Composite Cladding in Ireland: Shiplap vs Slatted Cladding Panels

Composite cladding has become one of the most popular ways to modernise a house front, finish a garden room or cover a tired block wall in Ireland. It gives you the warm look of timber without the sanding, staining and rot. This guide explains what composite cladding is, how shiplap and slatted cladding panels differ, which accessories you'll need and how to choose the right option for your project.

Double L is the exclusive stockist of Leeco composite cladding, made by our sister company, and we deliver nationwide from Rathcoole, Co. Dublin.

What is composite cladding?

Composite cladding, sometimes called WPC (wood plastic composite) cladding, is made from a blend of wood fibre and recycled plastic. The result is a board that looks like timber but doesn't absorb water the way natural wood does, so it won't rot, warp or crack in the Irish weather. UV stabilisers in the boards slow down colour change, so a composite wall holds its colour far better than untreated timber.

Unlike timber, composite cladding panels don't need painting, oiling or staining. An occasional wash is enough to keep them looking sharp.

Where can you use cladding panels?

• House facades, either as a full elevation or as a feature section around the front door or a gable
• Garden rooms, home offices and sheds, where cladding is the main exterior finish
• Extensions, to give a modern contrast against rendered or brick walls
• Existing walls, to cover tired block or render without demolition
• Privacy screens and feature walls in the garden

Shiplap vs slatted cladding

Our cladding range comes in two main styles. Both are composite, but they create quite different looks.

Shiplap composite cladding

Shiplap boards overlap one another to form a continuous, weather-tight surface with neat horizontal lines. It's the classic choice for garden rooms and house facades. We stock two shiplap ranges:

• Classic Cladding is our standard composite shiplap board, eco-friendly, low maintenance and backed by a 10-year warranty.
• SuProtect Cladding is the upgraded option. It's co-extruded, meaning a tough protective polymer shell is bonded around the composite core during manufacturing. This "capped" outer layer gives extra resistance to staining, fading and wear.

Slatted composite cladding

Slatted Cladding creates vertical or horizontal slats with shadow lines between them, giving depth and a sharp, architectural finish. It's the go-to for contemporary feature walls, entrances, garden room fronts and privacy screens. Boards measure 2900 x 222 x 25mm and come in colours including Midnight Black, Noir, Antique, Ashwood, Walnut, Teak, Oak and Polar Mist.

Quick comparison

Composite cladding vs timber cladding

Timber cladding looks great on day one, but in Ireland's damp climate it needs regular treatment to stop it greying, splitting or rotting. Composite cladding gives a similar look with far less upkeep:

Cladding accessories you'll need

A clean cladding job depends on the finishing pieces as much as the boards. We stock everything in our cladding accessories range, including:

• Composite Corner Trim and WPC External Corners for neat outside corners
• Aluminium L-Shape Trim and Aluminium End Pieces to finish board ends and openings
• Slatted Alu Int/Ext Trim for slatted cladding corners
• Aluminium Joists or WPC Joists as battens to fix the boards to
• Coloured Screws matched to your board colour

Installation basics

Composite cladding is fixed to a framework of battens rather than directly to the wall. That leaves a ventilated gap behind the boards so moisture can drain and air can circulate. A few general pointers:

• Use rot-proof battens such as aluminium or WPC joists, fixed level and plumb.
• Leave the ventilation and expansion gaps recommended for your board, especially at the top and bottom of the wall.
• Plan your corners, window reveals and board ends before you start, so you order the right trims.
• For house facades, especially multi-storey buildings or walls close to a boundary, check fire safety and planning requirements with your architect, engineer or local council before you order.

Our team can talk you through spacing, drainage and the accessories you'll need for your wall.

Pair cladding with composite decking and fencing

Because Leeco makes cladding, decking and fencing in matching colours, it's easy to create a joined-up outdoor space. Combine your cladding with composite decking and composite fencing. For more on decking, read our composite decking buyer's guide, and for fencing, see the ultimate guide to composite fencing for Irish homes.