Hebel vs brick vs cladding: What’s the difference? During the building process, you’ll find there are a lot of choices to make, including which building products you’d like to use. While having a variety of options offers flexibility, it can leave you scratching your head and wondering what is the best material for your home, specifically your external walls. So with that all in mind, let’s take a look at the difference between Hebel, brick and cladding. We’ll take a closer look at what each material is and what its pros and cons are, providing you with non-biased information to help you make an informed decision.
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Hebel vs brick vs cladding – what are they?
First things first: let’s define each material and have a brief rundown of what they are.
Hebel
Hebel panels are made from autoclaved aerated concrete, which is a mix of cement, water, lime, and a small amount of aluminium and sand. The powder from this mixture results in very light concrete which is actually 80% lighter than regular bricks..
Brick
One of the classic building materials, dating all the way back to 8300 B.C., brick is usually made from clay and has been a staple in the building industry as far back as anyone can remember. There’s a good reason why brick has been used for millennia and isn’t going away anytime soon. It’s a reliable material that is non-toxic, fire-resistant and recyclable while having a classic style that transcends any time or trend.
Cladding
Cladding is the placing of one material over another to create the outside layer of a house or building.
There is a wide range of materials cladding can be made from including:
- Glass
- Brick
- Timber
- Vinyl
- Aluminium
- Steel
One of the big appeals of cladding is the sheer variety on offer, making it a great option for custom building materials and someone after a specific, unique look.
What’s better for your home design?
Each building product has its advantages and disadvantages so let’s have a closer look at each.
Benefits of Hebel Wall Panels
- Great for sound insulation and proofing
- Made from recyclable materials
- Termite and fire resistant
- Easy to cut holes for plumbing and electrical lines
- High thermal mass plays a huge role in making your home energy efficient and more cost-effective. Better insulation than other materials.
- Lightweight – making it easy to handle and ensuring fast installation. This should save money on labour costs.
Disadvantages of Hebel Panel
- You have to paint Hebel panels, unlike with bricks.
- High maintenance than brick. Keeping up maintenance is important to avoid your Hebel panels looking dirty. This is especially the case with lighter colours.
- Cracking can be an issue. You’ll need to be careful when fixating heavy items onto Hebel as it won’t have the holding strength of brick walls.
Benefits of brick
- Economical and readily available raw materials
- Very durable – there’s a reason you see a lot of old buildings made from brick. It’s simply a product that stands the test of time
- Brick walls can handle load bearing if necessary.
- Classic Rendered Look and clean appearance. Brick does have a timeless feel that is unlikely to go out of style.
- Low maintenance
- Recyclable and reusable
- Fire Resistant – high fire rating
- The production has a lower carbon footprint
Disadvantages of brick
- Time-consuming construction – bricks are never a quick
- Not great for high earthquake areas – this won’t be a huge issue in most Australian regions as most earthquakes tend to be very mild.
- The rough surfaces can result in mould if not cleaned regularly. This can be avoided with regular maintenance.
Benefits of cladding
- Low Maintenance – cladding is designed to be weather resistant, durable and long-lasting, and requires less upkeep than other materials.
- Thermal, Rot, fire and moisture resistant.
- Cheaper than brick walls, so it could be a great option for those working on a tight budget.
- Sound insulation – creates a sound barrier keeping inside noise in and outside noise out.
- Flexibility with design – There’s a wide variety of cladding materials including wood, brick veneer and metal.
Disadvantages of cladding
- Can be expensive, however, this depends on what materials you’re using.
- Long Installation Process – Installing cladding isn’t a simple, DIY job and requires the skills and know-how to get it done right. Best to hire a good builder so it is installed right. Compared to other construction work, it can be time-consuming.
- Cladding can be difficult to repair. When damaged, you may find you have to replace the entire panel, but this will depend on your choice of material.
- The cladding itself doesn’t provide much thermal support, so you’ll need to invest in quality insulation to make your home comfortable.
The verdict – which to choose for your new home?
There are a variety of materials to use in your construction project and the best option can vary on a variety of factors including:
- Location
- Climate
- Budget
- The style of the rest of your home.
- Your own personal taste
- How durable you’d like your home to be.
While both hebel and brick have their advantages, we recommend going with brick in most cases. Our main concern with Hebel panels is it is a relatively new product that has only really been used for the last few years. While there has been good feedback, it is hard to gauge how effective it is in the long run. Brick on the other hand is one of the most tried and tested building materials in the construction industry. The sheer number of brick homes compared to ones with Hebel walls is vast, making it hard to really say Hebel is as reliable as a brick.
It’s easy to get hung up on how long a build will take, but you also need to consider the long-term effects of your choice in building materials. After all, the satisfaction you get from a quick build will be quickly diminished if the finished product is a dud. Therefore, we would recommend brick over both cladding and hebel due to its proven track record, and timeless appeal.
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