External Cladding

External cladding is used to cover the outside of a building to protect the building
from the weather. It provides an extra layer of insulation and acts as a measure for
noise control. It can also be used for decorative purposes and adds aesthetic value
to the walls of a building. Cladding comes in a variety of types, such as timber,
aluminium, steel, and vinyl. Timber cladding is an excellent option as it is
recyclable and durable. It requires a bit of annual maintenance to protect from
adverse weather, but it has a great aesthetic. If you are looking for a robust form of
cladding, then aluminium is a great choice, it’s lightweight, easy to install, but may
get stolen for its scrap value, just like lead from church roofs and be careful of
any electrics because aluminium is a great conductor.

There are also two main cladding styles to choose from which are Shiplap and
Weatherboard. Shiplap Cladding is the most popular style of cladding as its
versatility makes it suitable for a wide range of projects. It uses the traditional style
of overlapping boards to create the timber cladding effect. Weatherboard cladding
is an alternative cladding style using tapered boards. It is applied by placing the
thicker side over the narrower side so there are two cladding layers across the
entire wall. Vinyl or PVC cladding is the most versatile of the cladding types. It
offers durability and good insulation, protecting your building from the weather.
You can enhance it further with additional insulation products between the
cladding and the brickwork.

Here at C&A, we stock both FreeFoam and Fortex plastic cladding. These PVC
boards are lightweight, easy to install, durable, and come in a range of different
colours. FreeFoam uses the strongest most cutting-edge materials in the cladding
game. Their designs have a unique embossed appearance to mimic a textured wood
effect, so you can get the visual benefits of timber cladding with the durability of
vinyl. Your building will look tidy and professional in no time. All of our cladding
is fire safety rated, ensuring maximum protection for your building.

Whether you are looking to add an extra decorative layer to your exteriors or
require extra insulation and protection from the elements, there is a cladding style
to suit everyone. We have the best range of exterior PVC cladding in London. You
can protect and decorate garden rooms and offices as well as other building
exteriors. We provide an instruction manual so you can install your very own cladding
in five easy steps. Our cladding is available to order both online or down at one of
our trading counters.

External Cladding FAQs

Is the cladding fire rated?

Yes the cladding is fire rated, click this link for the fire certification.

How do I cut the cladding ?

PVC cladding is easy to cut with many tools, the most common would be a fine-tooth hand saw, typically 14 points per inch (PPI). Simply measure the length you want and mark with a pencil and a straight rule, secure the cladding plank to minimise movement and saw with constant motion. Some will use power tolls such as a jog saw or circular saw, but these need to be used with caution.

Is the cladding available in grey and colours?

External plastic cladding has traditionally been white or cream in colour. With the improvements in technology and the colour stability of the colour pigments the plastic cladding is now available in a range of colours and textured finishes including Grey, Green, Blue and more.

What lengths are the cladding available in?

The external cladding is manufactured in 5M lengths. We keep these 5m lengths on the shelf for sale, but also sell half length boards of 2.5M to help improve wastage optimisation, and to help make it easier to transport.

I don’t want joints in the cladding but do not have a vehicle big enough for the 5m lengths, what can I do?

We regularly have builders collect these 5m items with a standard transit van. Often this is placed on the top of the van and tied to a roof rack, or if it is not a large quantity the boards have some flex in them and are able to curve them into the back of the van (time bent needs to be limited and them laid flat afterwards to settle down before installation). So you might actually have a vehicle that will take them but do not realise.
If time is of major importance to your project, you could therefore rent a van, and there are lots of companies that provide this service.
We do also offer a delivery service; this would then come on one of our own vehicles. To keep costs low this service is run as economically as possible and so please allow additional time for delivery.

How do I buy the cladding?

Paying for your order is easy, you could order on the e-commerce store if you want it delivered, alternatively come down to the trade counter and purchase on the counter. We can take payment in store by cash or card, and we can send you quotes with the bank transfer details if you would prefer to do this.

Still have home improvement questions? We’re here to provide answers. Contact us!

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