If you are renovating your home or building something new, then one thing you will want to be sure of is that your property is properly protected from the elements. One of the most effective ways of protecting your home while ensuring that it is great to live in is to use cladding. Fitting cladding or siding can also help to reduce your energy bills while keeping your home looking great.
Should you use brick or fibre cement cladding?
If you want to fit cladding on your property, then you could opt for several materials, including brick cladding or fibre cement cladding. While brick cladding may appear to be the more traditional option, it does come with distinct disadvantages. Fibre cement cladding, like other James Hardie products made from the same material, is both lightweight and less obtrusive than brick. If you were to add a brick veneer to your home, you would add at least 160mm to the thickness of the wall. By contrast, fibre cement cladding doesn't add much at all and therefore consumes much less of your valuable floor space. The weight of brick cladding means that it requires a special slab edge to sit on to permit an air cavity. Fibre cement cladding does not need this cavity and is therefore easier to fit and maintain. Cladding from the range of James Hardie products only needs to hang from the frame, which provides the necessary bracing.
How does fibre cement cladding look?
While some people prefer a brick veneer because of a supposedly authentic appearance, the truth is that you can achieve almost any effect you desire using James Hardie products. Fibre cement can present a range of textures and appearances to create either a modern or traditional style for your home. Whether you want to give the appearance of timber or horizontal or vertical lines, they can all be created without resorting to heavy cladding materials.
Are there any other reasons to choose fibre cement cladding?
With any home, you will want to ensure that the materials you use are long-lasting and durable. Fibre cement resists fire and is classified as a non-combustible material, meaning it helps to protect your family should a blaze get started accidentally. Fibre cement is also unlikely to be damaged by moisture, rot or even termites, meaning that you can be confident that when you include it in your home, you won't need to replace it for a long while and you can get on with enjoying your property.