Frequently asked questions

Cladex Elevations is a Coimbatore-based facade contractor. We design and install ACP cladding, structural and spider glazing, toughened glass work, aluminium partitions and soffit ceilings for showrooms, shops, offices, hospitals, hotels, factories and homes across Tamil Nadu and Kerala.

Our team has more than 10 years of hands-on experience in ACP and glazing work, has completed 100+ projects, and has worked with many brands across Tamil Nadu. The work is led by Er. Sanjay M. and Er. Aravind M., civil engineers from Coimbatore Institute of Technology (CIT), who stay involved from site measurement to handover.

We are based in Coimbatore, with a head office in Ramnagar and a branch at NSN Palayam, and we take up projects across Tamil Nadu and Kerala, including Tiruppur, Erode, Salem, Madurai, Trichy, Chennai, Palakkad, Thrissur, Kochi, Kozhikode and Thiruvananthapuram.

Message us on WhatsApp at +91 95003 39844 with a photo of the building, the approximate size and your location. We will discuss options, arrange a site visit to take exact measurements, and then send a written quotation based on the actual area and specification.

ACP cladding cost depends on the sheet brand and grade, thickness, core type (standard or fire-retardant), coating (PVDF or polyester), the aluminium sub-frame, building height and design complexity. Because these vary so much, a fair rate comes only after a site measurement. Share your building details on WhatsApp for an accurate quote.

Most modern showrooms use both. Large toughened glass panels, often with spider or structural glazing, put the products on display, while ACP cladding frames the glass, carries the signage and covers the structure. The right balance depends on what you sell, the direction the front faces and your budget.

Yes. Besides showrooms and commercial buildings, we take up front elevations for houses and villas, glass work such as railings and partitions, and soffit ceilings for porches and sit-outs. Tell us about your home and we will suggest options that suit its design and budget.

Yes, when the right grade is chosen and it is installed properly. For exterior walls we recommend PVDF-coated sheets that hold their colour under strong sun, a properly anchored aluminium sub-frame, and careful sealing and drainage detailing for heavy monsoon rain and coastal humidity.

ACP cladding is a facade finish made by fixing aluminium composite panels to a metal framework in front of a building's wall. Each panel has two thin painted aluminium skins bonded to a polyethylene or fire-retardant mineral core. It is light, flat, weather-resistant and available in many colours and finishes, which is why it is so widely used for shop fronts, offices and commercial buildings.

There is no single rate, because the price per sq ft depends on the core (PE or fire-retardant), thickness, coating (PVDF or polyester), finish and brand. The installed cost also covers the framework, routing and folding, sealant, scaffolding or lift access, and the size and height of the wall. Cladex measures your site and sends a free, itemised quote on WhatsApp so you can compare like for like.

Yes, ACP works well for house front elevations when it is specified and installed properly. It is light, stays flat, comes in wood-grain, metallic and solid finishes, and does not peel like paint. For homes we recommend 4 mm exterior-grade sheets with a PVDF coating, a rust-protected framework and well-sealed joints, especially around sunshades and parapets where water collects.

Mid-tone colours, metallics and wood-grain finishes usually age best in Tamil Nadu and Kerala because they hide dust and rain streaks better than very light gloss or very dark shades. A good rule is one main colour plus one accent, chosen to suit the paint, glass and stone already on the building. Always judge physical shade samples in real daylight on site before deciding.

An ACP fascia is a horizontal band of aluminium composite panels above a shop or showroom front. It covers the beam and slab edge, frames the glass or shutter below, and gives the brand name a clean, even background. Because ACP is flat, light and factory-coated, it looks sharper and lasts better than a painted or tiled band.

The price depends on the fascia length and depth, corners and column wraps, the ACP grade and finish, extra framing for heavy illuminated signage, height and access, and whether work must happen outside trading hours. Because each frontage is different, Cladex visits the shop, measures it and sends a free itemised quote on WhatsApp, with fascia, framing and signage provisions shown separately.

Structural glazing is a facade system where glass is bonded to a hidden aluminium frame using structural silicone sealant, instead of being held by visible pressure plates or caps on the outside. The result is a smooth, flush glass surface broken only by thin sealant joints. It is widely used on offices, malls, showrooms and other commercial buildings.

A curtain wall is any non-load-bearing outer wall, usually aluminium and glass, hung from the building's structure. Structural glazing is one way of holding the glass in that wall, using structural silicone instead of external caps. So many curtain walls use structural glazing, while others use visible pressure plates and caps to retain the glass.

Spider glazing is a frameless, point-fixed glass system. Toughened glass panels are drilled near the corners and held by stainless steel spider fittings, each with one to four arms, which are mounted on a steel, glass-fin or cable support structure. Because there are no frames around the glass, the facade looks almost completely transparent, which makes it popular for showrooms and lobbies.

For vertical showroom fronts, 10 mm or 12 mm toughened glass is typical, chosen according to panel size, height and wind exposure. Overhead spider canopies and some larger or higher panels should use laminated toughened glass so the broken pieces stay bonded to the interlayer if a pane fails. All holes must be drilled before the glass is toughened.

Curtain wall glazing is a non-load-bearing outer wall of aluminium framing and glass that hangs from a building's floor slabs or structure. It carries only its own weight and wind loads back to the building and does not support any floors. Because it runs continuously past the slabs, it can wrap several storeys in glass, as on most modern office buildings.

Curtain wall describes the whole outer wall system of aluminium frame and glass hung from the building. Structural glazing describes one way of holding the glass, by bonding it to the frame with structural silicone instead of external pressure plates and caps. A curtain wall can use structural glazing, capped glazing, or a mix of the two.

Toughened glass, also called tempered glass, is float glass that has been heated above 600 degrees Celsius and rapidly cooled with air. This creates compression in the surfaces, making it roughly four to five times stronger than ordinary annealed glass of the same thickness. When it breaks, it shatters into small, relatively blunt pieces, which is why it is used as safety glass.

The price of 12 mm toughened glass depends on the glass type (clear, extra-clear, tinted or frosted), panel size, the number of holes and notches, edge finishing, heat-soak testing and brand. An installed job also includes hardware such as patch fittings or floor springs, and access. Cladex measures your opening and shares a free quote on WhatsApp rather than quoting a generic rate.

Balcony railings use toughened glass, typically 10 mm or 12 mm thick when supported by posts or a top rail. For frameless channel and spigot railings, toughened laminated glass is the safer choice because if one ply breaks the panel stays in place. The right thickness depends on panel size, the fixing system and how exposed the balcony is.

Glass railing price depends on the fixing system (spigot, channel, posts or standoffs), stainless steel grade, glass type and thickness, the handrail, the total length and number of corners, and site conditions such as the slab edge and floor level. Cladex visits the site, checks the fixing edge and sends a free, itemised quote on WhatsApp rather than quoting a flat rate.

The price of a bathroom glass partition depends on the glass thickness (8 mm or 10 mm), the glass finish, the layout (fixed panel, hinged, sliding or corner enclosure), the hardware material and finish, the bathroom size and the number of bathrooms. Cladex measures your bathroom on site and shares a free, itemised quote on WhatsApp for the layout you prefer.

Toughened safety glass is the right choice for any shower partition, usually 8 mm or 10 mm thick. 10 mm feels sturdier and suits larger panels and frameless hinged doors, while 8 mm is common for smaller panels and sliding systems. Clear glass gives an open look; frosted or acid-etched glass adds privacy. Ordinary annealed glass should never be used in a shower.

Aluminium partition price depends on the running length and height, the section series and finish, the infill (glass, prelaminated board or ACP), the number and type of doors, the hardware, and extras like sliding windows, blinds and electrical cut-outs. Cladex visits your site in Coimbatore, measures the space and shares a free, itemised quote on WhatsApp.

Partitions in India are commonly built with 2.5-inch or 4-inch aluminium partition section series. The 4-inch series is stiffer and suits taller, full-height partitions and longer spans, while the 2.5-inch series is used for lower and lighter partitions. The section weight, wall thickness and finish should be stated clearly in the quotation.

Glass office partition cost depends on the system (frameless, framed or double-glazed), glass type and thickness, the number of glass doors and their hardware, films and blinds, the total length and height, and site conditions such as ceiling junctions and after-hours work. Cladex visits your office, measures it and sends a free quote on WhatsApp, with options at different price levels.

Frameless office partitions usually use 10 mm or 12 mm toughened glass, because the glass must stand on its own in floor and ceiling channels. 12 mm is preferred for taller panels and frameless glass doors. Framed partitions can use thinner toughened glass because the aluminium profiles give support. Laminated glass is chosen where better sound reduction is needed.

A soffit ceiling is the finished ceiling on the underside of an exposed building element, such as a roof overhang, canopy, porch, balcony, sunshade or cantilevered floor. Outdoors it is usually made of ACP or aluminium panels on a metal framework, because these materials resist humidity and rain splash and give a neat surface for downlights.

A false ceiling is a suspended ceiling inside a room, usually hiding services and AC ducts below the slab. A soffit ceiling finishes the underside of an exposed or semi-exposed element, such as a canopy, overhang or porch, and is often outdoors. Soffits therefore need weather-resistant materials and must be fixed to resist wind suction, which interior false ceilings normally do not face.

MS structural steel work is the fabrication and erection of mild steel frames that carry other building elements. On facades it includes the sub-frames behind ACP cladding and glazing, canopy frames, projecting elevation frames and signage supports. The frames are made from sections such as beams, channels, angles and hollow sections, joined by welding or bolting, and anchored to the building structure.

ACP panels are thin and cannot carry themselves away from the wall. A frame holds them at the right distance and line, carries their weight and resists wind pressure and suction. For simple flat cladding the frame can be light, but projecting boxes, tall fascia bands and canopies need a properly designed MS structure anchored into the building.

An ACP canopy is a projecting roof over an entrance, porch or shop front, built on a mild steel frame and clad with aluminium composite panels on the top, edges and underside. It is lighter than a concrete canopy, can match the colours of an ACP elevation, and gives a clean surface for lights and signage.

Yes. ACP is a cladding material and cannot carry a canopy on its own. A mild steel frame anchored to the building carries the weight and resists wind uplift, and the ACP is fixed over it. The frame size depends on the canopy depth, width and support type.

Facade fins are repeated blades, usually vertical, fixed in front of a building's walls or windows. They shade the facade from direct sun, reduce glare inside and give the building depth and rhythm. They are commonly made from ACP over a steel or aluminium frame, or from aluminium sections.

The terms overlap. Fins usually refers to vertical blades that project out from the facade, while louvers usually refers to a series of horizontal or angled slats. Both shade the building and add character; the choice depends on the sun direction and the look you want.

A CNC jali is a decorative screen cut on a computer-controlled machine from a digital pattern. For exterior elevations it is usually cut from mild steel sheet on a laser or plasma cutter, then coated and fixed on a frame. It gives privacy, shade and a distinctive look while letting air and light through.

Mild steel will rust if left bare, which is why the cut edges must be deburred and cleaned and the panels powder coated or primed and painted. With a good coating and occasional checks, especially on edges and around fixings, an MS screen performs well outdoors. In coastal areas the coating needs extra care.

HPL cladding is a facade finish made of high-pressure compact laminate panels fixed on a ventilated sub-frame. The panels are made by pressing layers of resin-impregnated paper under heat and high pressure, with a decorative surface on top. Exterior grades have a UV and weather-resistant finish suitable for outdoor use.

Yes, if it is an exterior-grade compact HPL and it is fixed correctly. Exterior HPL is made to resist sun, rain and temperature changes, and it gives a durable wood-look or solid-colour finish. Interior laminate sheets are not suitable outdoors and will fail quickly.

PUF panel roofing uses insulated sandwich panels made of a polyurethane foam core bonded between two pre-painted steel sheets. The panels are fixed on a steel roof frame. They keep out much more heat and rain noise than a single metal sheet and give a finished ceiling underneath.

Yes, PUF panels are a good choice for terrace rooms, extensions and light roofs on houses, because they are insulated, quieter in rain and much lighter than an RCC slab. The roof needs a properly designed steel frame and good flashing details at the edges and walls to stay watertight.