Whether the boat you own is a simple two-berth rowing boat or a luxury yacht, you'll almost certainly want to take steps to protect it from the elements when it is docked and not in use. For many boat owners, this means paying for expensive long-term storage, but if you're lucky enough to own waterfront property, you can protect your boat very effectively and conveniently by building a protective boathouse.

However, a shoddily built boathouse is more of a liability to your watercraft than simply storing it out in the open, and you'll want to ensure that your new boathouse provides the best protection possible, particularly if it located on an estuary or ocean shore. Adding wall cladding to your boathouse provides an excellent supplementary layer of protection for both your boathouse and the craft stored within, and fibre cement cladding is particularly well-suited to the unique demands of waterfront construction.

What are the advantages of adding fibre cement cladding to my new boathouse?

Extremely durable

Fibre cement is one of the most durable and long-lasting cladding materials on the market today because it can withstand years of constant abuse and exposure without cracking, peeling or becoming otherwise damaged. It is also highly impact-resistant, which can be very handy if your boathouse is located on a busy waterway (or you're just not that good at piloting your boat).

Will not rot, rust, or attract insects

Timber cladding may be the traditional choice for many boathouses, but it requires constant maintenance to prevent the spread of moisture-induced mould or rot and can attract termites or other wood-boring insects. Steel cladding will not suffer from these problems, but will fall victim to rust quickly without a similar level of maintenance. 

Wall cladding made from fibre cement suffers from none of these problems, making it the perfect choice for protecting boathouses that are, by their very nature, more exposed to the elements than the average building. Crucially, it is one of the few cladding materials that is not damaged by corrosive salt spray, making it the perfect choice for seaside boathouses.

Fireproof

Despite being located on the water, boathouses are surprisingly vulnerable to fire, especially if you store fuel, oil or other flammable substances within. While adding fibre cement cladding to a timber-framed boathouse will not make it magically immune to fire, it will ensure that in the event of fire, the cladding will not ignite and contribute to the blaze.

Attractive

You might assume that, as a type of cement, fibre cement cladding is a dull, unattractive grey. However, fibre cement cladding is available in a wide variety of colours and styles and can add a decorative touch to both simple and luxurious boathouses. If you want the traditional look of timber cladding without the constant maintenance that timber cladding entails, you can choose fibre cement cladding designed to closely mimic the look of timber planks and shingles.

For more information, contact a fibre cement cladding supplier.