A building’s reputation is set by how it behaves in bad weather, not in good. The choices that decide that are made long before anyone sees the finished facade.
Water is the real opponent
Almost every premature failure traces back to water: a detail that lets it in, a material that cannot dry out, a joint that opens. Flashings, drainage planes and ventilation are worth more attention than the visible finish.
Freeze and thaw cycles
In climates with hard winters, materials that absorb water and then freeze will crack. That applies to concrete, masonry and cladding alike. Choosing assemblies that shed water rather than hold it is the single most effective durability decision available.
Maintenance you can actually keep up
A finish that needs resealing every few years will eventually be neglected. Where a choice exists between a material that lasts longer and one that looks marginally better at handover, the longer one is usually the better answer for an owner.
— Asif Memon