Cladding is a non-loadbearing skin or layer attached to the outside of a building to protect it from the effects of weather. It is a key element in the aesthetic appeal of any building and directly influences both building cost and property value.

Initial impacts of cladding, such as embodied energy, resource depletion and recyclability, must be balanced against maintenance and durability appropriate to life span.

The primary roles of cladding are to control the infiltration of weather elements and the egress of water vapour while providing a durable, aesthetically pleasing appearance. Secondary roles can include sound and thermal insulation, fire resistance, and the capacity for cleaning in dusty, polluted or vandal prone environments.