cladder

A cladder is a tradesperson who installs cladding systems on building exteriors. Cladding is the outer skin applied to a structure's frame, forming a weather-tight and often insulating envelope separate from the structural wall itself. The cladder's job is to measure, cut, fit, and secure these materials, whether they are metal panels, brick slips, timber boards, stone panels, or composite sheets, ensuring they shed water and stay mechanically sound for decades.

The actual materials and methods vary sharply by project type and climate. A cladder working on a commercial tower with aluminium composite panels faces very different tolerances and safety requirements than one installing timber boarding on a domestic renovation. Brick slip systems require different jointing and support techniques than rainscreen facades, where an air gap behind the cladding allows moisture to drain and allows the cladding to move independently of the structure. The cladder must understand how thermal expansion, wind loads, water ingress paths, and differential movement between materials will behave over time.

Training typically follows apprenticeship routes in bricklaying, carpentry, or specialist cladding programmes. A cladder needs to read technical drawings, work safely at height, operate powered tools, sequence work so flashing and sealants integrate properly with windows and doors, and understand fixings: whether to use stainless steel fasteners, chemical anchors, or mechanical clips. Poor workmanship shows quickly as water penetration, panel failure, or ice buildup.

The term itself is straightforward: one who clads. It sits alongside other craft trades like plasterer, joiner, and roofer. Unlike roofers, who work on the top surface, cladders cover the vertical skin. Unlike bricklayers, cladders more often work with non-masonry materials and are expected to manage modern rainscreen systems and ventilation principles. The job is physically demanding and increasingly specialized as building codes demand higher thermal performance and fire safety, pushing more cladders toward certified training and compliance-focused practice.