Natural Stone Exterior Cladding
Protect your structures from the elements with natural stone cladding
Whether you are looking to choose completely new exterior cladding for your commercial building or to repair damage to your existing cladding, it can significantly impact its aesthetics and value. We can assist you in all stages of your project and recommend the best-suited contractors to repair or replace the cladding of your commercial building.
It’s important to prevent further water infiltration damage at the first signs of deterioration. Waiting could cost you more in the aftermath of repairing water damage, such as decontaminating mold, rebuilding structures, etc. Repairing or replacing the exterior cladding helps to protect your building and ensure its durability.
Therefore, it is recommended that you seek the assistance of a specialized exterior cladding contractor before major damage is caused to the thermal protection membrane or structural materials of your building.
Make your building as unique as you and your business
You’ll find various exterior siding solutions on the market, and your choice may become more complex than expected. How can you properly evaluate the advantages and disadvantages of each material?
The best option may differ for each building depending on your budget, the desired look, the association with the brand you want to convey with a selection of colors, for example, and much more.
Nevertheless, it’s wise to prioritize your choice of commercial cladding based on the protection it offers to your building’s thermal envelope.
The Pros And Cons Of Natural Stone Cladding
Every building material has advantages and disadvantages, depending on your application. Here, we look at some of the pros and cons of natural stone to help you decide if it’s suitable for your project.
THE PROS
- The natural, unrivaled beauty of real stone
- It’s extreme durability and long lifespan
- The extensive range of stone types, colors, and formats
- Complimentary to other materials such as concrete and timber
- Offers various finish options to suit applications
- It provides a high level of insulation
- It can be used for a variety of applications, indoors or out
- It has weather resistance and is fire resistant
- It can be scratch and abrasion-resistant
- May increase the value of your home
- Easy to maintain long-term
THE CONS
- Requires a structural substrate
- It can be labor-intensive and time-consuming to install
- A more expensive material than some cladding products, similar to real wood
- It needs to be sealed for protection
- The use of strong cleaning products may damage the surface
- It can trap moisture behind the material if poorly installed
- Best installed by a professional rather than a DIY project
Stone cladding refers to materials attached to buildings to form an external surface, often used to increase aesthetics and provide a protective layer. Cladding is often used to enhance the structural integrity of buildings by transferring wind loads, rain, or snow to better balance the impact throughout the entire structure’s framework.
Properly installed and designed exterior cladding is also adept at improving energy efficiency by reducing interior cold/warm air leakage. Claddings are often seen as panels attached to the exterior of structures.
Ensure a professional implements your cladding system as a poorly designed and implemented solution, which can lead to safety hazards such as cladding collapses or stacked stone panels pulling away from the structure.
Natural stone exterior cladding protects your structure from various elements that commonly damage building structures. The most common element that affects buildings is water, and it is also the most difficult element to protect against.
Cladding provides excellent protection by repelling moisture via various techniques and materials, including membranes, sealants, siding, and weather stripping. Varying temperatures are also a well-known hazard to structure integrity.
Cladding protects from extreme temperatures by creating thermal gaps that prevent the external temperature from permeating the interior.
Another element that impacts your buildings is wind. Securely fastened to the exterior to limit movement, natural stone exterior cladding protects your structure against high winds like hurricanes or tornadoes.
Finally, the sun is one of the most harmful elements to structures. Its ultraviolet rays and heat can greatly deteriorate structures without a protective layer, such as natural stone cladding.
Failing building materials affected by the sun can easily provide moisture and temperature pathways into the interior of a structure. Stone cladding is the best way to protect your structures from the sun, as plastic or wood cladding can degrade quickly from exposure.
As you can see, stone cladding has both advantages and disadvantages. The two main advantages driving people to choose natural stone cladding are its aesthetics and durability. Each piece has its unique textures, color tones, and imperfections, making no two stone feature walls the same. A quality natural stone wall will weather well and last many years.
For some, the main disadvantage of the stone is its heavy nature, which demands a structural substrate and, in some cases, additional fixtures. Constructing a structural wall for the cladding to adhere to may be impossible in every situation. This can also increase the cost and the installation time.
It is best to seek advice before choosing your materials, like natural stone veneer or natural wood. With the help of experts, it will be easier for you to make an informed and justified choice and arrive at the optimal solution that meets your criteria.
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