A major reason for choosing plastic cladding over wood is the Great British climate – namely the wind and rain. With modern uPVC fascias able to mimic oak, ash and other timbers, it offers a durable, attractive low-cost solution with no risk of warping or rotting. There are no expensive seasonal timber treatments to worry about either.
However, plastic cladding isn’t completely weatherproof. Embrittlement and dulling can occur, especially once it’s been buffeted by the wind and rain a few times. This, plus UV effects, can seriously shorten the life of the product, or at least make it look unsightly. People often paint white plastic cladding, either to improve its appearance or with the mistaken intention of preventing UV degradation. Don’t. Unless it’s a special UV-protective product designed specifically for plastic cladding, paint can cause embrittlement and even severe distortion, especially with darker colours.
Another area of risk is wind loading. People forget that plastic fascias and the like are a lot lighter than timber, and thus have to be held down with more fixings. This is because wind has a strong suction effect, and will lift cladding that is not fixed down securely with plenty of nails or screws. You also have to remember that while wood has a rough grained matrix which helps to keep nails in place, plastic cladding does not. So buy good quality, stainless steel annular or spiral fixings such as those we at Bliby Plastics sell on our site. These won’t rust, and have a ridged surface to give a tight grip.
Finally, plastic cladding reacts to temperature changes and trapped moisture. Thermal expansion gaps and drainage cavities must therefore be incorporated, and any timber battens fully weatherproofed.
