Composite Cladding vs. Stone: Which is Superior?
Key Highlights
- Choosing between composite cladding and stone cladding is a crucial decision for homeowners.
- Explore an in-depth analysis of both options, highlighting their advantages and disadvantages.
- From cost and performance to aesthetics and sustainability, we cover all essential aspects to help you make an informed choice.
- Discover the advantages of composite cladding, such as its low maintenance, durability, and eco-friendliness.
- Explore the elegance of stone facing, considering its aesthetic appeal, durability, and potential maintenance needs.
- Make a well-informed decision that aligns with your budget, style preferences, and long-term goals.
When you want to improve the outside of your home, picking the right cladding material is very important. Composite and stone facing are two popular choices. Each one has its own benefits. This article helps clarify the key differences between these two options.
Discover the appeal of wood-effect cladding without the disadvantages of timber
Explore the natural beauty of stone facing and its potential value for your home
Find out which is the most sustainable, versatile, cost-effective or durable
Understanding Composite Cladding
Composite cladding (also called siding or facing) is a durable alternative to wood facing. Resistant to harsh weather conditions, it offers longevity and comes in various colours and finishes. It provides the natural look of timber without the high maintenance needs. Unlike wood cladding, composite facing does not rot, warp, crack, or attract insects, making it a long-lasting and weather-resistant choice for your home's exterior.
What is composite material?
Composite material combines two or more different materials - often chemically fused. This creates a versatile, high-performance product. For composite cladding, the key parts are usually wood fibres and recycled plastics. These materials are usually reinforced with fibreglass, mixed with binders and additives and cured to create a durable material with high weather-resistant and fire-retardant properties.
Millboard facing is made of
Benefits of composite cladding
One big advantage of composite facing is that it needs very little maintenance . Composite cladding stays looking good with just a simple wash using soapy water every now and again. Explore our cleaning tips for composite facing.
Another great feature of composite facing is its thermal insulation. Because it's made using a mineral-resin core, it has good thermal properties compared to metal cladding. Better insulation makes your home energy-efficient, saving on energy bills. Composite cladding also avoids overheating in the summer.
Composite facing also offers a lot of choices, including a wide range of colours, finishes and patterns. Homeowners can easily find cladding products that match their style, whether they want a modern, traditional, or rustic look. Composite wall cladding can even look like natural wood grains, giving you the beauty of timber without the high maintenance needs.
Explore contemporary Envello Decor or Board and Batten cladding options with a range of colour options and combinations available.
Explore the full benefits of composite cladding
Introducing Stone Cladding
Stone facing is a popular choice for buildings and adds the vintage charm of a period property to a new build. It adds strength, style, and a natural feel with its unique colours, textures, and patterns. Not only beautiful, it's also durable and can withstand harsh weather conditions. While it may cost more than other options and can be tricky to install, its longevity and beauty can be appealing to a range of homebuyers.
Comparative Analysis: Composite Cladding vs Stone
When choosing between composite and stone cladding, consider factors like budget, desired aesthetics, maintenance level, and exterior design style. Explore our detailed comparison to help you make an informed decision.
How Much Does Cladding Cost? Composite vs Stone
Composite cladding may cost more at first, but it saves money in the long run because it needs little maintenance. This reduces labour costs. Stone cladding is strong, but it needs more care, particularly in harsh environments. This could raise the long-term investment. Using composite facing can boost the value of your home. It looks modern and is resistant to weather damage impact and erosion. It's easy to install and requires minimal maintenance, making it a great choice for homes and commercial properties.
Compare the costs of different cladding materials
Performance - Which is Better, Stone or Composite Cladding?
Composite and stone cladding are both great options. They are durable and beautiful in their own ways.
Composite cladding is well-known for its weather resistance. It does not absorb water, so it won’t rot, warp, or crack like wood cladding is prone to. It also resists UV damage, fading and colour changes so your building will look elegant and vibrant for decades to come. Millboard cladding boards have a D fire rating and offer another layer of insulation for your home. Achieve the beauty and charm of a wood-clad home without its disadvantages.
Explore classic Shadow-Line Cladding
Stone facing is very strong and has great structural integrity. It can handle harsh weather conditions making it a reliable choice for UK homes. However, some stones, like limestone, can weather and erode over time and might need more maintenance. Denser stones, like granite, flint or slate, tend to need less care.
Ease of installation
The ease of installation can influence the decision between composite and stone cladding. This choice affects labour costs and the project's timeline. Composite facing is lighter and has uniform panels, with interlocking tongue-and-groove systems making it easier, safer and faster to install than stone cladding. This cuts down the overall costs and labour time .
On the other hand, installing stone cladding takes more work. Its weight warrants strong support. The process involves careful cutting, fitting, and mortaring of each stone. Although there is a strong aesthetic appeal to stone facing, it's an investment of both time and money.
Maintenance and Durability
Stone or cement cladding is well-known for being strong and resilient. It’s important to think about how to take care of it, so it stays in good shape and looks appealing. Natural stone can absorb water, making it prone to stains, moss, and wear over time. You may need to professionally clean your stone cladding to get it looking as good as new.
The strength and longevity of stone facing is evident from century-old buildings. However, tough weather, such as freezing temperatures or strong rains, and coastal winds can degrade the stone surface over time.
Maintaining Composite Cladding is as easy as cleaning with soapy water when the panels get dirty. They’re resistant to moisture, rot, impact and freezing so you can wash off any dirt to have your siding looking as good as new.
Fire safety
Both composite and stone cladding have their own benefits. Composite options aren't completely fireproof. Millboard has a D fire rating which is safer than untreated timber cladding which catches fire easily. We perform rigorous fire-testing to ensure our products meet safety regulations.
On the other hand, stone cladding is non-combustible and offers better fire safety compared to wood and composite panelling. Its natural fire resistance is great for homeowners who are concerned about fire safety.
Download Millboard's Shadow Line + Fire Safety Report
Environmental Impact and Sustainability
Considering our environmental impact includes selecting building materials that align with our sustainable values . Composite facing is a great choice because it uses renewable biopolymers, can be repurposed when it reaches the end of its usefulness and adds an extra layer to your home’s exterior for additional insulation.
On the other hand, stone cladding is a natural option but has a big environmental impact. This is because getting the stone and transporting it takes a lot of energy. Moreover, stone quarries have a significant impact on our ecosystems.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is composite cladding considered more sustainable?
Composite cladding is a sustainable choice because it is made from recycled fibres and renewable biopolymers. This reduces waste that would otherwise end up in landfills – Millboard is continuously identifying ways to reduce waste from production too. Being a modern alternative, it also cuts down the need for new timber and stone, which helps in preserving forests and ecosystems.
Can stone cladding withstand harsh weather conditions?
Stone cladding is very strong and can handle harsh weather. It is built to last and can resist extreme temperatures, strong winds, and heavy rain. This means it performs well over time, even in tough conditions. Stone can weaken over time due to regular freezing/thawing and if there is significant growth of moss, ivy or lichen.
What are the disadvantages of composite cladding?
Millboard Cladding is a synthetic alternative to timber cladding boards. However, it has been designed to mimic the natural beauty of wood grain. It doesn't come with the maintenance, fire risks and performance disadvantages of timber. Composite facing comes at a higher price point than other cladding options but it's easy to install and looks great for years to come with the benefit of minimal maintenance .
How long will composite cladding last?
With good care, composite siding can last for many years. Most manufacturers offer long warranties, usually between 10 and 25 years. This gives you confidence about its lasting quality. Explore our structural warranties .
Where Can I Use Composite Cladding?
Composite cladding is a great choice for various uses, both in residential properties and commercial buildings. People like it for exterior walls because it gives a fresh, modern look to home exteriors. This type of cladding works well with various architectural styles including heritage, cottage, contemporary and eclectic. Our versatile siding boards can be used for homes, offices, sheds, summer houses, interior walls, outdoor bars, al-fresco kitchens and property partitions . We can install composite facing over almost any material you can conceive of.