What Is Wall Cladding | 11 Types of Wall Cladding | Cladding Materials | Exterior Wall Materials
Wall Cladding
Wall cladding is a great way to protect the home’s exterior walls from weather adverse effects as well as other types of irritants that may create a negative effect on the building.
Cladding can be done by providing an extra layer to the walls of any material. It can be a great option for our interior walls.
Are you planning to renovate your home? Have the colors of your walls started fading? And, are you planning to paint your home? Then, paint is not the only option you have. Most of the options are not much talked about which can be a perfect fit for your home.
So, let’s explore one of the most popular alternatives to painting is Wall Cladding. There are different types of Wall Cladding options available in the market.
By this, it does not mean painting should be avoided- it is necessary for your walls for the first layer. But, you can try out something new and can go on to add a variety to your home by utilizing one of these cladding options.
And of course, you can affordably transform your home with the options discussed below.
First, let us know a bit about wall cladding types.
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What Is Wall Cladding?
Wall cladding is a great way to protect the home’s exterior walls from weather adverse effects as well as other types of irritants that may create a negative effect on the building.
Cladding can be done by providing an extra layer to the walls of any material. It can be a great option for our interior walls.
Wall cladding is a method of fitting one material over another material that will create an extra protective and attractive layer over the walls.
Cladding is almost exclusively used to protect the exterior walls from adverse effects of weather elements such as sun, wind, snow, and heavy rain.
It gives a nice appearance and also provides thermal insulation.
Factors to be Considered for Wall Cladding
I. Interior Wall Cladding
- The cladding should have a proper finish.
- It should be moisture resistant.
- It should be resistant to stain and hide them as much as possible
- It should be easily washable.
II. Exterior Wall Cladding
- Renders protection to the walls against weather conditions.
- It should be aesthetically appealing.
- It helps in the thermal insulation of the house.
- It also cuts off the sound and helps in making the building sound-proof.
- It should be able to resist fire for a longer period.
- Let’s have a look at the types of cladding you can have for your home and their characteristics.
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Types of Wall Cladding
Following are the various types of cladding,
- Stone Cladding
- Vinyl Cladding
- Brick Cladding
- Fibre Cement Cladding
- Wooden Cladding
- Aluminum Cladding
- Steel Cladding
- Glass Cladding
1. Stone Cladding
It includes a layer of stones like granite, sandstone, and slate, thus giving a natural look. It gives an ancient feel.
It is a great option for your living room, indoor gardens, or bathroom walls.
- You get a lot of variety as it comes in a number of colors and textures.
- It is lightweight and durable too.
- It does not absorb much water, therefore it is a great option for bathroom walls and indoor gardens.
- Its natural appearance stands out amidst the other walls. So, it is a great option for the walls of the living room.
- Stains are easily hidden away in the wall as it is of dark color.
2. Vinyl Cladding
Vinyl Cladding
- It includes cladding of polyvinyl chloride — PVC.
- If you want to make your exterior walls aesthetically appealing, then you can go for this.
- Its quality is a little bit lower than wood, but so is its cost.
- It can easily withstand harsh climatic conditions. Galvanization can be done to make it resistant to weather.
- It is not costly, so it can be considered if you are looking for something under the budget.
- It is a versatile material- it offers various choices in terms of color, texture, and design from which you can mix and match and get your perfect unique look.
- It comes with its own locking system by fixing nails on the walls.
- As some space is left between the walls and the vinyl cladding, it serves an insulation purpose too.
- No tension of warping or bending as in the case of wooden cladding.
- It does not require much maintenance. Just take a damp cloth dipped in soap water and you are good to go. Costly cleaning agents are not required.
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3. Brick Cladding
Brick Cladding
- Brick cladding gives a decorative finish if it is done systematically.
- Its installation is difficult and expensive too for bricks of particular finish are to be worked out and adjusted on the wall.
- It is available in different colors, textures, and finishes. Even sizes can be varied too.
- It is easily washable.
- Bricks have high fire resistance, so brick cladding is also resistant to fire.
- It works as an insulating layer and protects from extreme heat and cold.
4. Fibre Cement Cladding
Fibre Cement Cladding
- It gives a beautiful finish though it is a low-cost option.
- Its durability is high as it is resistant to bacteria and rotting.
- It does not shrink, warp, or crack in harsh climatic conditions after installation.
- It is weather-proof and provides fire resistance too.
- Maintenance is almost negligible.
- Its installation is quite easy too. It can be just fitted into an aluminum frame.
5. Wooden Cladding
Wooden Cladding
- It can give a nice 3- dimensional finish as sheets of solid wood are installed. The wood of cedar and redwood trees is used for this purpose.
- It is a high-rated cladding option after stone. It is much stronger than vinyl and aluminum cladding.
- However, its installation and maintenance are quite expensive. Care should be exercised otherwise rotting and warping takes place.
- The surface is coated with a pigment or stain to make it weather-proof. Painting the surface also suffices the need.
- Its beauty is eye-catching as it stands out from the rest. It gives a natural look and is quite durable too if maintained properly.
- The versatility of the wood paneling is the highest. Any length required as per the condition can be achieved by just trimming the wood. Different patterns in wood are available and you can select any color for the paint.
- It is environment-friendly material as it is obtained from nature.
- Its thermal insulation capacity is far better than that of steel and concrete. Thus, it can help in energy conservation.
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6. Aluminum Cladding
