FACO is a registered trademark of Fajr Al-Arab Ltd, and it installs cladding on shop and company facades, alongside signs and illuminated letters. And before you choose the panel colour or approve a quote, it helps to know what the words “cladding” or “alumital” mean, which specifications are worth asking about, and how the cladding relates to the sign and the letters. This guide explains these points in the buyer’s language, then directs you to the facade cladding installation service to request the work.
What is facade cladding (alumital)?
In the local market, “cladding” and “alumital” are often used to describe composite panels of two layers of aluminium with an inner core (also known as ACP panels). These panels are installed on a supporting structure over the shop or building facade, producing a level surface whose colours can be coordinated with the identity, and with positions for the sign, the letters and the lighting prepared within the design.
The panel itself is not a single decision: the core, the coating, the thickness and the fixing system differ according to the use of the facade, its height and its exposure to sun and dust. For that reason the choice is approved after a review of the site, not from the material name alone.
Panel specifications worth asking about
No standard FACO specifications are stated here; the suitable specification is determined for each project in the quote. In the market the following questions are usually raised:
- Thickness: among the thicknesses common in commercial applications is 4 mm, and the suitable thickness is determined after a review of the facade.
- The core and the fire classification: panels are sometimes distinguished between an ordinary core and another with fire-resistant specifications (such as the classifications known in the market as FR or A2). A particular classification may be required according to the use of the building and local requirements. Ask about the classification required for your site, and ask for it to be written in the quote if it applies.
- The outer coating: for facades exposed to the sun, the type of coating and its resistance to fading and weather conditions are usually asked about. PVDF coating is mentioned in the market as an option for external facades.
- Colour, gloss and the straightness of the surface: ask for the colour and finish to be approved on a sample or a clear design before manufacturing, and state if there is a binding brand colour.
Any figure or classification written in the quote must match what will be installed, not a general marketing description.
The structure and the installation work: what do you review before the work?
Cladding is not panels stuck onto the facade as they are. It needs a structure that carries the panels, treatment of the building corners and the openings (doors, windows and signs), details for water drainage and for the panels’ expansion with heat, and a clear path for any wiring if the letters or the sign are illuminated.
At the level of the request, ask:
- Who prepares the structure and who installs the panels? And are they in a single scope?
- How are the facade corners, the openings and the positions of the sign and the letters treated?
- What is the condition of the current facade if the work is a renovation, not new construction?
- What is the installation height and the method of access to the site?
The actual sequence of the work (inspection, design, approval of the quote, preparation and installation, then review) is set out on the cladding service page, and the scope of each item differs according to the project.
The two photos below show the steel-structure stage and the cladding-panel stage during work on the Al-Hussain Toys facade in Riyadh, on a project whose scope also included the illuminated letters. Project details are in Al-Hussain Toys Facade: Cladding and Illuminated Letters in Riyadh.
Considerations of Riyadh’s climate
Riyadh combines high heat, long hours of sun and dust. These are general conditions that affect the choice of coating and the stability of the colour, the details of the joints and the fixing, and the scheduling of work on the site. They are not translated here into load figures, warranty periods or performance promises from FACO; they become questions asked when the specification is approved: is the coating suitable for external exposure at your site? And were the openings and joints taken into account in the design?
Coordinating the cladding with signs and letters
FACO produces the cladding, the signs and the illuminated letters, and they can be brought together in a single scope when that is stated in the quote. It is preferable to determine the positions of the letters and the sign and the path of the lighting before the panels are installed, so the facade does not have to be opened again later. FACO installs letters and signs on cladding, glass, stone, concrete and plaster facades after reviewing the fixing method on the site.
To review what is checked before a sign is fixed to the facade, see Installing letters and signs on different types of facades. And for a documented example of cladding with letters and a sign, see the Aljrais Trading Company facade project and the Al-Hussain Toys facade project in Riyadh.
A new facade or renovation of an existing facade?
For a new facade it is usually enough to send the drawing or the measurements, photos of the installation site, and the layout of the entrances and the required sign. Renovation of an existing facade starts by documenting the current condition, deciding what will be kept and what will be removed, then unifying the cladding, letters and lighting in a single quote. The preparation guide: How do you prepare an existing facade for cladding and letter renovation?.
What affects the cost?
No price per metre and no price list is published here. In general the quote is affected by the area of the facade, the panel specifications, the condition of the current facade, the structure and preparation work, the installation height and ease of access, the city of the project, and whether the signs, letters and lighting are included in the scope. The items are determined in the quote after a review of the photos and measurements, not by comparing a single figure between quotes of different scope.
What do you send to request a quote?
- Clear photos of the full facade, and photos of the details and openings if any. For renovation of an existing facade: photos of the current condition and of what is to be kept or changed.
- Approximate measurements, the height of the facade, and the city of installation: Riyadh, Qassim or Sajer.
- The logo file or the brand guide if available, and a statement of whether you need the cladding only, or the cladding with the sign, the letters and the lighting.
The consultation is free. We serve Riyadh, Qassim and Sajer, and in the quote we set out the materials and the work included and excluded. Start from the facade cladding service or contact FACO.
Frequently asked questions
What is the difference between cladding and alumital?
In local commercial use they often both mean composite aluminium panels for facade cladding. What matters is not the marketing name, but the panel specifications, the structure and the installation scope written in the quote.
Is 4 mm the suitable thickness for every facade?
4 mm is one of the thicknesses common in the market, but the suitable thickness is determined after a review of the area of the facade, its height and its use.
Does a cladding facade need a fire-resistance classification?
A particular classification may be required according to the use of the building and local requirements. Ask about the classification required for your site, and ask for it to be written in the quote if it applies.
How long does execution of the facade take?
The duration differs according to the area, the design, the materials, the condition of the site and the scope of work. The execution date is set after approval of the design and the specifications, and no fixed duration is stated here.
Can 3D letters be installed on existing cladding?
Yes, FACO installs letters and signs on cladding facades after reviewing the panels, the structure behind them, the fixing positions and the path of the wiring if they are illuminated. The details are in the guide to installation on different types of facades.