There are many ways that you can finish the exterior of your business or commercial building. This exterior cladding is used not only to protect your building’s interior, but to help give it the look and style that you’re after as well. A lot of people, however, mistakenly believe that you can only “side” buildings in a set variety of styles. When you stop thinking of siding, and start thinking of cladding, however, the numerous possibilities begin to open up. And when you start thinking of fiber cement cladding, those possibilities will give you even more options along with the durability, low-maintenance, and high style that fiber cement is known for.
Fiber Cement Cladding Styles
These 17 fiber cement cladding styles will give you some ideas so that you can have your own distinct design for your or business or commercial building.
1. Distinctive Textures
By using just one product on your building’s exterior, you can get a number of different textures and styles in your cladding. Fiber cement has the ability to be produced in smooth wood grain, and even stucco textures that can give your building a lot of depth and interest. Paired with architectural trims to set off the differently colored panels even more, this textured fiber cement cladding is made to stand out.
2. Mixed Finishes
Contrasting colors and finishes make a building pop, giving it a very dramatic appearance. With the ability for fiber cement to take on the appearance of both stained and painted wood, and for cladding to come in different widths, it gives you the ability to mix and match. This building features a thinner cladding in a wood stain paired with a wider cladding in a rich black. Together, they create a very dynamic style for this space.
3. Color Comes First
One of the nicest things about using fiber cement cladding over another material, is the way that the surface holds color. A large, smooth fiber cement panel gives you more unbroken color than any other cladding. Best of all, fiber cement holds color well for years. It’s less likely to peel, chip, or fade than paint used on surfaces like steel or aluminum, so you can maintain your good looks for longer, with less maintenance or worry.
4. Mixing Materials
Fiber cement siding and architectural panels work well with one another and with other materials as well. The smooth texture of these architectural panels adds some pleasing contrast to the brick used on this commercial building. The two colors of panels create light and dark tones that lets the brick be the middle shade. In turn, this lets things like the windows and the awnings really pop, giving the building dimension.
5. Bold Accent
If your commercial building or business gets a lot of visitors, you’ll want to make sure that your building stands out and gets their attention. Fiber cement’s many styles and ability to hold color well mean that you can use it to help your building get the eye-catching exterior you need. In this case, a smooth red center tower makes an excellent background for the logo, while contrasting the windows on either side.
6. On Brand
Branding is everything in business, and sometimes that needs to extend to the way that your building looks as well. This commercial building embraces the colors and style of the brand, right down to the pop of color on the bump out that picks up the color from the logo. The light color used behind the logo lets it take front and center, while the different shapes of the architectural panels helps keep the building from looking dull.
7. Bold and Beautiful
Depending on the area, your commercial building may need to have a fresh, contemporary vibe to fit in. And there’s nothing like fiber cement for creating that look. Architectural panels with contrasting trim are the ideal way to complement a contemporary look. The repeating panels match the surrounding windows, creating an eye catching and pleasing aesthetic.
8. Mixing Details
Color and line isn’t the only way to emphasize the shape and style of a building. In this case, the fiber cement cladding shifts to follow the details of the exterior. Architectural panels offset the stone cladding, while a mixture of wood-tone shades add some interest and depth to the connecting sections. The result is a building that has a lot of detail and interest to look at.
9. Smooth Contrast
Brick is a common traditional material for exterior buildings, as it wears well and has a classic appearance. But too much brick can make a building look dated. That’s where fiber cement panels can help; they add a little contemporary contrast to a building, helping it to stay fresh, but is still low maintenance with long lasting durability.
10. Endlessly Unique
The best part about fiber cement cladding is its ability to come in so many different forms and colors. These attached buildings are able to have their own distinctive styles, separating them visually from one another, all while using the same durable and low maintenance fiber cement cladding across the entire surface.
11. Stand Out Shapes
In large complexes like this one, where the buildings need some degree of uniformity, it’s the shapes that set each separate business apart. Fiber cement has the ability to work with differently shaped buildings and sections, highlighting them so they stand out. In this case, the windows are set into architectural panels that move the tower away from the blue lap siding, ensuring that it stands out.
12. Tone on Tone Trim
Many business owners like to accent their panels with a contrasting trim, but when you already have a bold contrast going on, like this red wall, it’s possible to match your trim to the panels instead. This gives your building a slightly more subtle appearance, with texture, rather than color, being the defining factor of the panels.
13. Stand Out Color
The business at the end of this long row needed something that would separate it from the crowd. The combination of a bold color and the smooth lines of fiber cement architectural panels helped it do just that. Because the panels can come in different sizes, you have the ability to create unique lines on the exterior, like these that wrap the corner and highlight the color.
14. Bold Lines
The smooth matte finish on the panels cladding this building need something to help break them up. This is accomplished by using panels of different sizes stacked on top of one another. The long panels broken by short sections add dimension and complement the dark color of the panels for a dynamic look.
15. Variation in Style
Large buildings like this one need a lot of different colors and textures to help keep them from becoming too homogenous. Fiber cement pairs well with brick in a few different colors to help create a unique exterior. Different shades, shapes, and textures all blend together to make a unique statement.
16. Contemporary Face Lift
Iconic businesses sometimes need a little facelift to stay relevant to culture, but without going off brand. Fiber cement can help create a more contemporary appearance for older buildings and businesses, while helping you keep your brand consistent.
17. Traditional Style
Sometimes when giving a building a fresh look, you want to keep some of its original, traditional style, too. Fiber cement is able to do that as well, with the ability to use lap siding, wood-look trim, and contemporary panels to help bridge the gap between the old and the new.
Clad Your Building in Style
Fiber cement cladding is available in so many different styles and options you’ll have no trouble finding one that suits your commercial business or building. Take a closer look at fiber cement to see the possibilities and clad your building in style.