Wall Cladding Basics

Cover your walls inside and out with cladding products for construction
By Lori Rogers-Stokes Wall cladding refers to interior and exterior coverings that go over the frame, insulation and drywall of a building. "Cladding" is an old term for covering. Traditionally, exterior cladding was wood, brick or stone. Today, there are many options for types of cladding, and myriad cladding suppliers.

Learning wall cladding basics starts with understanding what types of interior and exterior cladding are available, where you can buy cladding products for construction, and how to make your cladding project green. A short course in cladding information can make you more informed when you're dealing with wall cladding contractors. Here are three wall cladding basics:

1. Liven up the inside of a building with interior cladding.

2. Keep out heat, cold and rain with exterior wall clad.

3. Go green with environmentally safe wall cladding sellers.

Find the right interior cladding and wall cladding providers

Interior cladding has come a long way since the dark wood paneling of the 1960s and '70s. Faux finishes like stone and bamboo are available, and even wood interior cladding is now much more sophisticated. Even one type of cladding, such as stone, is available in many different materials, so you can choose the weight and finish -- and ease of installation -- of your cladding.
Try:  You can find a wide variety of interior cladding at HiMFR.com. Go to Kellysearch.com for a long list of interior cladding suppliers.

Cover any building beautifully with exterior wall clad

Exterior cladding entered its modern phase with the introduction of permanent siding. While "siding" has come to mean "cheap and easy" to many, there are many new options for exterior siding that look rich but work on any budget.
Try:  The Remodeling + Renovations page on Exterior Siding and Cladding from ElectroSmart Ltd. gives parameters for choosing different types of exterior cladding. At The Old House Web you'll find a goldmine of providers of exterior wall cladding and providers of wall cladding, organized by type of exterior clad.

Consider the planet when choosing cladding or a cladding seller

There are always green options in construction. When it comes to cladding, you can use naturally green or recycled materials. The key is to find a cladding supplier who can provide green materials and green installation.
Try:  Start with an old "green" favorite: copper's virtues are detailed at Copper.org. Learn about NRG Greenboard at Green Cladding, and get the facts on Dryvit Outsulation at Dryvit is Green. Finally, Elmwood Reclaimed Timber has data on reclaimed wood paneling.

• Most providers of wall cladding offer supplies and services for both interior and exterior cladding; see if you can get a price reduction by buying for both jobs at once.