External Cladding

DIFFERENT STYLES OF PVC CLADDING

Shiplap and V Joint Cladding are differentiated by size and profile - our Shiplap Cladding is a wider 150mm (6") board as opposed to the V Joint Cladding which is 100mm wide (4").

Our Coloured Weatherboard Cladding has a New England style due to its profile and colour options and is even larger at 170mm (6.75").

When comparing Shiplap and V Joint Claddings, Shiplap tends to look a little more traditional in appearance due to the wider overlap between each board. This can be more clearly appreciated in the comparison image below.

The Double Shiplap Cladding weathers the elements year-round without rotting, chipping, or warping. Made from high-performance PVC-U, it offers exceptional weatherproofing and keeps its color for years to come. The overlapping planks create a strong, watertight barrier that shields your home from wind, rain, and moisture intrusion. This versatile cladding can be installed on various structures, including wood, concrete, and steel frames.

Shadow Gap Cladding features a beautiful, subtle embossed finish with attractive deep grooves between boards. The combination of a rigid foam core and a durable textured surface creates a stunning look that's also highly functional. Shadow gap cladding is easy to install vertically or horizontally, transforming your project in no time. 

Our Natura and Durasid PVC Wood Effect Cladding provide the beauty of wood while requiring little maintenance. Natura provides affordable, easy-to-install, low-maintenance panels and trims in six wood styles, all created with innovative digital printing technology to produce a realistic wood effect. Durasid cladding offers strong, moisture-resistant boards and trims in eight different colours, ensuring long-lasting colour and a stylish finish. Both options combine the classic appearance of wood with modern durability and convenience.

Tudor boards are designed to look like real wood beams, with foiled edges that add to the authenticity. Made of weatherproof UPVC, they retain their colour and strength without warping or rotting like wood. Our boards are designed to effortlessly blend traditional Tudor style with modern convenience. Ideal for revitalising existing structures or adding character to new ones.

Fibre Cement Cladding delivers the perfect blend of beauty and brawn. Enjoy the stunning look of natural wood with the unmatched durability of cement fibre. Weatherproof and long-lasting, these planks resist warping, rotting, and fading, ensuring your home looks its best for years to come.

Offered in two distinctive styles and a wide colour palette of our Composite Cladding, these stylish, low-maintenance boards are perfect for a variety of projects. Composite Panel Cladding or Slatted Boards, both go beyond facades, breathing new life into buildings, gardens, seating areas, and sunrooms.

Our Coated Timber Cladding boasts rich textures, from embossed to rustic grains combined with a stunning array of colours to create a feast for the eyes. This cladding is not only groundbreaking in its design, but also surprisingly cost-effective, delivering exceptional value for your project.

FEATURES AND BENEFITS OF PVC CLADDING

PVC Cladding is effectively maintenance-free as its skin is weather resistant and thus moisture cannot penetrate into the core of the board. Unlike timber, PVC Cladding does not deteriorate through rot, and also does not require the application of protective coatings to maintain its appearance and climate resistance.

Our Cladding provides an additional external barrier - it will benefit the building’s insulation properties and reduce thermal loss. This has been recognised by the A+ rating under the Code for Sustainable Homes. As well as its insulating properties, our PVC Panels also have acoustic properties leading to a reduction in background noise.

Much like timber, PVC Cladding is easily cut and nailed using traditional tools, and despite its durability these products are relatively lightweight so can be easily manoeuvred into position. 

Is PVC Cladding Safe?

Our FloPlast Shiplap and V-joint cladding boards and our Fortex weatherboards all carry a reaction to fire classification of D-s3, d2/(AHM). This means that the system is not classified as non-combustible and may be used on buildings with no storey 18m or more above the ground and 1m or more from a boundary. With minor exceptions, the system should be included in calculations of unprotected areas.

Although the spread of flame across the surface of PVC is limited, the material does tend to char and may fall away when exposed to fire. Due consideration should always be given to any combustible materials behind the cladding, which may become exposed in the event of fire. Where necessary, cavity barriers should be incorporated behind the cladding, as required under the relevant national Building Regulations.

As market-leading products our ranges of plastic wall cladding have gained BBA Certification as well as being British Standards Registered.

Please note: When your property is within 1 meter of a boundary, building regulations typically mandate the use of a Class 1 fire classification product. These products are generally not made of PVC, composite, or timber, but rather consist of cement-based materials such as fibre cement board, render, or brick. The discretion lies with the building control officer, but as you move farther away from the boundary, you may have the flexibility to use a higher percentage of non-classified products. Additionally, options like fire backing board or fireproofing may be taken into consideration, although cement fiber board remains a commonly preferred solution.

For a quick overview of how PVC Cladding works, please take a moment to watch the short video below.

PVC Cladding Options

There are multiple styles of PVC panels stocked by PVC Cladding and regardless of the style chosen these are complemented by a range of trims to suit all applications. Our PVC Shiplap Cladding range is most popular when the area to be covered is fairly large and whilst this is normally an external wall covering its uses have also included the internal ceiling of a commercial swimming pool.

The V-Joint Cladding range is best suited when covering areas which are relatively small such as porches, the sides of dormer windows and gable ends. Our coloured embossed weatherboard is the most decorative option of the styles, with a subtle textured New England style appearance. To preserve the external look of the PVC Cladding after installation the tongue and groove joint system allows for the fixing pins to be hidden behind the overlapping lip of the next cladding board.

Wood effect cladding combines the timeless elegance of wood with the unrivalled benefits of modern materials, as well as a selection of trims and fixings for simple installation. 

Tudor Boards are designed to replicate timber beams, with foiled edges enhancing their resemblance to authentic wood, offering an ideal solution for replacing deteriorating beams or adding architectural interest.

PVC Cladding Colour Finishes

Our PVC Cladding comes in several different colours to suit aesthetic or practical preferences, the most popular continues to be our White Cladding. Our ranges of Woodgrain Cladding are gaining in popularity - the Rosewood Range adds a unique finishing touch to any application, whilst our Black Ash Cladding range provides a look which is simple yet classic. The range is completed with our Golden Oak PVC Cladding providing a contemporary finish to the building. These colour ranges replicate those found in our Replacement Fascia ranges so that the project can be colour-matched throughout if required.

Our Coloured Weatherboards and Double Shiplap Cladding are available in embossed White, Storm Grey, Colonial Blue, Slate Grey, Pale Gold, Sage Green, Misty Grey, Anthracite Grey and Sand.

With Natura wood effect cladding, you can select from six stunning wood decor options: Malted Oak, Grey Cedar, Barnwood Oak, Siberian Larch, Greyed Oak, and Aged Padauk. Durasid wood effect cladding comes in a variety of colours, including Woodland Oak, Red Cedar, African Padauk, Siberian Larch, Barnwood Grey, Sheffield Oak, Grey Cedar, and Woodland Grey, allowing you to find the perfect match for your home.

Tudor boards come in a variety of woodgrain finishes, including light oak, mahogany, rosewood, black ash, and anthracite grey.

PVC Cladding Guarantees

Our PVC Cladding ranges come with a 10-year guarantee which covers both product performance and significant discolouration. To view Floplast's full Cladding performance guarantee document, click here. Our Freefoam cladding ranges come with a 10-year guarantee (depending on the colour); for more information on Freefoam's guarantee, click here. 

Fire Rating of our PVC Cladding Systems.

Our Shiplap, V-Joint Cladding and Weatherboard Claddings have the added benefit of a Class 1 fire rating in accordance with BS476 : Part 7 1997, giving this material a distinct advantage over traditional timber cladding. This essentially means that the materials are not easily ignitable, they do not burn freely and outperform timber in the fire. Natura Wood Effect Cladding, Double Shiplap and Shadow Gap are rated D -s3,d2 AVM/AHM, providing safety and peace of mind.

PVC cladding resists the spread of flame and should not be confused with other types of cladding systems such as insulated steel profile cladding that have been the source of some speculation following some recent fires.

Sustainability of PVC Cladding

Our Shiplap and V-Joint PVC Cladding Systems have been assessed and given an A+ rating, which allows the specifier/housebuilder to claim the code for sustainable homes a maximum of three points when using PVC cladding on an external wall system. Also, as Natura wood effect cladding is made from 100% recyclable materials, it’s a sustainable option for environmentally conscious projects.

Fitting Instructions for PVC Cladding

Our ranges come in standard lengths of 5 metres and are relatively straightforward to install, there are detailed installation instructions and helpful videos available in our Guides and Tips Section.

If the installation is over walls which are not weather-tight themselves or which are in exposed locations it is recommended that a suitable backing membrane be used to ensure the water tightness of the application.