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Vinyl Cladding Installers, Melbourne, Victoria

PVC Weatherboards Vs Timber Weatherboards

PVC Weatherboards Vs Timber Weatherboards: Which is The Best Cladding?

If you want to protect your home from the outside elements, you’ll need an effective cladding. Cladding protects homes from harsh weather, and makes sure that no water seeps into the structure.

Exterior cladding is basically like a skin for your property, it’s going to protect the interior, as well as the structure of the building. Good cladding will make your home safer, in that the structure will be protected, and the building will be much more fire resistant.

The cladding you choose can also make your home efficient and economic. For example, cladding can act as both sound and thermal insulation, saving you money on heating costs.

As well as all of its practical benefits, cladding also needs to look good. As the exterior layer of your property, it’s going to affect the view of your home from the outside. A cladding that adds aesthetic value, as well as practical value, will not only make your home safer and more structurally sound, but you’ll also be able to take more pride in your home’s appearance.

So if you choose the right cladding, you’ll reap the benefits almost immediately, but picking a material for your cladding can be a tough choice. Timber and PVC Weatherboards are two of the most popular types of cladding, and both have their advantages.

We’ve weighed up the pros and cons of PVC Weatherboards Vs Timber Weatherboards so that you can choose the cladding that’s right for you.

PVC Exterior Cladding

Vinyl cladding is becoming more and more popular, especially on modern homes, as it can have a sleeker appearance, and is known for its long lasting durability. It’s also one of the most affordable types of cladding.

But as with anything, it does have both pros and cons, so here’s the good and bad about PVC exterior cladding.

PVC WeatherboardsPros of PVC Vinyl Cladding

PVC weatherboards can make a building look more modern

Vinyl cladding is more fitting with contemporary home designs, so if you’re hoping to finish off your home with a modern exterior, vinyl cladding is the way to go.

PVC can look much sleeker and more modern than timber, which is usually preferred by those looking for a more traditional finish.

PVC comes in a variety of styles

One reason so many people love PVC cladding is that it’s so customizable. It comes in different colours, styles and patterns, so you can match it perfectly with the style of your home.

You can also modify the look of vinyl siding, by painting it a different colour, or even installing vinyl cladding that has the appearance of stone or natural wood.

PVC vinyl cladding is relatively low maintenance

PVC cladding doesn’t rot like timber does. In fact, it’s actually quite low maintenance. If you want your cladding to look as good as new, no matter how old it is, all you need to do is make sure that every 5-10 years or so, you give it a paint.

When you paint vinyl cladding, it does fade with time, so it’s important to paint all the cladding in the same time frame. Otherwise, you’ll end up with some pieces a different color than others.

But apart from periodically painting, there’s nothing else you really need to do to maintain vinyl cladding. You shouldn’t need to replace any panels for a long time after installation.

Vinyl cladding can be installed onto almost any surface

One of the reasons PVC vinyl cladding is so popular is the fact that it’s so diverse. It can be installed onto almost any surface, which means that it’s suitable for most homes.

Its versatility means it’s great for cladding walls and even ceilings of both residential and commercial properties.

PVC Weatherboards can even be installed over brick and in Victoria we install cladding over Fibro.

PVC weatherboards can be installed quickly

Whether you’re replacing weatherboards or completely re-cladding your property, PVC weatherboards can be installed quickly, so you’ll have your home protected from the outside elements in no time.

There’s no grouting, priming or painting involved in the process, so when compared to the installation of other cladding materials, PVC takes about half the time.

PVC Cladding installation is very affordable

No one wants to spend more than necessary, so you’ll be pleased to hear PVC cladding won’t break the bank. In fact, it’s budget friendly.

Because it can be cut to size, installed so easily, and easily maintained, PVC cladding is  one of the most affordable types of cladding.

The initial installation cost is very affordable, and the cost of maintaining the panels over the years is minimal.

Timber Cladding

Whilst PVC is more popular when it comes to cladding modern buildings, timber is still a popular choice, especially on older houses, as it restores the traditional appearance.

But is timber the cladding material for your home? Here are the pros and cons, so you can weigh up which is right for you, PVC or timber.

Uncoated Timber Weatherboards

Cons of Timber Cladding

Timber will rot and need replacing

The fact that timber is so biodegradable is both a blessing and a curse. Of course we all want to do our bit for the planet, but at the same time, this means your timber might just start biodegrading (rotting) before you want it to.

When timber cladding starts to rot, it becomes more brittle, meaning it won’t be as energy efficient or durable. It’s best to replace rotten timbers, but this can be a costly process.

Timber weatherboards need to be painted regularly

Painting Timber Weatherboards
Even if there’s no sign of rotting, timber cladding needs to be painted regularly, much more regularly than PVC. Without maintaining timber, it’s likely to split and lose its colour.

If timber splits, water may seep into the cracks and enter the building’s structure. The timber will also be less effective when it comes to insulating your home.

As for the loss of colour, faded timber can make your property look run down, but refreshing the paint work every now and then can keep your home’s exterior looking as good as new.

So painting is something that needs to be done for aesthetic and practical reasons – timber can be expensive, so you’ll want to extend its lifetime where possible.

But how often does this job need to be done? In short, about twice more often than with PVC. Rather than every 10 years, timber needs to be repainted every 3-5 years. And if you want the painting to be done properly, you might need to hire a professional.

There are less colour options with timber

Whilst PVC comes in a variety of colours, styles and patterns, there aren’t as many options with timber.

There are different coatings that can be applied to timber cladding, but most are similar shades, meaning there’s not as much room for variation.

The clearer shades of timber coating will also require re-painting more often, normally every two years.

Timber is a bigger fire risk than PVC

As a wooden material, timber is flammable. You can paint and seal timber cladding with products that will make it less so, but ultimately, it’s always going to be a fire risk.

As well as the personal safety risk involved with having a flammable home exterior, there’s also likely to be an increased insurance premium involved. Much like how if you have a health condition, your health insurance goes up, if your home is deemed a fire risk, your insurance will be more expensive.

Timber cladding is more expensive

Timber is a more expensive material than PVC, and takes a little longer to install and repair. This means that installation and repairs can set you back a fair bit. You’ll need to pay for the timber itself, as well as the labor costs.

There’s also the cost of painting and sealing products to consider, which you’ll need when your timber cladding is installed, and every 3-5 years thereafter.

So Which is Better, PVC Weatherboards Vs Timber Weatherboards?

To conclude PVC Weatherboards Vs Timber Weatherboards, Personally, we prefer PVC cladding to timber cladding. It’s a more affordable cladding material, which is durable enough to withstand weather conditions in most locations.

Its affordability also means that should you need any repairs carried out, it’s not going to cost you too much.

The appearance of PVC external cladding is also more synonymous with contemporary building designs, which means its more suited to a lot of buildings. There’s also the possibility to customize the appearance of PVC weatherboards, so you can tailor your cladding to your personal taste. And if you were hoping for the appearance of timber, for the price of PVC, you can always get look-alike vinyl.

Cladding is also the sort of thing people usually like to think about once, and never again (or at least not for a few years), and PVC is so low maintenance that you won’t need to think about painting it for 5-10 years. You can just sit back, relax, and let it do its job.

However, if you’re recladding an older home, and you want the cozy, traditional character that comes with timber cladding, it can be worth the added expense. But for most homes and homeowners (and their budgets, too!) PVC cladding is the way to go.

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