Tips For Wall Cladding
04/17/2018
1. Selecting your Cladding
There are a number of different types of cladding to choose from, each with its own set of advantages and disadvantages with regards to durability, cost, ease of maintenance and installation, lifespan, and suitability to the setting it is applied to. When selecting the kind of cladding you want, you should consider more than just what it looks like. For instance, a cladding that is applied to the exterior of your house, in the kitchen or bathroom needs to be resistant to the damp, which makes palisade or vinyl cladding perfect for the job since they are highly resistant to warping, but those of untreated ply-wood is absolutely not.
2. Priming the wall
Before you begin applying the cladding, there is quite a bit of preparation on the bare wall or substrate to be conducted first. Be sure to first clean the wall correctly with a damp, lint-free cloth to start off with. Take this opportunity to coat the cladding you have chosen as well, but before you do that, give it a wipe down with either a damp cloth or some isopropyl alcohol.
3. Using the correct adhesive
When it comes to installing cladding securely, not just any old adhesive will do, not unless you want the slats to detach themselves unexpectedly. You should take care to only use a neutral non-cure adhesive; Dow 795 or 995 will do nicely in this regard. It’s fairly important to remember not to mix your adhesives if you start with a 795 then be sure to stick with that one for the duration of the job, and not mix it up at some point with 995. When applying it, use a coin-sized dollop, and try to find a color that is as close a match of the treatment of the cladding you are using. You should allow this adhesive to cure for about 21 days before applying the cladding to the wall.
4. Consider the setting
As I said earlier, you need to consider what the environment is where you will be applying the cladding. Areas exposed to harsh weather conditions like sun and rain or damp areas like those found in bathrooms or kitchens will require you to treat the material adequately, lest it warps or shrinks. It is a good idea to leave the panels of cladding, treated but loose, in the area in which they will be applied for at least two weeks before installing them. This will ensure that any changes in shape such as shrinking will be done before you attach them to the wall and each other, which can cause havoc at this point.
5. Maintenance
In general, maintenance on most kinds of wall cladding is actually fairly simple and requires pretty much no professional assistance, especially if you’re the sort to successfully conduct DIY. Blemishes, dirt, and discoloration can typically be removed by washing the surface with a damp cloth and some soapy water. Just wipe the area gently, or dab the dirt away. Scratches, cracks, or irremovable marks can be rectified with some wood filler in most cases, and then treated once again to ensure a uniform color and tone.
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