There are many external wall cladding products available in the market today. But WPC is the most extensively used cladding material. It is a combination of wood powder and virgin polymers, which provides extraordinary benefits. WPC cladding has highly diverse applications in the building industry and is accepted as a premium alternative to other traditional cladding materials.
Wood-plastic composite cladding is designed for the long-term protection of your property from the drastic effects of weather and other environmental factors. It is environment friendly, energy-saving, and emission reduction. Plus, it also improves sound and thermal insulation. WPC cladding is resistant to vermin, termite, water, and fire, which is the main secret behind its durability. This material has high-temperature stability, low-temperature crack resistance, and long service life. It is available in a rich range of colors and also offers a nature like woodiness feel and texture.
This WPC cladding guide is for you if you are looking for the best cladding solution. Read it till the end to know every aspect of WPC cladding.
Characteristics of WPC cladding
1. Fire Retardant Properties
WPC cladding is composed of both polymers and wood powder; that’s why it is able to withstand fire for a much longer term. Therefore, it is preferred over natural wood, plywood, and other conventional materials for interior and exterior designing. Due to its great composition, WPC cladding is a stable, strong, and highly secure building product for diverse interior & exterior projects.
2. Strong and Stable
The WPC cladding stays strong against harsh sun rays, extreme weather, and other damaging elements because these panels are treated with high-quality UV repression pigments & essential heat stabilizers. Another reason for the stability of this material is that it doesn’t fade and maintain its colors throughout time. That’s why WPC cladding is the best solution for exterior anti-weathering benefits in modern-day constructions.
3. Water-resistant and corrosion-resistant
Water-resistance is the best property of WPC cladding. This feature comes in handy in many interior and exterior designing projects that need boards and floorings with excellent water resistance. This is because of the exquisite interlocking composition of cladding panels. Furthermore, WPC cladding is corrosion-resistant, effectively resisting various corrosive mediums from infiltrating with rainwater.
4. Value for Money
WPC boards offer greater convenience and protection to the structure for a long time. Today’s buyers want the best value against what they are paying. Although WPC is somewhat expensive than regular wood materials, it makes your spending worth it. A WPC foam board does not splinter, bend, warp, or wither; it does not require any special maintenance. Henceforth, it is always selected over wood and helps towards lowering the instances of accidents.
Buying Guide for WPC cladding
Buying a quality product is so important, especially when it is to be used for construction purposes. Cladding is used to protect the underlying walls from the external environment, and it also impacts the final appearance of the house. Hence, the material needs to be tough and reliable, like WPC cladding. Here are some things to consider while selecting WPC cladding.
1. Protection
The basic purpose of cladding is to provide security or conceal the appearance of your structure. Therefore, the cladding material must be non-reactive to the surface. Rather, it should defend you outdoors from fluctuating weather conditions. WPC cladding is inert and possesses excellent protection capabilities.
2. Insulation
Cladding systems are also designed to improve insulation and maintain the optimum temperature. If you install cladding for this purpose, then the material’s insulation properties are important. WPC Cladding has hollow core technology for ultimate insulation and offers more significant savings on energy consumption.
3. Quality and Durability
Durability is a critical factor to look upon when selecting the cladding for your building. Cladding enhances the expected life of your structure by protecting it from external environmental factors. Hence, the material you choose must be tough and durable enough to withstand harsh weather conditions, dust accumulation, scratches, and more. Also, it should have water-resistant properties to prevent any potential damage from water or moisture. The WPC cladding is built to work for a lifetime and has an interlocking assembly to avoid water entry and damage.
4. Versatility
WPC cladding is versatile, which means it has so many applications. This gives you more options to use your cladding. It is suitable for decorative purposes in the living room, wine shop, entertainment venue, bath area, office, kitchen room, washroom, school, hospital, spot room, market, study room, etc. Moreover, you can nail, paint, cut, or connect WPC cladding according to your ideas and creativity, thus also allowing you the option of customization.
5. Eco-friendly
Using a green building material in the development of building offers more energy benefits and performance towards the utilization of resources. WPC is a green and eco-friendly material that does not affect humans’ well-being in any way and helps preserve nature. Green materials are affordable and also cater to temperature control; that’s why WPC cladding is the superior option for a healthy, long-lasting experience.
6. Maintenance
Maintenance is also a vital factor. The less maintenance it demands, the more beneficial the investment is. WPC cladding is so easy to maintain it does not require daily cleaning. Instead, occasional cleaning is enough to keep it nice and tidy.
7. Cost
The cladding you choose must be economical. But it does not mean that you should compromise on quality. The cladding should offer all the necessary advantages and, at the same time, enhance the aesthetic appeal of your house. WPC cladding costs you a bit more than natural wood or plywood, but the features it offers are unmatched.
How to install WPC cladding
WPC cladding installation is very simple. The installation can be done at any time of the year, but it is better to avoid it during very cold weather.
- Always store the cladding panels on a flat surface. Before installation, check the model and size of WPC cladding, and make sure that the surface is in fine condition. Then prepare the installation tools, clean the installation site, and determine that it is smooth and flat. You may need following:
- Rubber Mallet
- Level/Plumb Line
- Battery/Electric Drill
- Drill Bits
- Screws
- Starter Clips
- Saw
- It is suggested that the battens used for WPC cladding be made of composite material because it can improve the long-term performance of cladding.
- Pre-drill the battens using a 6mm drill bit, the battens are 30mm high, and you will need to fix them at least 50mm into the surface below. Choose the fixings suitable for the surface you are fixing into. Screws should have 5-6mm diameter and at least 80mm length.
- Fix the battens to the entire surface being clad at a maximum distance of 500mm apart. Add additional battens at the point where two WPC cladding boards meet end to end. Always install the battens at a 90-degree angle to the way that you want WPC cladding panels to run. Also, ensure that the surface below the battens is flat and stable.
- For the first cladding panel to sit properly, fix a starter strip to the bottom of each joist. To do this, pre-drill a pilot hole into the composite batten and use a 15mm long screw to fix the starter strip. Make sure that all the strips are in level so that the panel sits level on the strips. Now, place the first WPC cladding panel on the starter strips. Mark and pre-drill pilot holes through the fixing groove of the panel into the composite batten below.
- Afterward, use 30mm long screws to tightly secure the panels using a screw, ensuring that the board is fastened safely on each joist. Secure these fixings manually, and do not over-tight the screws because it can split the panels. Similarly, secure the next panel over the first one in the same way and repeat the process until you reach the desired height. Leave the section between the joists empty for air to flow beneath the cladding panels.
- Continue to install the cladding panels in this manner until the whole area is covered.
- WPC cladding can also be installed side by side in a brickwork pattern. However, you need to install more battens for this because each panel will require to be supported on a joist where it meets the next panel.
- Lastly, trim the edges of panels for a professional look.
Final words
Here is the detailed guide to WPC cladding which highlights the features of WPC cladding and tells you how to install it properly. Now, you also know what aspects you must consider while choosing the cladding material.