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Category: ▼IndustryWhat Is Wall Cladding?
Wall cladding is a type of decorative covering intended to make a wall look like it is madeof a different sort of material than it actually is. Some of the most common examples areon the outside of buildings, but cladding can also be an artistic element in interiordecorating. It’s usually non-structural, which means that it doesn’t impact the stability orintegrity of a building’s architectural core. In most cases it’s designed to be permanent,and it may provide benefits like insulation and waterproofing. It can be made out ofalmost anything, but various metals, stones, and composite materials are the mostcommon.
Main Function
Cladding is almost always intended to be stylistic rather than functional and is usuallydesigned to help accent a particular feature or room. Though it could conceivably coverevery surface in a house or building, it’s more common to find it in just one or two keyareas. A single bathroom wall might be covered in wood paneling, for instance, whichcould give the illusion of depth and warmth, or a single corner or side of a office buildingmight be layered with intricate stone work. The idea is usually to add interest andvibrancy without the expense of actually re-building a wall or partition. As such, thevarious materials and textures are usually affixed to the top of an existing structure.
Metal Cladding
Metal is a popular and versatile type of wall cladding, particularly for building exteriors.Copper and its alloys, brass, and bronze are some of the most popular choices. Othermetals, such as aluminum, may also be used to achieve more durability, and typically alsocome in a wider range of finishes and colors. Sometimes the finished product is smoothand shiny, but it can also be textured, weathered, or patterned. A lot depends on theowner, the designer, and the overall vision they’re trying to achieve.
Masonry
It’s also common to see carved stone or brick affixed to the facade of a building or builtinto an interior wall. In these cases the intent is usually to mimic the look and feel of anexposed wall in a structure that is built in a more modern fashion. Stone is typically verydurable but, depending on the particular design, it may not be waterproof. Certain typesof stone may allow moisture to penetrate to the underlying surface, which can beparticularly problematic if that surface is made of wood or other material that is prone torotting.
Composite Materials
In addition to actual brick and stone, there are also various types of imitation claddingthat are made of composite materials designed resemble other, more expensivesubstances. These may look like brick, for instance, but really be made of asphalt, fibercement, or other building products; ply board may be stained and dyed to look like richcherry or birch wood, too.
Cost is usually a factor in these decisions since composites are usually a lot less expensiveto manufacture and install. There may also be structural advantages, particularly ininterior settings. A homeowner may want a wall of stones over a fireplace, for instance,and brick walls can give a great feel to an urban restaurant or cafe — but unless thebuilding was designed from the beginning with these features in mind, the sheer weightof this sort of cladding might cause significant strain on the building’s foundation.Creating lighter-weight imitations can create the same general feel without the stress ofreassessing the building’s integrity.
Potential Drawbacks
Care and cleaning can pose difficulties, particularly in highly textured patterns that couldcollect dust. Copper and other alloys may also be subject to oxidation and discoloration ifleft untreated on outer or exposed walls; sometimes this is a “natural” look that is
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There are various kinds of cladding, rangingfrom brick and stone to wood and metal.
A bathroom wall may be covered in woodpaneling.
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Originally Written By: JeremyLaukkonen
Revised By: C. MitchellEdited By: Michelle ArevaloLast Modified Date: 27 April 2015Copyright Protected:
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desirable, but not always. It’s usually important for owners to learn about how tomaintain the cladding’s appearance at the time it’s installed to avoid instances of fading,discoloration, or deterioration.
Though cladding is usually fairly easy to install, removing it sometimes presentschallenges. In most cases the structure of the wall and larger the building isn’t impacted,but the aesthetics often are. It’s usually necessary for people who are removing thesesorts of coverings to have something else in mind for the wall. In most cases it is bare andstripped beneath the cladding and, depending on how things were affixed, may have anumber of surface blemishes that will require more than a coat of paint to restore.
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