WALL CLADDING SYSTEMS

Shield your building from weather, improve thermal performance, and elevate the building façade with high-performance wall cladding systems designed for durability and long-term value.

Functions of Wall Cladding Systems

Wall cladding systems act as a secondary skin over a building’s main structural wall. They’re commonly installed on all types of commercial buildings, including healthcare, senior living, educational, industrial, and multi-family or mixed-use facilities. They have 3 primary functions:

  1. Aesthetic finish: Panels come in a variety of materials, colors, finishes, and textures, many of which can be customized to match or define the visual appearance of a building’s exterior.
  2. Weather protection: Shield the main building wall from rain, snow, wind, and UV exposure that can cause deterioration. Certain cladding systems are specific to water management and assist with draining and ventilating moisture.
  3. Thermal performance: When combined with continuous insulation, cladding systems help maintain consistent indoor temperatures and improve the building’s energy efficiency.

Proper material choice, installation, and maintenance is crucial to the effectiveness of commercial wall cladding systems. Poor systems make buildings vulnerable to water intrusion, mold growth, energy loss, and premature façade failure.

See How Cladding Impacts Building Performance

Construction team installing wall cladding assembly

Rainscreen Cladding

Rainscreens are defined by how they work rather than what they are made of. Rainscreens are a specific type of double-wall cladding designed to minimize water penetration while also managing any water that does pass through with proper drainage and ventilation. Rainscreens are often the preferred cladding because they offer better moisture control, wall drying potential, and building durability.

Water on rainscreen assembly

Primary Components of a Rainscreen

  • Exterior cladding: The outer layer that shields against weather and can be made up of a variety of materials.
  • Ventilated air cavity: A small gap between the cladding and the inner wall that eliminates the moisture that makes it past the exterior cladding through evaporation and drainage.
  • Water-resistive barrier (WRB): A moisture-resistant layer that acts as a secondary line of defense against water or air infiltration.
  • Sub-framing system: The framework that supports the exterior cladding off the main wall and creates the air cavity space.
  • Insulation: Continuous insulation usually placed on the exterior side of the structural wall and helps improve thermal performance.
  • Flashing/Venting Components: Flashings, weeps or vents, or insect screens installed at transitions to help direct water out of the air cavity, prevent bugs, and maintain airflow.

All exterior panelized facades are wall cladding systems, but not all wall cladding systems are rainscreens. Cladding systems can only be rainscreens if they’re installed with a continuous drainage cavity, ventilation, and proper WRB. Face-sealed cladding, for instance, is a “perfect barrier” system that relies on joints and sealants to prevent any and all water from passing the exterior layer. These do not contain a ventilated cavity and therefore are not rainscreens.

Learn Which System Is Right for Your Project

Common Material Types of Wall Cladding

  • ACM (Aluminum Composite Material) Panels: 2 thin aluminum sheets bonded to a core material, either polyethylene (PE) or fire-retardant (FR).
  • MCM (Metal Composite Material) Panels: Similar to ACM but made of stainless steel, zinc, copper, or titanium.
  • HPL (High-Pressure Laminate) Panels: Layers of wood or paper fiber fused together with resin and topped with a protective resin overlay.
  • Fiber Cement Panels: Cement, sand, and cellulose fiber composites.
  • Metal Panels: Single skin panels make a solid thickness, as opposed to MCM which uses 2 metal skins bonded to a non-metallic core.
  • Wood Panels: Natural wood, thermally-modified wood, or engineered-wood composites.

Dive deeper into wall cladding material

Metal wall cladding panels
Download Wall Cladding Type Comparison Guide

The Role of Thermal Girts and Sub-Girts

Thermal girts are part of the structural support of a cladding system and attach it to the main structural wall. They also provide thermal bridging mitigation. Unlike traditional metal girts (also known as Z-girts), thermal girts are made of a non-conductive material to incorporate a thermal break (a material between conductive surfaces), ensuring heat doesn’t bypass insulation and improving the thermal performance of the wall assembly. Because of their high insulation values, thermal girts help buildings meet strict modern energy codes.

Sub-girts are secondary structural members that go between the thermal girts and the cladding, providing a continuous mounting surface for panels. Sub-girts help with panel alignment, spacing, and load distribution. Both thermal girts and sub-girts are required in high-performance wall cladding systems. Sub-girts are made of metal and would create major thermal bridges without thermal girts. But without sub-girts, cladding panels would be difficult to install, align, or replace.

Design a Code-Compliant Wall Assembly

Get the right wall cladding systems for your building’s façade and performance. Aaron contact info until can replace with standard contact form.

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AARON OVERMAN | ACCOUNT EXECUTIVE

480-298-7518 | AOVERMAN@LONG.COM

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