Metal Cladding

The right sheet depends on the look you want, the building itself and the finish you prefer.

Some projects suit the softer, traditional lines of corrugated steel, while others look better with a sharper box profile.

Rather than treating every profiled sheet as interchangeable, it is worth choosing the profile and coating together. That way, you get the appearance, durability and budget that suit the job from the start.

Corrugated Metal Wall Cladding

Corrugated steel is one of the most recognisable forms of exterior cladding. The repeating rounded profile gives barns, workshops, garages and outbuildings a traditional industrial or agricultural look, while still working well on more contemporary projects.

Our 13/3 corrugated metal sheets are available in a wide range of colours and finishes, including plain galvanised and coated options.

Although many of these products are also sold as roofing sheets, suitable 0.5mm profiles can be used as metal wall cladding where the building design and fixing arrangement allow.

32/1000 And 34/1000 Box Profile Cladding

If you prefer straighter lines, box profile sheets create a cleaner, more uniform appearance.

The 32/1000 and 34/1000 profiles are popular across industrial units, agricultural buildings, garages and commercial walls because they offer broad sheet coverage and a neat repeating rib pattern.

Box profile cladding also works particularly well when you want a more modern finish than traditional corrugated steel. Darker colours such as anthracite, black and grey can give a very sharp appearance, while greens and more traditional shades suit rural buildings particularly well.

Which Metal Cladding Finish Should I Choose?

The profile determines the shape of your wall. The coating determines much of its finished appearance and how the exposed steel surface is protected.

The main options across our range are plain galvanised steel, polyester-coated steel and PVC Plastisol.

PVC Plastisol Cladding

PVC Plastisol is a popular choice where you want a tougher coated finish with a lightly textured appearance.

It is commonly specified for agricultural, industrial and commercial buildings because the coating provides an additional protective layer over the steel and is available in a wide range of colours.

If the finished appearance matters just as much as practicality, Plastisol is often worth considering for larger elevations where the colour will become a major part of the building.

Polyester-Coated Steel

Polyester-coated sheets provide a coloured finish at a more economical price point.

They can be a good option for garages, workshops, sheds and other projects where you want painted steel without stepping up to a heavier-duty coating.

As always, the exact coating specification varies by product, so check the individual sheet details before ordering.

Galvanised Steel Cladding

For a simple metallic finish, galvanised steel sheets are hard to beat.

The zinc-coated surface gives the steel its distinctive silver appearance and helps protect the underlying material from corrosion. Galvanised sheets are particularly popular on agricultural and industrial buildings, although they can also create a very effective contemporary finish on smaller structures.

For wall applications, take a look at our dedicated 0.5mm galvanised steel sheets.

0.5mm Steel Sheets For Wall Cladding

Sheet thickness matters.

For many wall-cladding projects, 0.5mm steel offers a useful balance between strength, weight and price. Wall sheets do not always need the same rigidity as sheets spanning across a roof, which is why 0.5mm material is widely used for vertical cladding applications.

That does not mean 0.5mm is automatically correct for every project. Supporting centres, building height, exposure and the chosen profile all need to be considered.

If you are unsure whether 0.5mm or a heavier gauge is right for your building, speak to the Trade Warehouse team before ordering.

Cut Your Sheets To The Length You Need

One of the biggest advantages of profiled steel is that sheets can be supplied in lengths to suit the project.

Ordering closer to the finished wall height can reduce unnecessary cutting on site, minimise waste and make installation quicker.

Measure each elevation carefully before ordering and remember to account for openings, overlaps and the way your flashings will finish the wall.

For larger or more complicated jobs, send us the dimensions and we can help you sense-check the order before it goes into production.

Metal Cladding For Agricultural, Commercial And Domestic Buildings

Steel cladding is used on a huge variety of buildings because it is relatively lightweight, straightforward to install and available in long sheet lengths.

Typical projects include:

• Agricultural barns and machinery stores
  
• Workshops and industrial units
  
• Garages and outbuildings
  
• Warehouses
  
• Sheds
  
• Commercial buildings
  
• Garden buildings
  
• Existing walls being refurbished with a new profiled-steel finish
  

The same sheet can look very different depending on the profile, colour and installation direction, so it is worth considering the building as a whole rather than simply choosing the cheapest panel.

Vertical Or Horizontal Installation?

Profiled steel wall cladding is most commonly installed vertically, allowing rainwater to run naturally down the face of the sheet and creating long, clean lines across the building.

Some designs use horizontal sheets instead, particularly where a more architectural appearance is required.

Whichever direction you choose, the supporting structure, laps, flashings and fixing positions need to be planned for that installation rather than decided after the sheets arrive.

Complete Your Metal Cladding Project

The sheet itself is only one part of a properly finished wall.

Corners, roof junctions, openings and exposed edges all need suitable detailing to keep the building looking tidy and help manage water correctly.

Matching Metal Flashings

Flashings create the finished details around corners, verges, eaves, doors and other changes in direction.

Browse our corrugated metal flashings and fixings alongside your sheets so that the colour and finish can be planned as part of the same project.

For unusual details, custom folded flashings may also be required. Sending a drawing or dimensions before ordering can make this much easier to work out.

Screws And Fixings

The correct fixing depends on the sheet profile and the supporting material behind it.

Timber, light-gauge steel and heavier structural steel can require different fixings, so there is no single screw that is right for every wall.

You can shop our corrugated screws and washers alongside the sheets, but always match the fixing to the substrate and installation requirements of your project.

Why Buy Metal Cladding From Trade Warehouse?

Ordering profiled steel online should be straightforward.

Trade Warehouse supplies corrugated and box-profile sheets alongside the flashings, screws and finishing components needed to complete the wall, so you do not have to source every part of the job separately.

You can choose from several profiles, coatings and colours, order sheets in project-specific lengths and speak to our team if you need help working through quantities or accessories.

For larger buildings, send us your drawings or wall dimensions and we can help identify the sheets and finishing pieces you are likely to require.