We put a lot of thought into the homes we build. We envision a place of cosiness, safety, and family. A lot of this depends on what your home looks like as you come home from a long day at work. That’s where the cladding of your house comes into play. What exterior cladding represents is akin to what skin is to our body. It is the first layer of protection and has a lot of functions in addition to satisfying aesthetic vision. Houses now are modern, natural, and sometimes a mix to give your family a functional and dependable home. So, what is going to fit your vision? -Bricked and rugged or timber and sleek?
Brick Cladding
Brick is not just a wide red rectangle anymore. Brickmaking has evolved that you get to choose between colours, textures, sizes, and shapes to fit into your house’s style. The cost-effectiveness of bricks comes from its ease of maintenance, viability, and availability all over Australia. The innate character of bricks to absorb and release heat slowly makes them good thermal insulators, and in addition, their moisture lock keeps homes safe from weather elements. The brick cladding has traditionally been used to give visually pleasing appearances to homes which contribute to consistently high resale values. The addition of acoustic insulation and energy savings it comes with makes it a clear winner for areas that don’t have loose soil.
Timber Cladding
Timber cladding brings nature into our homes with its cooling and stress-relieving qualities. It is extremely weather-resistant and can last up to 60 years. That’s a whopping long time which negates the 5% higher cost of it in comparison with brick. While weather elements will change the appearance of timber over time, you will find that the fade and chips lend character to the house rather than depreciating its value. Timber is suited for all areas, and there are multiple ways timber can be styled or treated to create contemporary houses with clean lines. What should be kept in mind is the location from where your timber is coming from-is it legally and appropriately sourced- and whether it has been treated against rot, fungal decay, and termites.
Do you even have to choose?
While both of these are incredibly sustainable options, the passage of time has told us that brick industries are not as carbon efficient as the timber industry is. Recently, we have seen a lot of work being done by mixing the two up. In conversation with your architect and builder explore if there are ways to have brick outside and timber inside or vice versa to get your energy, heat, and sustainable needs satisfied. Whatever you choose to do, you don’t have to compromise on the looks of your house, as both these exterior cladding options contain a plethora of customisations, colours, and textures that you can choose from. A good collaborative plan, a well-thought-out budget, a planning council permit with a little bit of sage advice from our end can make your dream home, a house ready for the future.
