August 25, 2017 by Snupit
When planning a cladding project, it is important that you give listen up to what cladding experts have to say. There are some things you should do during the process, but just as importantly, you also have to avoid certain things. To make things easier for you, here is a look at some dos and don’ts of cladding that the pros recommend:
Do’s: Design Phase
- Hire a façade consultant when coming up with the design. The architects and engineers are focused on other aspects of the process; hence you need a specialist for the design phase. So hire a façade consultant from the outset.
- Set up a single point of contact to ensure you don’t have to deal with multiple parties. Make it clear that you want sole-source façade design, with the collaboration and cooperation of all the involved parties.
- Ask the engineer and architect to act as a consultant for the design team. Also, the engineer should be responsible for recording the process using which they will attach the cladding to the structure.
- Ensure there is enough space in the design for vertical deflection movement. You also need to allow space between the stone and the structure.
Do’s: Construction Phase
- Arrange for a ‘special’ inspection, confirm whether it is mandated by the law in your area’. As the owner, you have to bear the cost of this inspection.
- Ask your façade consultant to check the shop drawings and also check the structural cladding calculation to ensure accuracy.
- Task the façade consultant with ensuring there are no mistakes during the cladding process.
Do’s: Post-Construction
- Ask the experts to come up with a plan for maintaining and repairing the different cladding items once the construction is done.
- Keep an eye on the cladding sealants from time to time to ensure they remain in place and can provide the results you are looking for.
Don’ts: Design Phase
- When you have decided on the space setting according to the design, make sure that your team does not vary from it. In case you extend the space or reduce it, it will change the number of anchors you have to put in place. Making last-minute changes
can prove expensive and also increases the risk of problems.
- Consult your architect to decide on the types of stones you want to use. Since there are so many options available to you, you might end up feeling confused and may not be able to make the best decision. Therefore, discuss your ideas with your architect
and work with him to select the right materials.
Don’ts: Post-Construction
- Do not throw out the original design and drawings. Cladding experts recommend saving the drawings so you can check the original design in case something goes wrong.
You can ensure that your cladding project goes smoothly by following these tips provided by cladding experts. Sticking to these do’s and don’ts will reduce the hassle in the process. However, if you feel this is too much work, you can select a professional cladding expert to complete the job for you.