Exterior Cladding in Mildenhall - Materials, Options and Honest Pros and Cons

Expert Exterior Cladding
in Mildenhall

Why Exterior Cladding Is Worth Considering

Exterior cladding gives your walls a layer of protection that bare render or ageing brickwork simply cannot match. It keeps rain and frost off the wall structure, reduces heat loss and can transform the appearance of a house that has become tired-looking. We fit cladding on homes and commercial properties in Mildenhall, Newmarket, Soham and the surrounding villages.

The question most homeowners arrive at fairly quickly is: which material should I choose? The answer depends on your wall type, your budget, how much maintenance you are willing to do and how long you want the system to last. Below is an honest account of the three main options we work with.

Timber Cladding - Natural Look, Higher Maintenance

Timber is the traditional choice and it looks excellent on the right house. Properly fitted and regularly maintained, timber cladding performs well and lasts for many years. The types most commonly used are featheredge, shiplap and rebated boards, usually in softwood such as Scots pine or larch, or in hardwoods such as western red cedar.

Pros:

• Warm, natural appearance that suits older and rural properties well.
• Easy to repair - individual boards can be replaced without disturbing the rest.
• Widely available and straightforward to work with on site.
• Can be painted or stained to any colour.

Cons:

• Needs painting or treating every three to five years to prevent rot and splitting.
• Susceptible to insect damage if the wood is not properly treated at installation.
• Moisture absorption causes swelling, shrinking and eventually joint failure if maintenance is neglected.
• Not suitable where ventilation behind the boards is poor, as it will deteriorate quickly.

Timber is a good choice if you are happy to maintain it and you want a finish that looks in keeping with older properties. If you skip the maintenance, the problems compound quickly.

Composite Cladding - Low Maintenance, Longer Life

Composite cladding boards are typically made from a mix of wood fibre and a polymer binder. The result looks similar to timber but behaves very differently. They do not rot, they do not need painting and they do not swell or shrink in the same way timber does.

Pros:

• Very low maintenance - occasional cleaning is all that is normally required.
• Colour is stable over time and does not fade as quickly as painted timber.
• Resistant to rot, insect damage and the effects of repeated wetting and drying.
• Available in a range of profiles and colours to suit different house styles.

Cons:

• Higher upfront cost than softwood timber.
• The range of profiles and textures is narrower than timber, which can be machined to almost any shape.
• Quality varies significantly between manufacturers - cheaper boards can fade, blister or delaminate over time. It pays to ask about the product specification before agreeing a price.
• Cannot be painted if you change your mind about colour later - you would need to replace the boards.

Composite is a sensible choice for homeowners who want a result that looks after itself. It is particularly popular on extensions and on properties where access for repainting would be difficult or costly.

Fibre Cement Cladding - Durable and Versatile

Fibre cement boards are made from cement reinforced with cellulose fibres. They are heavy, very durable and completely resistant to rot and insect attack. Many manufacturers produce boards that convincingly replicate the look of timber or render.

Pros:

• Exceptionally durable - fibre cement boards typically remain in good condition for thirty years or more.
• No rot, no warping, no swelling.
• Can be pre-painted or painted on site and is receptive to painting again later if you want a colour change.
• Very good fire resistance compared to timber or composite.
• Suited to modern and traditional properties alike.

Cons:

• Heavy - the supporting structure and fixings must be designed for the extra weight.
• Boards must be cut carefully; they produce silica dust when cut dry, so a contractor who does not use wet-cut methods or dust extraction is cutting corners and creating a health risk.
• More brittle than timber or composite under impact - a sharp blow can crack a board.
• Higher material cost than standard softwood timber.

Fibre cement suits homeowners who want the lowest possible long-term maintenance burden and are willing to pay more upfront for it. It is also a strong option where fire performance is a consideration.

Insulation - Should You Add It at the Same Time?

When you are stripping the wall back to fit new cladding, it is worth seriously considering adding rigid insulation board to the wall at the same stage. The battens that create the ventilated cavity can be deepened to accommodate the insulation without a significant change to the build-up, and the cost of adding insulation at this point is far lower than coming back to do it separately. Older properties in particular can see a meaningful reduction in heat loss through better-insulated external walls.

What to Ask Before You Agree to Any Work

Regardless of which material you choose, the quality of the installation matters as much as the product itself. Before agreeing to any cladding work, ask the contractor these questions:

• Will you fit a breather membrane behind the boards?
• How will ventilation be provided at the top and bottom of the cladded area?
• What fixing length and centres are you using?
• How will you handle the junctions at windows, doors and corners?
• Will the wall behind be inspected for damp or damage before you close it up?

A contractor who can answer these questions clearly and without hesitation is one who understands the work properly. One who brushes them aside is one to approach carefully.

Talk to Us About Your Mildenhall Property

We work on homes in Mildenhall and across the area including Newmarket, Ely, Bury St Edmunds and Kentford. If you are weighing up cladding options and want a straight conversation about what suits your property, call Newmarket Roofers and we will come out to take a look and discuss what makes sense for your situation.