Do you ever think of the difference between cladding and facade? These terms are sometimes used instead of each other, but they are, in fact, two different parts of the building.
Both façade and cladding work together in the general correlate of the building and its appearance. They do not only serve as barriers for external influential agents but also provide some aesthetic value to the structure.
Hence, architects, designers, and builders should have a clear understanding of the differences between cladding and facades in order for all construction projects to be successful.
Now, in this article, let’s discuss the significant difference between cladding and facade.
What is Cladding?
Cladding can be described as the outer envelope or skin of a building or any structure. It is a coating put on the outer exterior of a building to give it a protective cover from weather factors, temperature control, and elegance.
Cladding comprises a diverse list of materials, including metal, wood cladding, stone, brick, aluminum composite material and glass.
The type of material to be used in cladding is always influenced by:
- The design concept
- Climate of the area
- Functionality of the building
It can also offer extra acoustic functionality and energy to a structure.
However, improper fixing of the cladding material may result in problems including:
- Moisture penetration
- Growth of fungus and mold
- Deterioration of structure
What is a Facade?
A facade is the exterior front of a building that is usually made in such a way that it will produce a favorable first impression.
It may meaningfully embrace any of the following parts of the construction of architecture, including the window or door, columns, or even an artistic feature that is in an organized formation on a building.
The aluminum panel facade can be different in form based on the period of construction and the location of the building.
Differences between Cladding and Facade
Anyone who is involved in the design process as an architect or wants to build should be clearly aware of the difference between cladding and facade. In the following, we examine the four main differences:
Functionality
- Facade: It is fit to give a construction appearance, as well as specific aspects of the planning. It has a grand responsibility to regulate the nature of the organismic relationship of the building with the exterior world.
- Cladding: Other factors that cladding protects the building against include weather elements, moisture, and pestilence. It is also used in construction as an insulator and a crusade champion for the conservation of energy.
Material Composition
- Facade: Building materials in facade design can include stone, aluminum, metal, glass and concrete. Other forms of composite material are also available and consist of two or more forms of composite material for specific applications. Choosing the construction materials for a facade depends on the type of facade that one wants to have.
- Cladding: It mainly uses certain products such as wood, metal, vinyl cladding, stone or ACM cladding, and all are product types for cladding because of their resilience and appearance. It is, in fact, part of this list of materials that might be adapted into the facade.
Design Considerations
- Facade: Physical environmental conditions of the building site must also be considered before one start designing a façade. Climate factors, in particular, which include solar exposure, temperature, precipitation, and wind, should also be appropriately addressed in facade design.
- Cladding: In fact, choosing what sort of material to use in cladding can be more often determined by the characteristics of the material, including how hard it is to clean, how expensive it is, and how well it holds up to the elements.
Application
- Facade: The term relates to the entire exterior of a building on all sides; however, this term is commonly used to refer to the front-facing side of the building only.
- Cladding: Such cladding can be used on any surface of the outer façade of the building as well as the rest of the exterior structure. For this purpose, it can be applied as interior wall cladding, roofs, and other surfaces to give added protection and beauty.
Cladding and Facade Systems in Canada
As we have seen, the change within the facade industry is raising questions for specifiers about where to turn.
Wiedehopf are consultants, estimators, and suppliers of some of the most elaborate modern cladding and facade construction systems.
They can remove the confusion and make the process straightforward for you, advising and liaising with manufacturers and fabricators in order to have specification, cost, and design all at your fingertips.
