There’s never been a better time for facade wall treatments – so many great looks and textures available now. No longer do we have to choose between economy and beauty. Today’s decorative facade cladding installs quickly and easily over everything from concrete to steel framing, and creates a galaxy of finishes for your exterior walls. Engineered from cemented fibre, it is impervious to rot and termites, and it’s fire-resistant. It takes all kinds of paint and is available pre-primed – to make the work as easy and foolproof as possible. We will look at some great facade design ideas using decorative cladding to get you started.
For Innovation and Renovation
BetaBoard leads the Brisbane market for plasterboard and building supplies, and we’re ready to furnish and support your next build and renovation. Browse our products on our website, and get in touch online for more information or to organise a quote. Visit our great stores to see our products up close and speak with our friendly and knowledgeable team in person.
Shiplap the Easy Way
For a handsome, straightforward wall treatment, you can’t do much better than shiplap panels. They’ll elevate the look of any outside wall, without dominating the overall design. Facade cladding panels available with shiplap edges are easy to fit and will outlast timber shiplap by a very wide margin of years, without cracking, warping, or splitting – making them a cost-effective choice as well.
Getting the Coastal Look
Create a breezy coastal treatment for your exterior walls with lapstrake weatherboard. This traditional method of construction dates back to the Vikings, who invented it for their seafaring longships. Also known as clinker construction, it’s been used ever since on boats and ships of all kinds. It is also found on many land-based structures near the ocean and inland waterways, so it has always had a nautical history. Working with super durable decorative facade cladding like James Hardie Linea – extra thick at 16mm and made with tongue and groove ends for joining panels end-to-end – you can make a beautiful interpretation of this timeless look that will last for many years, even in hardy maritime climates, in our strong Australian sunshine, or both! Linea takes any kind of paint, even dark colours. It will hold paint longer, and of course last much longer than timber.
Planks Without Splinters
Planks without cracking, warping, and termites, too. If you like a more rustic hand-hewn look, fibre cement decorative cladding panels are available with pre-formed woodgrain finish. They can be installed with a nail gun onto timber or light steel framing, making them very fast and easy to work with. Timber planking walls look great paired with brick and stone detailing and do very well with traditional style window treatments. Painted with your choice of colours, it will be very hard to spot the difference between cladding panels and a legacy timber plank wall – except that cladding will still be looking good when timber planks are being pulled down for expensive replacement.
Deep Shadows
For a bold statement, and without excessive decoration, wallboard panels are available with high-relief treatments on their edges, so that when installed they present multiple facets to sunlight as it moves and changes throughout the day, creating shadow and highlight lines. This effect is best achieved when the panels are oriented vertically. With this type of panel, what would have been a smooth seam on a flat wall surface becomes a geometric design element in its own right, bringing texture and interest to any exterior wall surface.
Smooth But Textured
For an advanced minimalist look, wallboard is available with a subtle textured surface similar to sand or a very high grade of levelled and smoothed concrete. Discreet seam lines complete the effect, and the panels will need no more complicated finishing than a quality exterior paint. These are perfect for all types of modern decorative facade cladding – without the weight and construction mess of traditional cement render walls.
More Than Walls
Looking beyond the walls to projects involving decking and flooring, compressed fibre cement flooring is the easy and cost-effective way to cover large surface areas quickly. Emulating the look of timber decks, or engineered as an underfloor material, it stands up to the constant loading and wear seen by a walking surface, providing reliable service over many years, far outlasting legacy materials based on timber products.
Making Decorative Ideas a Reality
This is just a start to facade design ideas and the great things that can be done with engineered fibre cement cladding and wallboard. See what’s on offer in our website, and for more information or a quote contact us online. Take advantage of our delivery service direct to your jobsite. For the best browsing and selection, visit one of our stores. Our friendly, knowledgeable team would love to speak with you about your project.
