What aluminum cladding actually means
Aluminum is an excellent cladding material because it is light, corrosion-resistant, accepts stable color coatings, and offers an optimal strength-to-weight ratio. Compared to steel, aluminum weighs one third. Compared to stone, less than one tenth. This enables thin cladding systems that do not burden the structure.
The market has three main categories: aluminum composite panels (ACP, of which Alucobond is the leading example), solid aluminum panels (single skin), and architectural aluminum panels that are folded or perforated. Each suits a different project type.
Alucobond and friends: composite panels (ACP)
ACP panels are the most widespread technology in modern facade cladding. They consist of two aluminum skins 0.5 mm thick with an internal core of 3 or 4 mm. The core can be polyethylene (PE, not used professionally anymore), fire retardant (FR), or non-combustible mineral (A2).
The advantages: full design flexibility, hundreds of colors and finishes, CNC fabrication for sharp corners, low weight, reasonable cost, and 25-year PVDF coating durability. Alucobond by Schweizerische is the best known product in the category, but there are also Reynobond, Alpolic, and other premium brands.
Solid aluminum panels (single skin)
Solid aluminum panels are exactly that, a single aluminum sheet 2 to 4 mm thick, no core. They are stiffer, more expensive, and used mainly in high-luxury buildings or for facades requiring special non-standard panels.
They suit places demanding exceptional mechanical resistance, like low-level balconies that may take a hit, or where aesthetics demand an especially thin panel. At a 30 to 50 percent premium over ACP. For standard projects there is no reason to choose them.
Architectural aluminum panels
The third category includes folded, perforated, ribbed, and decorated panels. Examples: perforated panels that transmit light with shading, vertical wood-grain panels, decorative aluminum mesh, and deep-folded panels with shadow play.
Applications: public buildings, schools, museums, luxury shopping centers, and office buildings wanting unique character. Cost is high (2 to 4 times ACP) but the visual result is distinctive. Typically used as facade accents combined with ACP elsewhere on the facade.
Which type of aluminum suits which project?
The choice depends on three considerations: project type, budget and the design requirement. Here is the practical rule we give clients:
- Residential, mid-rise offices and standard commercial: ACP is the natural choice
- Luxury buildings with special detailing: ACP on the main facade with architectural panels as a local accent
- Public buildings with a design requirement: deep architectural panels, in A2 core
- Towers: ACP in A2 grade with a mineral core
- Facade renovation on an existing building: ACP, the best cost-benefit ratio
What sets the price
We do not publish price bands, because the number changes from project to project. These are the factors that move it most:
- Facade geometry. The number of openings, corners and folds per m². A large flat elevation costs far less per m² than a detailed one.
- Substrate condition. On an existing building this is the hardest item to judge remotely, and the one that surprises people in cheap quotations.
- Access equipment. Standard scaffolding, a suspended platform or rope access. At height this is a significant line of its own.
- Panel grade and finish. Fire-retardant or mineral core, and a standard finish versus metallic, wood-effect or a custom RAL colour.
- Project size. A larger area lowers the cost per m² through repetition and installation efficiency.
A binding quotation follows a discovery call and a site visit, in writing and itemised line by line. Book a site visit.
All bands include material, labour and a rear ventilated facade system, before VAT. The full cost breakdown is in our Alucobond cladding cost guide.
What matters specifically on an Israeli project?
The Israeli climate demands specific criteria. Strong sun, winter humidity and, in coastal areas, salt, all attack facades harder. A quality PVDF coating handles all three, but not all brands are equal. Tier 1 manufacturers offer UV stability warranties of 20 years and more. Cheap imported panels can fade within 5 years.
Reaction-to-fire classification under IS 921 applies to every project. ACP in A2 grade is the customary specification on towers, in public buildings and in hospitals. Here the difference between a serious manufacturer and a cheap one is critical. We work only with European-certified panels carrying full test documentation.
Key takeaways
- ACP is the right choice on most projects. Departing from it needs a specific design or mechanical reason.
- Solid aluminium costs 30 to 50 percent more and is justified only in impact-exposed areas.
- Architectural panels cost 2 to 4 times as much and are used as an accent, not a whole facade.
- A quality PVDF coating is the difference between 20 years and 5 years in Israeli sun.
- High-rise buildings and public buildings: A2 core only.
Further reading: Alucobond panel types PE, FR and A2, colours and finishes, and cladding for office and hi-tech buildings.
Frequently asked questions
Is aluminum cladding durable in Israeli sun?
Aluminum with quality PVDF coating (original Alucobond or Tier 1 alternatives) is fully durable to Israeli UV. Color fade after 20 years is less than 5 percent. Cheaper coatings are less durable and may fade within 5 to 8 years.
How much does aluminum cladding cost per square meter?
ACP (Alucobond) costs a project-specific figure with FR panels and a project-specific figure with A2 panels, including material, labour and a rear ventilated facade system, as of 2026 and before VAT. Solid aluminium panels cost 30 to 50 percent more. Folded or perforated architectural panels cost 2 to 4 times as much. The rate falls on large projects and rises on small facades with difficult access.
Can different panel types be mixed in one facade?
Yes, and sometimes it is even desirable. A common combination is ACP for large flat facades with special architectural panels at accent points (entry, lobby, window reveals). This improves appearance without breaking the budget.
What is the difference between architectural and industrial aluminum?
Architectural aluminum is designed for facade cladding with aesthetic requirements, including quality PVDF coating and precise manufacturing tolerances. Industrial aluminum is used for functional buildings like warehouses, without quality coating and without finish requirements. The difference in cost and quality is significant.
