There are a lot of reasons why people are attracted to cladding, after all there are a lot of options when it comes to cladding, enough to satisfy pretty much any taste imaginable. Building cladding typically comes down to three different types of materials, wood, metal and stone, but even between these three options there are many, many more.
Metal cladding is done through the use of a number of different metals; commonly you will find steel, zinc and copper used for cladding, but this is mainly due to the lower costs of these materials. You can also find other materials in use, but these tend to be slightly more expensive.
Wood cladding, often referred to as timber cladding, is actually pretty diverse in options. You have an assortment of man-made woods, which look and work like a natural wood but may be slightly more fire-resistant or insulative in its properties. You obviously have a very wide range in natural woods, including Oak, Cedar, and pine, with cedar being the most popular of the three.
Stone cladding is less common on account of it being slightly more expensive than both other options, but the end result can still be spectacular. This option includes everything from slate, a relatively cheap option, to marble and granite, both of which are heading towards the upper end of the market.