Advances in design and façade materials are being made all the time, and if there are terms or acronyms you’re not familiar with, it might put you at a competitive disadvantage. We’ve put together a glossary of terms that could be useful to know when talking to your façades installer about your next project.

Aluminium cladding: Aluminium is a durable, lightweight cladding solution providing a low maintenance finish that can improve a building’s thermal performance.

Brick slip: Traditional brick is a popular building option, but bricks are costly and time consuming to lay. Brick cladding systems give the appearance of traditional brickwork but are a faster, more lightweight and cost-effective option.

Cassette cladding: Used for both new build and renovation projects, cassette cladding can be applied horizontally or vertically to provide weather resistance and improve the appearance of a building. Using a ‘hook on’ system, cassette cladding is a modern, versatile choice of façade which like all cladding, provides thermal insulation .

Decorative boarding:  Modern cladding systems provide the performance levels that contemporary buildings require, whilst offering a versatile solution available in endless combinations of colour, material and surface shape.

EWI: External Wall Insulation (EWI) protects against damp by creating a new weatherproof layer on the outside of the building and reducing the loss of heat through the walls. Finished with a protective render or decorative finish, EWI will upgrade the existing appearance of a building and improve its energy efficiency.

Fibre cement cladding: Created by mixing cellulose, fillers and fibres with water and cement, fibre cement cladding be used as small tiles through to large panels, can be coloured to achieve the right aesthetic and is lighter than other types of cladding.

Louvres:  Used to allow airflow in and out of the building, architectural louvres often have to provide protection from rain ingress but can also be used to provide aesthetic and economic screening for unsightly equipment or building façades.

Monocouche: ‘Mono’ or single layer, this type of render is cement based and through coloured. Typically applied to masonry, Monocouche provides a low maintenance, weather resistant and hard-wearing decorative finish.

Non-combustible: The best way to ensure fire safety is to use only A1 non-combustible building materials.

Osmo: Osmo is a wood product specialist, and their products are based on rapidly renewable, natural vegetable oils. Osmo treated timber gives long term UV protection to timber cladding and helps the wood to maintain its natural aesthetic and durability.

PPC: Polyester Powder Coated (PPC) is a cost-effective alternative to conventional liquid paint, applied to architectural finishes via an electrical charge, then left under heat to form a protective ‘skin’. This results in an extremely durable finish which can be customised in a range of colours.

Render: There are ideal temperatures required for rendering to cure effectively. It varies between manufacturers but, depending on the product, the ideal conditions would be dry and with temperatures not below 5°C or above 25°C.

SFS: Steel Framing Systems (SFS) is a structural framing system that is more flexible, lighter, quicker to install and a cost-effective alternative to traditional brick and block work. Otherwise known as Light Gauge Steel (LGS), these systems can be an effective way to reduce carbon emissions on a project as they are produced largely from recycled materials and can be recycled at the end of use.

Terracotta: Made from 100% natural materials, terracotta cladding is long-lasting and creates a striking aesthetic which is low maintenance and environmentally friendly.

Timber cladding: Used from sustainable sources and providing a long-lasting finish, timber cladding is an ideal material choice for many projects. Products used include Western Red Cedar, Siberian Larch and Thermowood, which can be fixed to a variety of substrates to create a striking facade.

Zinc: Contributing to the overall contemporary appearance of a building, zinc’s self-protective coating significantly reduces the speed of environmental corrosion.

This is just a small selection of the wide variety of systems and applications available on the market. Façade design, installation, replacement and remediation work is a growing sector within the UK, with cladding systems being used more and more on both new build and refurbishment projects.

To see some of the projects we’ve worked on with clients such as Kier Construction, United Living and Buckingham Group, visit our Projects page. To speak to us about your next project, get in touch at office@edenfacades.co.uk or call 01268 744199.