If you want to transform a building from mundane to extraordinary, aluminium cladding is the solution. It has excellent sustainability and durability credentials that make it easy for architects to work with. Walking across many streets in the United Kingdom, one cannot help but see the many faces of aluminium cladding at play.
To give you some background, the first known use of aluminium cladding dates to 1897 where aluminium sheets were used to clad buildings mostly churches. In 1962, the use of rainscreen cladding began and ever since, aluminium has become the cladding material of choice for customers, contractors and architects in varying measures. The following are some of the reasons behind the popularity of aluminium cladding in the UK and around the world.
Versatility for Innovative Designs
If you want to create a Corten effect or apply a decorative mesh to veil your building, aluminium cladding can deliver much more than silver panels. The beauty with these panels is that they are built from extruded billets of aluminium, a process that allows for a variety of designs and profiles such as corrugated, flat, and smooth wave panels.
In addition to extruded panels, you can also opt for perforated or expanded mesh to create a completely bespoke roofing installation.
Durability and Lightweight
Aluminium roofing gives you more than just the beauty. Its lightweight means that your building won’t be burdened with a roofing load it can hardly support. You can even fit the aluminium cladding on a timber-framed build, thanks to its lightweight.
Durability of the cladding assures you of value for money. Evidence of buildings that have aluminium window frames fitted over 70 years ago reveal just how durable aluminium is. Maintenance is not as tasking; you will only need to do occasional cleaning.
Building Sustainability
Whether you live in a new or old building, energy-efficiency is necessary. Aluminium cladding helps with insulation, giving you a dependable thermal layer over your building. Buildings fitted with aluminium cladding have reported improved energy performance on the respective building energy labelling systems.
Aluminium can be recycled into other products thus creating a sustainable environment. Research indicate that 75% of all aluminium produced to date is still being used in recycled objects. Architectural aluminium boasts of recycling rates of between 92% and 98%.
Safety and Low Maintenance
Other than the normal periodic cleaning of aluminium cladding for aesthetic reasons, there is no demand for expensive maintenance. This scores on two fronts; ecological advantage and cost savings throughout the product lifetime. Under the European Fire Class A1, aluminium is recognized and classified as non-combustible material.
Building Transformation
The myriad of design options aluminium cladding offers enables architects to come up with new build projects that match their respective artistic impressions. Those looking at revitalizing old buildings have an opportunity in aluminium cladding to do so. Neither strengthening nor changing the current building structure is required when using aluminium cladding for the simple reason that it is lightweight in nature. When installing this material, building contractors take a very short time which gives building owners cost advantages on hours saved.
The increasing demand and constant push by clients to have building contractors and architects create bespoke and inventive buildings, makes aluminium cladding a go to building material. With constant research and development, the possibilities of aluminium cladding can only be limited by our imagination.
