Exterior cladding protects homes from weather and wind. The best choices from an environmental point of view reduce resource waste by encouraging sustainable forestry, for example. Certain choices will also improve the energy efficiency of your home and allow you to achieve energy savings.

Our recommendations :

1. Wooden cladding has a lifespan of 30 years or more. It is very impact resistant, recyclable and it has a higher insulation value than most other choices. With exposure to the sun, however, the wood will discolour and turn grey over time. Choose wood from certified forests to support sustainable forestry and help reduce resource waste.
2. Pressed wood fibre cladding resembles the texture of wood, comes in a variety of colours and can be stained or painted. It often contains a high percentage of recycled content, which helps reduce resource waste. But these shingles are vulnerable to cracking and humidity. Their projected lifespan is around 25 years. Choose wood from certified forests to support sustainable forestry and help reduce resource waste.
3. Masonry – or bricks and blocks – is wear resistant and offers a very long lifespan compared to other products (over 100 years). These products may include recycled content (which is preferable), and they are recyclable or reusable. Their production is energy intensive and generates a lot of GHGs, but these impacts can be amortized over a long period when high-quality products are chosen. Since building masonry walls is complicated and the mortar can crumble if applied incorrectly, it is important to use the services of a specialist. Masonry is generally the most expensive option. In terms of energy efficiency, the low insulation value of masonry products is partly compensated for by their mass, which gives the structure greater thermal inertia and leads to fewer temperature variations inside the home.

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