EXTERIOR CLADDING METHODS - A TECHNOECONOMIC ANALYSIS

The continual development in building components and the significant i ncrease in,the proportion of high-rise building lead to an extended us e of new methods of exterior cladding. The selection of a cladding sys tem incorporates various aspects, among which the more significant are : physical and visual performance, life span of the cladding, and econ omic considerations. This paper focuses on the systematic examination and comparison of four different categories of cladding methods based an technological and economic criteria. The categories of claddings ar e: cementitious stucco, synthetic finish stucco, ceramic, and natural stone. The economic analysis, based on life-cycle cost (LCC) and on li fe-span estimates was arrived at by an analysis following on-site obse rvations. It is shown that in ''noncorrosive'' environments, cementiti ous stucco is preferable to alternatives, particularly in low-rise bui ldings. In ''corrosive'' environments, synthetic and ceramic mosaic cl addings are preferable to the alternatives examined.