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Green Building Bible, Fourth Edition
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General: EWI Cladding v Silicone render

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    All silicone render local to me and the similar products all look green, stained and in poor order

    While I can appreciate it's quicker and lighter we feel we would possibly like vertical cladding.

    I guess that would mean we'd need vertical battens followed by horizontal followed by the cladding...

    What are the pros and cons of each? And are there any simpler methods of fixing vertical boards while ensuring drainage?
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      CommentAuthordjh
    • CommentTimeFeb 22nd 2026
     
    Which way are the green render facing, and which way does your proposed cladding face?

    Our lime render, faced with Beeck paint, hasn't shown any signs of growth, FWIW. That's on north, south, east and west facing.

    Vertical cladding has the downside that if it starts to decay/rot at the bottom, you have to replace all the cladding. Horizontal cladding you just replace the planks at the bottom.
  3.  
    I've seen green render and stained render on all elevations near me...

    But my house/project has all 4 elevations

    The cladding proposal would be on the south facing elevation ie front of house
    Undecided on vertical or horizontal but I think aesthetically vertical would look better.
  4.  
    How old is the render on the local render? Are you sure it is silicon render. Silicon render is marketed as less prone to algae growth but more expensive. We have non-silicon render on our houses and after about 10 years we get green staining on the north-east facing wall (which I must get around to cleaning) whilst the south east wall is still clear.

    If you put cladding on the EWI then this will still need periodic maintenance and you will still need the top coat of adhesive + mesh on the EWI before the cladding (rodent protection) so probably considerably more expensive.

    With vertical cladding there is the good chance that water will get into the joins and aid the process of rot whereas with horizontal cladding there is much less chance of water ingress due to the action of gravity.
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      CommentAuthordjh
    • CommentTimeFeb 22nd 2026
     
    I'm surprised if you see green growth on south-facing walls with whatever covering, as long as they are exposed to the sun and not subject to running water (e.g. overflowing gutters). North-facing tends to be more problematic, as PiH says.

    Using a rot-resistant timber is also important for cladding, of course.
  6.  
    Posted By: djhUsing a rot-resistant timber is also important for cladding, of course.

    Another name for rot resistant timber is uPVC :bigsmile:
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    What do the Scandinavians use for cladding?

    Seems overkill to mesh and coat the EPS. Can you not clad direct through the EPS? Surely cladding systems don't ask need to be ventilated? Just thinking of say Catnic roof cladding, they don't have air gaps they just go over the roofing membrane and screw direct into OSB board.

    Couldn't a similar approach be taken with the walls? A thinner system say 11mm OSB screwed through?

    We like the Scandinavian style properties, can't seem to find any with silicone render style they all seem to be clad
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      CommentAuthordjh
    • CommentTimeFeb 22nd 2026 edited
     
    Posted By: VictorianecoJust thinking of say Catnic roof cladding, they don't have air gaps they just go over the roofing membrane and screw direct into OSB board.
    Can't speak for Catnic roofs but our standing seam roof has a 'metal' membrane underneath it, which is like a regular roof membrane but with a polyproplyene mesh over the top to provide an airspace and drainage plane. As you say, the roof is screwed to the ply underneath by hidden fasteners.
  9.  
    Did you fit it yourself on the roof?
    • CommentAuthorJonti
    • CommentTimeFeb 22nd 2026
     
    Vertical cladding will last for decades if installed correctly
  11.  
    Jonti do you have any tips or recommendations?
  12.  
    Posted By: VictorianecoSeems overkill to mesh and coat the EPS.

    The adhesive coat is to protect the EPS from mice which love to breakfast (and lunch and supper) on EPS. The mesh adds strength to the 3mm thick adhesive
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      CommentAuthordjh
    • CommentTimeFeb 23rd 2026
     
    Posted By: VictorianecoDid you fit it yourself on the roof?
    Do you mean me? I fitted the roof membrane. Specialist contractors fitted the standing seam roofing.
  14.  
    Posted By: djhI fitted the roof membrane. Specialist contractors fitted the standing seam roofing.

    Do you find the standing seam roof noisy in rain or hail ?
  15.  
    Mice do _love_ EPS but glassfibre mesh won't stop them, need expanded metal mesh or similar for that. I started a thread a couple of years ago about this, I still keep finding white polystyrene blobs blowing around the foot of that wall.
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      CommentAuthorfostertom
    • CommentTimeFeb 23rd 2026
     
    Posted By: Peter_in_HungaryDo you find the standing seam roof noisy in rain or hail ?
    or particularly for profiled metal roofing, which isn't flat on a ply surface, but floats free like a drumskin. In my experience, yes it can make din if you hear it through a window above, but underneath is as inaudible as slate, tile etc, given all the layers of structure, insulation, airtightness etc which (at least in GBF-standard construction) we do nowadays. Therefore is fine, in my book.
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      CommentAuthordjh
    • CommentTimeFeb 23rd 2026 edited
     
    Posted By: Peter_in_Hungary
    Posted By: djhI fitted the roof membrane. Specialist contractors fitted the standing seam roofing.

    Do you find the standing seam roof noisy in rain or hail ?

    Posted By: fostertom
    Posted By: Peter_in_HungaryDo you find the standing seam roof noisy in rain or hail ?
    or particularly for profiled metal roofing, which isn't flat on a ply surface, but floats free like a drumskin. In my experience, yes it can make din if you hear it through a window above, but underneath is as inaudible as slate, tile etc, given all the layers of structure, insulation, airtightness etc which (at least in GBF-standard construction) we do nowadays. Therefore is fine, in my book.

    PiH, no but as Tom says we have the roof structure in between (18 mm ply on top, then 450 mm Warmcel, then Panelvent and plasterboard. Plus two membranes, glulams etc). We don't open windows when it's raining!
    We hear helicopters from Wattisham when they fly overhead, but not much else unless we choose to listen for it.
    edit: We don't get serious hail in the UK, just kid's stuff.

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