Which is Better for Wall Cladding: ACP sheet or Stone?

When it comes to the display of style and grandeur of a structure, the facade plays the most important role. With a deluge of ideas on facades for modern buildings, it is obvious to get puzzled choosing which is the right option for you. To create a unique and individualist aesthetic, one of the most preferred choices is ACP cladding. Aludecor has a wide range of ACPs with varying look and feel; and, depending on the project requirements, they can also be customised. 

But is ACP the only option when it comes to wall cladding?

Before we get a comparative understanding, let's find out why wall cladding is at all necessary.

Often called composite panels, exterior wall claddings provide an extrinsic cover to the building, acting as an insulating shield that helps regulate the temperature inside the structure. Irrespective of the season, installing wall cladding increases the energy efficiency of your property, helping you save on energy costs while enhancing the overall comfort of the occupants. 

Similarly, these claddings also help to protect the structure from harsh conditions including but not limited to chemical pollution, strong sunlight, rain, hail, and other disruptive climatic conditions. Basically, it helps to augment the structural strength of the establishment and reduces the need for multiple and frequent repairs.  

Another very interesting and effective role of cladding is that it helps in cutting external noises; hence, making it a perfect engineering for cinema halls, recording studios, and in various office complexes. Although it depends on the type of cladding material how much soundproofing can be achieved. 

Last but not least, there's little maintenance required for the upkeep of these claddings, especially when you compare them with the investment needed in regular painting.

Stone or ACP cladding

Stone cladding is one of the most common and traditional choices that fit in well for both commercial as well as residential properties. For properties that would prefer a homespun look, stone cladding is a fantastic choice. However, with the advent of ACP, it is gradually strengthening its presence as a favourite option for architects, fabricators, as well as interior designers given the numerous state-of-the-art features. In fact, ACP cladding price also fits in the budget of urban designers and builders. 

Here’s a broad analysis of both products for a better understanding of what can be your preferred choice of cladding – 

Texture and Finish

ACPs have an exceptionally smooth and even surface which is missing in stone cladding that gives more of a non-uniform surface. Simply said, the texture for ACP is uniform while that of stone cladding is rough. Although there can be some ACPs that mimic the look of natural stones, the feel will definitely not be as that of natural stone cladding. 

Thickness and Weight

One of the most significant features of ACP is its flexibility. With lower thicknesses (as thin as 3mm for Aludecor), the versatility of the products increases manifold as compared to stone cladding. Also, ACP cladding is much lower in weight than any other option which is why it can be installed even in earthquake-prone areas. With stone cladding, the layers can be around 12-20 mm thick; hence the entire structure gets exceedingly heavy to bend or curve out customised shapes. In the same sense of logic, they are very risky to install in seismic zones. 

Weather and fire resistance

Stone cladding is weatherproof and fire-resistant to a large extent. But with Aludecor, you can get fire-retardant ACPs. They are adaptable and strong and have unbeatable resistance. 

With Aludecor, you will get the only made-in-India A2 grade fire-retardant ACP, Firewall A2 which is certified by ESL.

Maintenance

ACPs are incredibly easy to maintain and clean. Keeping up the shine of a corporate structure adds to the face value of the brand and with ACPs that becomes a minimal concern. Stone cladding demands regular scrubbing and cleaning which is a cumbersome process to go through.

Final call

When it comes to selecting the right wall cladding, juggling between aesthetics and practicality are the two major concerns. Keeping in mind flexibility, versatility, and range of expenses, the above discussion should help you make the right decision based on your property. 

If you have any queries about the latest range of ACPs, Aludecor is always here to help you. Reach out at 1800 102 0407  or visit https://www.aludecor.com/.