably cost-effective building material to use on any surface. It provides long-lasting results while being cheaper than other panels like Timber cladding, Glass cladding, UPVC Cladding. 

The cost-effectiveness of these panels is the primary reason why they have lately gained so much popularity. Furthermore, it is also worth noting that concrete cladding boards can provide potential tax advantages due to the Annual Investment Allowances (AIA) legislation. 

Performance And Durability

In addition to the low cost of concrete wall panels, another potential reason for the popularity of concrete cladding is that they provide unbeatable protection against erosion due to weather. 

Concrete cladding boards strengthened by the right eaves and soffits can withstand wet and cold weather and provide year-round peace of mind that the building is well protected. 

Rust, Termites, And Fire Resistant

Not only are concrete wall panels extremely durable against adverse weather conditions, but they are also resistant to termites, rust, and fire, which is the fundamental priority for any owner of a building. 

High-Performance Insulation

In addition to them being highly termite, fire, and rust-resistant, architectural concrete panels weather extreme cold and have exceptional insulation properties. This helps keep the temperature of the room at an optimum level regardless of the weather. 

Low Upkeep And Maintenance

Cladding & facades require minimal maintenance, and once installed, they don't need constant upkeep and looking after. The only required maintenance associated with concrete cladding boards is regular cleaning or improving the aesthetic appeal by repainting the panels. 

Types Of Precast Concrete Wall Panels

There are three basic types of precast concrete cladding panels;

Spandrel Cladding Panels

Spandrel panels are similar in features to the cladding panels; however, they have a beam incorporated. This gives them higher performance from cladding concrete panels than a typical building enclosure. 

Concrete panels can be made in multiple sizes and shapes, though they are chiefly storey-height covering floors or spandrel concrete panels that form a sill wall beneath the windows. Furthermore, spandrel cladding panels are also one of the load-bearing panels. 

Load Bearing Concrete Cladding Panel

Load-bearing panels are formed when the building engineer decides that using them will structurally provide the most economical solution. In cases like these, the panels are detailed and designed entirely by the engineer. 

The pre-cladding casting manufacturer checks all the handling aspects, and if required, they modify the reinforcements accordingly. Loads from the structure and the floor are all supported by load-bearing concrete cladding. 

Non-Load Bearing Concrete Cladding Panel

Unlike the load-bearing panels, the non-load-bearing concrete cladding panels have to be designed along with fitting for withstanding the appropriate wind forces. The concrete panels are either bottom-supported or top-hung from the structure of the building; however, it must be noted that both these methods must never be used together on the same panel. 

Concrete Cladding Installation

Installing concrete cladding is a relatively simple and easy process;

• Level the wall first
• To remove all the loose elements, sand the wall
• If a primer is required, then apply it
• The base must be firm; it can be verified via a sharp tool
• Define the installation way by the required aesthetic
• Start installing the panels from the bottom up
• The adhesive must be applied according to the manufacturer's recommendation
• When installing the panels, apply pressure until the initial grab
• If required, use T-screw on the joint of the panels for fixation. Once the adhesive dries, remove the screws
• The panel joints can be butted, filled with flexible tile grout, left with shadow gaps, or flashing penetrations can be used 
• Finally, seal the panels with any water-based sealer like acrylic wax or POLIFAN PU K12

Maintenance

The designed building's service life can be guaranteed by following a simple maintenance and inspection program of composite cladding and precast concrete cladding. 

To ensure the continual performance of the wall and system and to maintain the warranty, visual inspections must be carried out at regular intervals. In addition, experts recommend regular annual inspections to enhance the longevity of fibre cement cladding. 

Furthermore, critical attention must be paid to surface appearance, caulked joints, glazed façade systems, and connections. Any deterioration should be documented at once and for safety concerns, send a copy of the written report to the manufacturer. Façade screens, fibre reinforced concrete, and render plaster systems usually have a warranty period provided by the manufacturer, so contact them for the remedy. 

The best way to maintain green facades, glass-reinforced concrete, and concrete cladding is an annual inspection program after the warranty period to optimize the structure's life. 

ArchiPro is home to green facades, glass cladding, and multiple types of concrete cladding. So head on there and find the perfect choice for your home or office.

If you need assistance to find the right concrete cladding for your home or office, ArchiPro provides a connection to the various professionals, ready to assist with all requirements and questions. Simply click "Contact supplier" on the product's page, or visit the supplier's website directly from the product's page.