Merits Achieved from the Architectural Cladding of Buildings

When a protective layer of durable building material covered the exterior surface of a wall, this technique is termed as architectural cladding. It is also used to beautify exterior and interior walls of large buildings, by installing panels made of cladding materials. Not only that, galvanized stainless steel and aluminium are used for metal cladding while pine, cedar, or plywood can be used for wood cladding. Artificial stone and strong plastic are low-cost cladding materials used by some building contractors, as per the demands of their clients. 

Notable Benefits of Architectural Cladding 

#1. Aesthetic Appearance 

The selection of cladding material is an essential factor in gaining the desired attractive look of a building structure. Stainless steel is the most preferred cladding material; credit goes to its shiny polished surface. Stone architectural cladding can be found with a rough or glossy surface and a variety of colors such as beige, cream, light yellow, pale golden, and charcoal. Brick cladding also offers vast choices of styles, among which vintage, rustic, Whitestone, grey wood, and rosebud are the popular ones for many builders. Wood cladding renders a natural look to a building, thanks to its smooth and glazy finish. These buildings retain the original decorative appeal for many years, due to the high resilience offered by cladding. 

#2. Better Protection of Walls 

The walls of a building are provided more mechanical strength due to the planned placement of architectural cladding. The cladding materials protect wall surfaces from all kinds of environmental hazards, like cyclonic winds, torrential rains, harsh sunlight, rapid snowfall, and extreme temperature changes. Moreover, building structures are also saved from the ill effects of air and chemical pollution, excess humidity, and moulds. Thus, building surfaces are less likely to develop untimely cracks and crevices, thanks to the protection offered by cladding. 

#3. Provides Thermal Insulation

The cladding of walls makes the building interior thermally insulated from external heat and chillness that fail to penetrate cladding materials, like wood and vinyl. The architectural cladding helps in optimizing the indoor temperature to a great extent. Thus, this process makes buildings energy efficient. You will notice much lesser needs of air conditioners and room heaters. So, it is an environment-friendly practice followed by most builders and house owners. The monthly expenses for paying electric bills can also be reduced because of this energy efficiency rendered by cladding the walls and roofs of buildings. 

#4. Cheap and Straightforward Installation 

PVC or polyvinyl chloride is the easiest and cheapest cladding material, as it can be cut into panels of required sizes and installed very quickly with minimum effort. Though brick and stone cladding can be more expensive, the installation process is quite simple and need only a few tools for this job. Similarly, fibre cement cladding with sheets made of cement, sand, and cellular fibre is another cost-effective and simple cladding option. 

#5. Lesser Maintenance Requirement 

Walls and other surfaces of a building need much lower maintenance after the application of architectural cladding. Aluminium cladding is the perfect choice for external walls, frontage, roofs, pillar covers, and canopies, as it needs the least maintenance. Likewise, polyvinyl or PVC cladding makes the cleaning of building surfaces very easy, as only periodical power wash with water after every two years is sufficient. Brick and stone cladding options are also preferred by many house owners, as these buildings last for many decades without any need for maintenance.     

The property value of a building increases due to the architectural cladding of its walls, facades, roof, and other structures. So, it is a widespread practice for home improvement, as it can enhance the longevity of old buildings and save expenses of further repairs in those buildings.