CL ADDING & EXTERNAL FINISHES
From design to costs, durability and more, here's your no-nonsense guide to finding the best material for your home's exterior
NeoTimber is a composite cladding, made of 95% recycled material, including reclaimed wood. It is low maintenance, durable, and has a built in, longlasting colour (
neotimber.com)
Thanks to the sheer variety of cladding and exterior finishing materials on the market, planning allowing, most self builders can achieve any style they want. You can select something that reflects your property’s inner fabric, or you can totally conceal what it's constructed from.
The various cladding options can elevate your home's architecture and represent your own personal design preferences. For example, you could create a crisp and contemporary look with sleek render or slim timber boards, which will weather to perfection. If you want to add character and classic texture, there are masonry and stone options that can provide real depth and interest. Or for something unique, metal systems should be on your shortlist. If you're aiming to make a distinction between different areas of your self build, you have the freedom to mix and match, combining various materials to add greater visual impact and interest.
Aesthetics aside, external finishes serve a practical purpose, too, so it’s crucial to specify something that can withstand the elements, is durable and offers maintenance levels that are realistic for you. And, of course, a big factor is cost. There are options to suit every budget, but some materials will of course command a higher price than others. Timbers and renders can cost from £10-£25 per m2, while natural stone is likely to be in the region of £70+ per m 2. We've focused on material supply-only prices here, but you'll also need to account for labour and fittings, plus ongoing upkeep costs. Read on for more detail on the most popular exterior cladding options.