There are various kinds of wall cladding, ranging from brick and stone to wood and metal. Wall cladding is a decorative covering that makes a wall appear to be made of a different material than it actually is. It is usually non-structural and intended to be stylistic rather than functional. A single wall in a bathroom or building facade might be covered in materials like wood paneling or stone to add visual interest. Common types of wall cladding include metal, masonry, and composite materials designed to resemble expensive substances like brick or wood.

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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 made
of a different sort of material than it actually is. Some of the most common examples are
on the outside of buildings, but cladding can also be an artistic element in interior
decorating. It’s usually non-structural, which means that it doesn’t impact the stability or
integrity 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 of
almost anything, but various metals, stones, and composite materials are the most
common.
Main Function
Cladding is almost always intended to be stylistic rather than functional and is usually
designed to help accent a particular feature or room. Though it could conceivably cover
every surface in a house or building, it’s more common to find it in just one or two key
areas. A single bathroom wall might be covered in wood paneling, for instance, which
could give the illusion of depth and warmth, or a single corner or side of a office building
might be layered with intricate stone work. The idea is usually to add interest and
vibrancy without the expense of actually re-building a wall or partition. As such, the
various 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. Other
metals, such as aluminum, may also be used to achieve more durability, and typically also
come in a wider range of finishes and colors. Sometimes the finished product is smooth
and shiny, but it can also be textured, weathered, or patterned. A lot depends on the
owner, 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 built
into an interior wall. In these cases the intent is usually to mimic the look and feel of an
exposed wall in a structure that is built in a more modern fashion. Stone is typically very
durable but, depending on the particular design, it may not be waterproof. Certain types
of stone may allow moisture to penetrate to the underlying surface, which can be
particularly problematic if that surface is made of wood or other material that is prone to
rotting.
Composite Materials
In addition to actual brick and stone, there are also various types of imitation cladding
that are made of composite materials designed resemble other, more expensive
substances. These may look like brick, for instance, but really be made of asphalt, fiber
cement, or other building products; ply board may be stained and dyed to look like rich
cherry or birch wood, too.
Cost is usually a factor in these decisions since composites are usually a lot less expensive
to manufacture and install. There may also be structural advantages, particularly in
interior 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 the
building was designed from the beginning with these features in mind, the sheer weight
of 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 of
reassessing the building’s integrity.
Potential Drawbacks
Care and cleaning can pose difficulties, particularly in highly textured patterns that could
collect dust. Copper and other alloys may also be subject to oxidation and discoloration if
left untreated on outer or exposed walls; sometimes this is a “natural” look that is
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There are various kinds of cladding, ranging
from brick and stone to wood and metal.
A bathroom wall may be covered in wood
paneling.

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Article Details
Originally Written By: Jeremy
Laukkonen
Revised By: C. Mitchell
Edited By: Michelle Arevalo
Last Modified Date: 27 April 2015
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2003-2015 Conjecture Corporation
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desirable, but not always. It’s usually important for owners to learn about how to
maintain 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 presents
challenges. 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 these
sorts of coverings to have something else in mind for the wall. In most cases it is bare and
stripped beneath the cladding and, depending on how things were affixed, may have a
number of surface blemishes that will require more than a coat of paint to restore.
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