Choosing cladding is a big decision to make because A: It's not cheap - and B: It completes the entire style of your clients home.
Help your clients make informed and easy cladding decisions with the information below
Things to consider
We'll unpack each one:
- Modern home styles
- Price categories
- Products available
- Pre-finished options
- LRV
- BAL ratings
- Wall build up
- Think about cladding over brick?
Modern home styles
Getting caught up what style is what? Expand each section below as a guide. Below are the most common modern home designs with examples in each.
Keep in mind for the modern look it's all about:
Simplicity
Clean lines
Confident shapes
Minimal ornamentation
Simple colour palettes, and
A focus on form and function
Mid Century Modern
Products to achieve Mid Century Modern look
Modern Coastal
Products to achieve Modern Coastal look
- James Hardie
- Weathertex
Barn
Products to achieve Barn look
- James Hardie
- Weathertex
- Hurford Wood Elements
- WRC Lining Board
Box Modern
Products to achieve Box Modern look
- James Hardie
- Weathertex
- Weathergroove - Smooth / Woodsman
- Rubix Panel
- Wood Elements - Flume
- Shou Sugi Ban Cladding
Mixed Cladding Look
Products to achieve Mixed Cladding look
- James Hardie
- Weathertex
Japandi Cladding Look
Products to achieve Japandi look
Modern Farmhouse Cladding Look
Products to achieve Modern Farmhouse look
- James Hardie
- Weathertex
Modern Heritage Cladding Look
Products to achieve Modern Heritage look
- James Hardie
- Weathertex
- Eva-Last
- NewTechwood
- Innova
- Modinex
- Deco
- NRG
Modern Classical Cladding Look
Products to achieve Modern Classical look
Price categories
Looks are everything - until the price tag walk in...
When you are looking at buying a large qty of cladding the price per square metre really does matter. Below is a breakdown of the different ranges of price per square meter and the products that fall into each so you can have an idea on what products are in your clients budget
** Dollar signs are a relative representation of product costs only with $ being least expensive and $$$$ being most expensive**
Price Relativity = $ / Sqr Meter
- James Hardie
- Weathertex
- NRG cladding
Price Relativity = $$ / Sqr Meter
- James Hardie
- Weathertex
- Premium LOSP H3 Rusticated Weatherboard (unprimed)
Price Relativity = $$$ / Sqr Meter
Price Relativity = $$$$ / Sqr Meter
Products to achieve Box Modern look
- James Hardie
- Newtechwood
- Shadowline
- Castellation (UH58 & UH61)
- Innova
- Wood Elements
- Shou Sugi Barn
Products available
The way a home looks from the street is a huge factor in perceived value and quality. With a large range it isn't easy to make a decision. Here are some of the most common and trending products as a place to start.
James Hardie's
Weathertex
Innova Fibre Cement Panel
Other Weatherboards
Hardwood Weatherboards
- Shou Sugi Ban
- Wood Elements
Pre - finished cladding options
NHS can also provide a range of pre finished cladding options - That's right no painting required!
Innova
Deco
- Shadowline - (Decowood or Decocoat)
- Narrowline - (Decowood or Decocoat)
- V-Groove - (Decowood or Decocoat)
- Weatherboard - (Decowood or Decocoat)
- Castelated Cladding - (Decowood or Decocoat)
- Croatia Board - (Decowood or Decocoat)
Available in Decowood or Decocoat finishes with a huge range of colour varieties
Eva-last
LRV - what is it & why is it important?
LRV stands for Light Reflective Value. It tells you how much light a colour reflects.
In cladding selection, LRV is crucial for several reasons:
Many claddings cannot be painted dark colours, and if done so will completely void the warranty. Make sure you know the colour before purchasing the cladding to avoid any issues.
If your client is looking to paint their cladding a dark colour, Fibre Cement products are a safe choice as these can be painted any colour without restrictions.
Thermal efficiency
Cladding with a high LRV (lighter colours) reflects more sunlight, helping to keep buildings cooler and reducing the need for air conditioning and cost of cooling, especially in hot climates. In contrast, cladding with a low LRV (darker colours) absorbs more heat, which might be more suitable in cooler climates or for energy efficiency strategies where heat retention is needed.
Material durability
Darker colours with lower LRVs tend to absorb more heat, potentially causing thermal expansion, which can lead to warping, fading, or cracking over time. This makes LRV an important factor for cladding materials subject to prolonged sun exposure.
Aesthetic and design impact
LRV influences how a building feels and interacts with its surroundings. Lighter colours (higher LRV) can make a structure appear larger and more inviting, while darker colours (lower LRV) can create a more grounded, subdued look.
Not just cladding
LRV affects more than just timber cladding, consider what colour other features of the clients home will be, i.e. front doors and timber. Using dark colours on these products can cause them to swell and bow from the absorption of heat into the product.
BAL rating
The BAL (Bushfire Attack Level) rating must be considered in the cladding selection process. Whether you require minimal BAL or are building in a flame zone we have you covered.
Find the cladding that suits you with the cladding selector tool
Thinking about cladding over brick?
Cladding over existing brick is a great way to refresh a house at a fraction of the price! Here's some considerations to think about before you get stuck in:
- Inspection of Masonry Wall
Does it have the strength and durability? - Moisture Management
How will you manage moisture inside the envelope? - Existing windows and doors
Where are windows and doors located, does this pose any problems? - Is it a heritage home?
Some houses in certain locations will be listed as a heritage home or conservation area which will involve more rigorous approval regulations on what can be renovated.
Using a batten system is effective to cover these considerations as they:
- Make fixing the cladding much easier than fixing directly to brick
- Creates a cavity between the house and external wall which allows it to breath
- Adds insulation by creating a thermal break which helps cut down on the cost of air conditioning during summer and heating during winter
Products to complete a cladding over brick job:
Wall build up
What goes on behind the scenes of your clients great looking cladding is vital.
Considering things such as thermal resistance, ventilation and drainage in the wall build up can save you plenty of time and money in the long run and ensure you are building with confidence NHS can help you with the products you need for a quality wall that ensures strength and durability including - wall wraps, breather foils, frames, internal and external angles for all cladding types as well as fixing accessories.
Come instore, jump online or call us to sort out what you need.
Got questions about cladding? Contact us below
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FAQ's
Where do I go to get exact pricing on cladding?
To find out the pricing of the material costs you can call up our contact centre on 02490000 or head into any NHS store and talk to a team member. The fastest way to get a price is to head to the NHS website at nhs.trade and log in to your online account. This will give you your personalised pricing linked to your NHS account.
Can I see these cladding types in person?
Absolutely! At every NHS Store we have cladding displays with the wide range of cladding we can supply for you. Bring your client with you to any NHS to experience the real effect of the different claddings options.
NHS Cardiff displays are open 24/7
What is Pre-Finished cladding?
Pre-finished cladding can be installed and completed right away. There is no painting required once it is installed. This can have great benefits for speed of your project.
What cladding options are in stock vs special order?
The easiest way to find out if the cladding your client selected is a special order is to head to NHS.Trade. Click the product, then click on the stock availability button. You will then be able to see which locations there is stock.
If it is a special order, there will be a special order heading on the product image or underneath the product name.
What is LRV and why is it important?
Light Reflective Value (LRV) measures how much light a color reflects, making it key in cladding selection for thermal efficiency, durability, and aesthetics. Higher LRV (lighter colors) reflects more sunlight, helping buildings stay cooler, which lowers cooling costs — ideal for hot climates. Lower LRV (darker colors) absorbs heat, aiding in heat retention for cooler climates but may increase thermal expansion, risking warping or cracking.
LRV also impacts design; lighter tones can make buildings look larger, while darker tones add a grounded feel. Note that many cladding warranties exclude dark colours, however, Fibre Cement cladding can safely be painted any colour.