Create a natural look with timber cladding

If your home extension has a large, flat facade at risk of looking a bit boring, it can be broken up by changing the surface treatment.  Timber is extremely versatile with many species and profiles suitable for both traditional and modern designs. Timber cladding works well with chunky stone, brick or render walls.

Relatively knot-free species, like Canadian western red cedar, create a crisp, clean aesthetic whereas knottier oak or British larch have a more rustic look. For more contemporary cladding, consider planks with a sleeker profile, such as tongue and groove. More traditional profiles include feather-edge sawn board.

Hardwood is more durable than softwood but more expensive. Popular hardwood varieties include oak and sweet chestnut which left untreated will weather to a natural silvery grey finish. (Link to article timber cladding: which wood is best). 

Metal cladding

Metal cladding can be applied to a wall and roof – following the contours of a building. It offers a range of contemporary finishes including zinc which is mainly in dark grey and works particularly well with brick. Corten steel weathers to an orange, rusty patina. Copper alloys can be treated to give an appearance of burnished gold or bronze to make a bold statement.

Cladding materials can be used to create contrasts and to pick out different parts of a building. For example, when a modern extension is added to an older building, especially a listed property. If the new extension isn’t going to closely match the original brick house, it’s better to appear strikingly different, such as low-key, zinc-cladding. A glazed link will also create the illusion the two are separate buildings. Planning officers will often ask for a visual break between new and old structures.

Stone cladding

Stone has been used as a building material since the earliest of time. It can be used as the structure of the walls themselves. Alternatively, thin slices of stone can be used to cover a cheaper wall material and give the impression it is made of solid stone. The most common types of natural stone used for façade cladding include granite, limestone, sandstone, marble and slate. A stone-clad wall can work well if the house is in the open countryside to help it blend in. In the south of England and wherever there is chalk soil, brick and flint are a traditional coupling. 

“Avoid crazy paving style stone cladding,” said Scot Masker, founder of Masker Architects, adding: “Good stonework will fit into the local landscape. Don’t just use stone for its own sake.” In terms of mixing different materials, he said stone works well with brick. “Or depending on the context you might like to use stone, brick and timber. Natural materials tend to work well together.”

The major advantages of stone cladding are its strength, durability and aesthetic appeal. It’s essential to fully consider the properties of natural stone early in the design process. Weight is the main area of concern when building with stone. “Ultimately, you are talking about attaching a very heavy material to a vertical surface. The foundations might have to be extended to take the weight,” said Masker.

Clay and concrete tiles.

Innovations in cladding materials mean home improvers are looking beyond traditional materials to create stand-out cladding designs. But when it comes to design flexibility and aesthetic appeal, vertical tiling is hard to beat, according to supplier Marley’s. Clay tiles are available in a wide range of hues from oranges and reds to greys and blue.  Vertical tiling can provide continuity between roof and façade to create a sleek, sophisticated appearance.  Alternatively, vertical cladding can add colour and contrast to the vertical plane of an exterior wall. For example, tile cladding on the first floor with plain brick below. Feature and ornamental tiles may be used with plain clay tiles to create decorative patterns. 

While hand-crafted clay tiles are the more expensive end of the price spectrum, there is a range of price options. Machine-made versions are about half the cost. Concrete tiles are cost-effective. Options include slate-style and terracotta-coloured. Council planning officers often favour clay products, especially in conservation areas and for listed buildings (link to article roof tiles: the options).

Brickwork

Differences between materials can add depth and detail to the plane of a wall as can changing the laying pattern or bricks. Bonding is the industry term that’s given to the pattern in which the bricks are laid. Whilst the primary purpose of a bond is to ensure the brickwork is strong and stable, it can also have a marked effect on the visual appearance of a wall.

There are different ways in which the stretcher (the longer, rectangular face) and the header (the shorter, square face) can be laid, so deciding on your preferred style early on is important. Check out Flemish bond and English bond to name but a few. The direction in which a brick is laid can create interesting patterns. To create a feature detail, the brick can be placed on end in a soldier orientation or to form projecting headers.  Brick bonding can also be used creatively to add square or diamond patterns as can colour.

Brick cladding can be made from slices of real brick, which make them much easier and lighter to handle. These are then bonded to the wall surface with mortar and adhesive to form a skin that give the appearance of a solid brick wall. Brick slips may be chosen as a budget friendly option.

uPVC

Cladding can be used to reflect different interior uses, for example kitchen and utility rooms in a single storey extension. uPVC is another cheap and low maintenance cladding material that can add interest to a vertical wall. It may be used to replace rotten timber cladding or conceal problem areas of brickwork, for example. uPVC cladding boards are available in a wide range of colours and finishes from rustic wood grain effect to crisp, contemporary white. uPVC cladding can be matched with windows, doors and roofline products for a consistent look across the home.

The range of cladding materials is extensive as are the colours and finishes. Cladding can be an excellent way of adding character to your home extension or updating an uninspiring elevation to bring it into the 21st century. There are no hard and fast rules for mixing cladding types. Much depends on the effect you want to create. It’s best to keep it simple and to limit the palette of materials to a maximum of three to avoid visual confusion.