The Benefits of Fibre Cement Cladding

Durable, versatile and hard-wearing, fibre cement cladding is becoming the material of choice for Australians looking to build their dream home.

Whether you’re building a new home or refurbishing an old one, you want the materials you choose to look beautiful, feel great and last a lifetime.

Fibre cement is a quality building material with significant aesthetic and performance benefits. Its origins date all the way back to 1900, when Austrian inventor Ludwig Hatschek imagined a durable, fire-resistant product that was lighter than brick. Since then, fibre cement has become a popular material for contemporary homes, loved by Australians for its ability to create unique aesthetics and creative designs.

Cemintel is a leading manufacturer of fibre cement cladding in Australia and New Zealand. For over 25 years, we have been designing high-performing fibre cement products that are suitable for various external and internal applications – façades, linings, flooring underlays, eaves and more – and ideal for the Australian climate. From stunning feature walls to relaxed coastal facades, Cemintel has a solution for every home.

For over 25 years, we have been designing high-performing fibre cement products that are suitable for various external and internal applications.

What is fibre cement cladding?
Fibre cement cladding is a lightweight, composite building material made from a combination of sand, cement and cellulose fibres. The slurry is poured into a Hatschek machine – named after the material’s acclaimed inventor – and shaped into uniform panels.

The panels are then finished via a process known as autoclaving, which bonds the materials together using steam, and turns them into strong, durable pieces of cladding.

A quality solution
Fibre cement cladding is a hardwearing material that is easy to maintain. Capable of withstanding impact, harsh weather conditions and general wear and tear, it lasts longer and requires less maintenance than many other cladding types. What’s more, studies have found that fibre cement will perform at a satisfactory level for more than in humid subtropical climates.

Cemintel’s Weatherboard collection is the perfect material for the harsh Australian environment. Although the panels look like traditional timber weatherboards, they are far more robust. Unlike wood, they won’t rot, swell or crack, are resistant to termites and other pests, and will retain their shape over time. They are also pre-primed and ready to paint, so you can customise the colour and finish to achieve a completely personalised look.

Some fibre cement panels, are prefinished, which means they have their own colour and texture and can be installed as they are with no need for painting or finishing. The Cemintel Barestone range is inspired by the look of raw concrete and the External panels incorporate our unique Ceminseal® water block technology for added weather resistance. The Cemintel Territory collection is another example of pre-finished fibre cement, and is finished with a high-quality paint and UV coating for maximum durability.

This means that when you choose Cemintel fibre cement, you get a low-maintenance solution that you know is made to last.

Comfort first
Homes built with fibre cement cladding aren’t just built to endure – they are also great to live in. In fact, one of the main reasons Cemintel fibre cement is so popular in contemporary Australian homes is because the ventilated cavity structure helps reduce heat transfer and facilitate air flow, creating a living environment year-round.

Fibre cement also offers acoustic insulation. It reduces noise transmission without the need for additional products or treatments, which makes it a great choice for high-density apartment buildings, dual-occupancy dwellings, and homes near busy roads.

Safe and compliant
Fire performance is a top priority for Australian homes. As a non-combustible material, Cemintel fibre cement is not just an attractive cladding choice – it’s also a compliant one. Our Barestone External and Territory panels, for example, are resistant to bushfire attack level 40 (BAL 40) when constructed in accordance with AS 3959, making them a reliable choice for homes in bushfire-prone areas.

When building a two-storey family home in the Perth suburb of Gooseberry Hill, Naked Architecture teamed up with Arklen Developments and chose to clad the exterior in our solid, fire-resistant Barestone cladding. Due to the location of the project, and the fact that the home backed onto Kalamunda National Park, this was a strategic design decision.

“It was critical that the exterior cladding was very low in combustibility due to the home’s location. Barestone offered an effective solution as it provides greater bushfire resistance than other facade options such as steel cladding,” says Clayton Lindley, project architect for Naked Architecture.

A range of designer looks
When it comes to designing beautiful homes, the versatility of fibre cement is a big draw. And because Cemintel Territory cladding mimics the appearance of natural materials such as timber, concrete and stone, our products can be used to facilitate a range of contemporary and classic looks.

The Cemintel Weatherboard collection, for example, is the go-to cladding for coastal and Hamptons-style facades. The pre-primed panels offer the timeless look and feel of classic timber weatherboards and are available in a range of profiles. Cemintel Weatherboards can be painted in practically any colour to reflect your unique style.

Or, if you prefer the look of raw concrete, Cemintel Barestone is the ideal choice. Available in four stunning colourways – Original, Ash, Lunar and Graphite – Barestone is admired for its natural hues and smooth, mottled finish. Used externally or internally, Barestone blends seamlessly with the surrounding environment and is perfect way to lean into industrial and biophilic design trends.

Often, a combination of different cladding options is the best way to create a unique and personalised look. For their innovative display home, the Mosman, Albury-Wodonga builder Gilchrist Homes used Barestone Original and Territory Woodlands to bring the façade to life. The result was a dynamic, layered look with a high-end feel.

“We are always looking for new products to work with that offer a point of difference to our customers,” says Matthew Gilchrist, Director of Gilchrist Homes. “Cemintel offers the opportunity to approach each home individually and bring together different design elements to create something truly special.”

To explore Cemintel’s range of fibre cement cladding, click here.