Blonde Timber and Metal Cladding

Blonde Timber and Metal Cladding

Cladding is used in construction to cover building materials with an additional layer to provide a degree of thermal insulation and weather resistance, and also to improve the appearance and aesthetic appeal of buildings. Whilst a variety of materials can be used for cladding, including plastic and stone, whether real or imitation, two of the most popular options are timber and metal. Each has their own properties and qualities which make them suitable for cladding, whilst a particularly arresting combination of the two is when blonde timber is used in conjunction with dark metal cladding. But why do they work so well together?

Protection

One of the major advantages that metal cladding panels, which generally are formed from aluminium or steel, confer is that they help protect buildings, particularly for constructions which are subject to adverse weather conditions like wind, rain, and storms. It also enhances the mechanical stability of a structure, and helps protect it against factors which can undermine its structural integrity and aesthetics, such as temperature, sunlight, air pollution, and water absorption. Using metal cladding such as anodised aluminium gives improved surface resistance to general wear and tear.

Timber also can be strong and durable, able to withstand the most extreme elements.

Sustainability

Home owners and consumers are increasingly environmentally conscious – and they want the buildings that they live in to reflect those values as well. Using timber for external cladding meets those needs because it is a 100% renewable resource, with a low carbon footprint. However, it does not have the same durability factor as metal cladding, so a hybrid solution helps meet environmental concerns whilst taking care of durability as well.

And metal cladding can be environmentally friendly as well, because the metal that goes into most panels is made of recycled materials, which reduces the amount of materials that go to landfill. And, when they have finished their useful life as cladding, then be recycled again, which is good for the environment.

Non-Combustible

Whilst timber cladding can be visually captivating, and is a popular choice for both homeowners, and architects, one drawback with using wood on the outside of a building is that it is not fire resistant. That is where metal cladding comes into its own. The International Building Code stipulates that metal building materials are non-combustible. This means that they are inherently less risky to use on the outside of a structure than wood, whatever it aesthetic advantages. Integrating the two together, however, gives you the best of both worlds. An appealing outward aspect, with a durable, non-combustible core.

Light Weight

Timber is light weight, easy to install, and is both flexible and innovative in design. At the same time, metal cladding does not need to add significant weight or load to the outside of a building, especially if aluminium honeycomb cores are used. These also have the benefit of being easy to transport and fit.

Low Maintenance

In comparison to other types of cladding, metal cladding requires a minimum of repair or maintenance work. Typically metal cladding is resistance to most weather conditions, so a good clean will normally restore its visual appeal. Wood may require more upkeep, depending on where you live, and the type of weather to which your building is exposed.

Why Blonde Timber and Dark Cladding Work

The main reason that blonde timber and dark metal cladding work so well together is because of the aesthetic appeal of the light and the shade, and the contrast between the two of them. Manufacturers offer customers a variety of wood stains to meet their design requirements, whilst many prefer the beauty of the natural blonde coloured hardwood itself. There is a wide variety of blonde timbers from which to choose as well, ranging from Tasmanian Oak, Stringybark, Messmate, and Australian Whites, through to New England and Coastal Oak, Victorian Ash, and Golden Oak.

Meanwhile innovative designers and architects have integrated timber throughout homes, so that there is a flow of materials from inside to out.

At the same time, dark metal cladding not only offers a number of practical advantages, but it also has aesthetic qualities of its own. Metal cladding can have a dramatic effect on the look of a building, making it visually more appealing and adding considerable value to it. Like wood, metal cladding is available in a variety of styles, and finishes, with popular options including night sky and monument colorbond, wm zinc anthra, and aluminium anthracite, as well as powder coating.

Cladding is used for a variety of purposes, both practical and aesthetic. Whilst wood and metal can be seen as two diverse cladding options, combining the two in fact harnesses the qualities and strengths of both materials. And when blonde timer and dark cladding is used together, the resulting building can be both beautiful to look at, durable, low maintenance, and environmentally friendly.