8 Factors When Choosing The Right Aluminium Cladding Material For Your Building

Selecting the most suitable aluminium cladding material for any building project is crucial to its success.  Aluminium offers a perfect blend of aesthetics, durability, and functionality, making it a popular choice for architects and builders. 

However, navigating the variety of options available requires careful consideration of several factors. There are eight key aspects to evaluate when choosing a suitable aluminium cladding material for your next project. 

Reasons For Cladding a Building

There are many reasons for cladding a building. Architects may want to choose cladding materials as a key element on the building envelope. A builder may need to compare price and performance of cladding for a commercial premise or a new construction’s facade. But if your strata building needs recladding, you’re likely to need it for the following reasons:

• Your existing aluminium no longer complies with state regulations, particularly around fire safety.
• You want new cladding to improve your building’s aesthetics.
• You need to reclad the facade of your building to strengthen it.

No matter why you need cladding, choosing the correct or most suitable aluminium cladding material is an important decision. You need to ensure the long-term safety, integrity, and durability of your building and that it complies with building codes and regulations.

Eight aspects must be considered when choosing aluminium cladding materials, whether for Multi-res high-rise buildings, commercial factories, hospitals, bridges, warehouses, or residential use: 

• Aesthetics

• Performance

• Building Use 

• Sustainability 

• Cost

• Warranty 

• Supplier Reputation

• Building Regulations

Aesthetics and Design Vision

Aluminium cladding materials offer a wide range of finishes, from classic gloss and matte options to a perforated, textured, anodised or rustic appearance. Consider the building’s overall design vision. Does it require a sleek, modern look or a more traditional aesthetic appeal?  

Metrix Group can powder coat metal cladding panels in the colour or colours you choose to complement the environment and create the desired architectural statement. Aluminium cladding panel profiles include both 2D and 3D perforated sheets, flat sheets, cassettes, and curtainPerf panels with Dulux, Interpon and Jotun coating along with a range anodising partners. 

Performance and Durability

Aluminium is a durable, excellent wall cladding material naturally resistant to corrosion. However, the wall cladding materials you choose should suit the local climate. 

Consider factors like extreme weather conditions, wind, rain, snow, and the potential for salt spray in coastal areas. All perforated metal products will raid in the reduction of Solar heat through glazing systems based on your nominated open area. The application of aluminium 5052 will also create longevity within proximity to sea water.

Building Use and Functionality

The weight and strength of wall cladding materials need to meet the structural demands of the building, so consider how the building will be used, taking into account factors like wind load and building height. For buildings requiring noise control, soundproofing properties of the cladding become important. 

Metrix Group manufactures perforated panels with acoustic insulation backing, perfect for workplaces and homes. NRC ratings range from 0.6 to 0.85 with the 12mm acoustic material.

Sustainability and Environmental Impact

Aluminium is one of the most recyclable metals. To minimise environmental impact, look for wall cladding options with a high percentage of recycled content. Energy efficiency is also essential when designing a cladding system since the chosen material can significantly affect a building’s energy consumption. 

End-of-Life Considerations

It’s important to consider what is done with the wall cladding material at the end of its life. Note the cladding material’s recyclability when it is no longer required. At Metrix Group, we favour cladding solutions that fit into design for disassembly principles. We ensure our products can be used for as long as possible and then disassemble large components for reuse. 

Cost and Budget

Aluminium wall cladding prices vary depending on thickness, finish, and fire safety ratings. The products we manufacture and supply are realistically priced, and our Metrix Group Design Studio can help you explore cladding system options that optimise performance and aesthetics within budget constraints. Different cladding systems have varying installation complexities. During the discovery meeting process, consider ask about labour costs associated with each option. 

While the initial cost of the wall cladding material on a modern building’s exterior is essential, long-term considerations like regular maintenance needs and energy efficiency should also be factored in. Opting for a slightly more expensive wall cladding for a building’s facade with lower maintenance requirements could offer significant cost savings over the building’s lifespan.

Supplier Reputation and Experience

As a cladding supplier, Metrix Group is Australia’s leader with a reputation for quality, bespoke design, performance, safety, and reliability. We have a proven track record of supplying high-quality materials and excellent customer service. 

Choosing Metrix Group means you have selected a company with vast experience in projects from Multi-res high rises to bridges and hospitals. Our team’s expertise is invaluable in navigating the selection process and ensuring a successful cladding installation for any structure.

Compliance with Building Regulations

Architects and designers can be assured that all Metrix Group fixing systems have been designed and engineered to relevant Australian Standards and the national building code. They feature isolating grommets, fire resistance, and non-combustibility certification AS/NZS 1530.3-1999.

Warranty and Guarantees 

Reputable cladding manufacturers such as Metrix Group offer manufacturer warranties covering material defects and performance issues. The installation process significantly impacts the cladding system’s overall reliability, so we provide a manufacturer’s warranty on the cladding materials and fixing systems. Ask about our of Product Warranty.

Metrix Group Aluminium Cladding

Metrix Group’s aluminium cladding materials are code-compliant and fire-resistant, perfect for residential construction, commercial building and more. We take pride in customising your cladding materials and producing unique and visually pleasing designs explicitly tailored to your architectural needs. 

Whether it’s a custom 3D artform™ screen or the softening curves of ourcurtainPerf™ Selection, our award-winning Design Studio is ready to discuss how we can help bring your vision for a perfect aluminium cladding system to life. 

Contact us here about booking a discovery meeting to discuss your upcoming project.