Wall cladding is the process of layering one material on top of another material which will create a skin layer over the walls. Cladding is used for preventing the walls and the internal workings of a room or building from being damaged by water or allowing the leakage of water that could potentially become a hazard for people who are walking around inside of the structure. Wall cladding is available in several types and forms with different materials, texture, and dimensions. Wall claddings are used both in the interior [wallpapers] and exterior [applying a material] of a building.
Advantages of wall cladding
Cladding serves as a barrier against direct exposure of the walls to the elements and their harmful influence. It has several advantages.
- Increases the mechanical strength of a structure.
- Protects the underlying structure as well as provides aesthetic.
- Improves thermal insulation.
- Serves decorative purposes.
- Improves the resistance to cracking while increasing the temperature.
- Reduces water absorption.
- Provides resistance to sunlight.
- Safeguards against air and chemical pollution.
- Provide the right acoustics for sound insulation or absorption.
Different types of wall cladding
Wall Cladding types are distinguished according to the type of materials used for their fabrication. With the growing demand for greater resilience and better protection at lower costs, advances in technology have added several types of choices. Each of them is discussed below.
Natural stone cladding
Natural stone cladding cost usually depends on the type of stone being purchased like Slates, Sandstones, Marble, Granites, Limestones & Quartzites. The cost is also highly dependent on the shape and size required. Claddings can be made of stone strips ranging from 2 rows to 15 rows. Therefore, the more the number of pieces in a single stone cladding, the more is the adhesive required to paste them. It provides a feeling of warmth in the building. It can be installed over a surface either made of concrete or steel.
Vinyl cladding
Vinyl cladding is available in an array of different colours. As vinyl remains one of the cheapest cladding materials and comes alongside proven energy efficiency, not only can it save you money during the installation process but also in the future. Panels can even be fitted with an additional layer of insulation that forms a temperature-controlling blanket over your property, keeping the space warm in the Winter and cool in the Summer. Compared to its alternatives, vinyl is considerably more lightweight, allowing panels to be completely flexible when covering a building. It is dent-resistant & flake proof and does not require re-painting.
Aluminum cladding
Aluminum cladding offers great benefits compared to other metals. Aluminum weighs in at about the third of the weight of steel. On average it weighs around 2,7g/cm3. This makes aluminum a great material to build with, aluminium will last for several decades. It is recyclable and won’t lose any of its quality in the process. Aluminum is emitted all the time and the process takes little energy. It can be easily formed in various shapes, sizes, and finishes, making it a metal that can be used for various purposes.
Wood cladding
Woom remains to be one of the most aesthetically pleasing of all cladding types. Commonly installed in long, narrow boards that can be fitted horizontally, vertically or diagonally, the outcome of timber cladding can be entirely customized to achieve the decorative finish you require. For siding purposes, wood is weather-resistant, and an incredibly good insulator. It is durable and easy to install. The natural look of wood offers unmatched aesthetic quality. Wooden boards also serve as materials for decking and flooring.
Natural stone cladding
Brick cladding
Brick cladding bricks are constructed using lightweight materials and in a variety of different colours. It provides full protection against all elements it may be exposed to. Cladding made with brick will not crack, rot or show signs of pollutant damage. Most bricks for cladding are manufactured using proprietary, state of art equipment developed in-house. It provides energy-efficient warmth in winter and cool in summer. They combine perfectly with passive building design to harness natural sources of energy. The natural density and thermal insulating qualities of brick cladding provide moderate building temperature and reduce energy consumption rates.
Fiber Cement Cladding
Fiber Cement Cladding is composed of sand, cement and cellulose fibers which act as reinforcement. These panels are used as an exterior wall cladding material in residential, commercial and industrial buildings. They come in the form of planks and panels along with various texture details. These are made to mimic longer wooden planks and are frequently used in buildings. One of the most advantages of this wall cladding system is dimensional stability. These do not contract and expand, unlike exterior wall cladding panels made with traditional materials.
Stainless Steel cladding
The stainless steel cladding is very durable and resistant to environmental effects. The stainless steel contains a good proportion of chromium (minimum 10%) which reacts with oxygen to form a passive layer of chromium oxide (Cr2O3) which is non-porous and restricts further corrosion. Stainless steel cladding can be used on carbon steels and low alloy steels. It has high resistance to environmental effects. It is manufactured with a minimum of 10% of chromium so that when exposed to oxygen in the atmosphere an oxide of chromium is formed.
Weatherboard cladding
Weatherboard is made from a timber tapered board that is layered thick end over the narrow end, meaning that at points on the wall there are two layers of cladding. It is normally fixed horizontally. It is available in a wide variety of colours and profiles. These are designed with the look and feel of wood, often with an embossed finish, but give low maintenance and long-lasting alternative to timber.
Brick cladding
Glass cladding
Glass cladding can be used for interior and exterior applications.It provides a practical and cost-effective alternative to tiling, painting and other forms of decoration. These types of cladding can provide a striking, easily maintained wall surface that is ideal in a wide range of commercial interiors and exterior. There are a variety of glass cladding options including tempered, laminated, enameled, curved and specially treated glass, offering significant flexibility in terms of appearance, performance and composition options to suit modern architectural requirements.
External foam cladding
External foam cladding is made from a type of foam, such as expanded polystyrene. External foam cladding can also be known as an External Insulated Finish System (EIFS). The polystyrene has a reinforced core and it has a special coating on it (fiberglass mesh) to ensure that the cladding panels are strong and resistant to impacts. These come in panels that are available in different sizes and thicknesses so that you can use them on a variety of buildings and for different applications.
Ceramic cladding
Ceramic cladding provides additional support to the ceramic tiles. It offers numerous benefits that account for its growing demand. These claddings are highly resistant to extreme weather conditions and do not get damaged easily. They can last for long years without any visible wear and tear. They are also not affected by rain or the increasing pollution level. Moreover, being resistant to harmful UV rays, these are an ideal option for your building. It is made of completely natural materials, it is even safe for the environment. It can be easily recycled and helps in reducing the carbon footprints in the environment.
Glass cladding
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