Metal Cladding System Design Ideas
What’s the best way to finish off a building when there are budget or structural limitations? The popular solution is a metal cladding system. Lightweight, cost-effective, and customisable to match the project brief and vision, it’s the easy way to achieve instant aesthetic impact.
But it is much more than just a protective exterior layer. As a primary visual element, metal cladding can redefine a building’s entire presence. A thoughtfully designed metal cladding system can transform the most basic building into an unforgettable, striking structure – and this is where perforated metal has the advantage.
Explore why it beats plain sheets for metal cladding systems below and some of our stand-out projects for design inspiration.
How Perforations Ensure Metal Cladding System Success
Perforated metal’s biggest benefit is its multi-functional holes. Unlike plain sheets, perforated sheets are pre-loaded with visual interest, giving architects a head start in creating unique metal cladding system designs. Holes can be custom-designed to add texture and depth, play with light and shadow, and improve shade, ventilation, acoustics, and glare for building occupants.
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Perforated metal is also one of the most budget-friendly cladding choices. A distinctive visual result can be achieved simply through clever use of colour and pattern. Our in-stock round-hole panels for example – our most cost-effective option – can be enhanced through bright, bold powder coating or durable metallic paint effects. Depending on the pattern, sheets can also be curved to follow the building form, popular for residential and commercial builds.
Metal Cladding System Ideas: Arrow Metal Project Examples
All the following Arrow Metal projects are great examples of how a perforated metal cladding system helps to keep costs low while delivering high-impact, on-brief results:
Woolworths: Repurposing a building
As part of its sustainability commitment, Woolworths transformed a former Bunnings into its new supermarket in North Parramatta, using our perforated metal to clad the building corners and as a backdrop for its signage. We perforated 500m2 of aluminium panels in two designs – pattern 230 and pattern 227 – to give the building a distinctive, modern finish that’s especially impactful when lit at night.
Nepean Private Hospital: Striking signage
Nepean Private Hospital’s multimillion-dollar upgrade used perforated metal finished in on-brand blue to clad its new entrance, parking and loading areas. The pattern of choice for this project was 227 – a simple round-hole design that matched the clean aesthetic.
Panels were also installed throughout the hospital interior, creating a cohesive yet cost-effective design scheme that’s welcoming for patients and visitors.
KFC: Fast design impact for fast food
We served up a fresh design for KFC, manufacturing custom perforated aluminium panels to clad the entrances of its upgraded restaurants. The panels were precision-made to match each restaurant’s unique exterior, interior, and drive-thru, finished in distinctive ‘KFC Red’.
How to Select the Right Perforation for a Metal Cladding System
Perforation options for cladding are almost limitless – classic styles, geometrics, or full custom creations featuring words, illustrations, or logos. However, when selecting a perforation design, it’s not just the pattern that matters. You must also consider:
- What the cladding needs to do: Is it only decorative, or does it need to perform a building function? Purely decorative cladding will have a wider design scope than cladding that needs to reduce solar heat, for instance.
- Where it will be: Will it be on a sunny or shaded elevation? Patterns can be customised so that the pitch and open area percentage – the amount of open area or ‘holes’ in the panel – suit solar movement for optimal occupant comfort.
- In what kind of environment: Will the cladding be exposed to saltwater, for instance, if the project is by the coast? Is it windy? Weather and climate impact the base metal choice, pattern, and finish choices. As a strong, durable, and 100% recyclable metal, aluminium is usually the top cladding choice for most projects, particularly when sustainability and environmental targets need to be met. It can be anodised to create a hard, durable, and weather-resistant coloured or metallic coating. Learn more about the benefits of aluminium in this blog.
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Considering these crucial factors will help to ensure that the sheets made for your cladding achieve the right result. If in any doubt, ask our expert team for guidance.
Create the Perfect Metal Cladding System with Arrow Metal
We work with architects and designers across Australia, manufacturing and suppling perforated panels to construction and contractor teams to deliver on-budget and on-time metal solutions.
We have considerable expertise in custom cladding designs and bespoke facades. Contact our expert team for advice on the metals, design options, and finishes that suit your project: (02) 9748 2200 or email sales@arrowmetal.com.au. Detailed specification information, including pattern samples, is available for project tenders. Learn more about our dedicated support for specifiers here and explore our results in our Project gallery.
Browse or download our Perforated Metal Catalogue or Project Look Book for more perforated metal inspiration.
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Hi,
We are currently tendering the proposed Coles Boorooma project located in Wagga Wagga, NSW.
Could you please provide a detailed quote that includes all necessary components for the items listed below in the external finishes schedule?
– MT-03a
– MT-03b
– MT-04
Hi Levi,
Thank you for your enquiry. One of our team will be in touch with you via email shortly.