Protect Your Home When You Install Cladding

Cladding provides the cosmetic advantages of siding but allows for additional effects like insulating due to weather. Cladding rests next to the walls of a home with a space between the cladding layer and the wall of the building. When you have cladding installed, that's the time to make sure it will protect your home – you don't want to wait and see if you need to modify it.

Guard Openings

First, if the cladding you have installed is going to be breathable, make sure that any openings are covered with mesh, caulk, and other materials that will exclude pests. Openings that allow rodents and insects to burrow in behind the cladding need to be closed up lest you end up with a rat's nest just outside your home's walls. If the cladding is not going to be breathable, never assume that you won't have problems with pests; ensure that the installers double-check that the cladding is sealed. Also, be aware that modifying cladding after installation can be time-consuming and disruptive. You want that cladding secure from the start.

Always Insulate for Sound

Not all cladding insulates against excess sound that well, but it's in your best interest to find a material that does offer some sound insulating properties. Noise pollution is insidious, and what you might think of as minor now could turn out to be a real problem at night. Or new roads could be built or traffic in the area could increase, leading to a louder environment around the home. It's better to add insulation now, rather than have to deal with it after several sleepless months.

Remember What You Put on the Cladding Affects It

Cladding manufacturers are making more options that use non-toxic materials, recycled materials, and so on. But keep in mind that what you add to the cladding, such as paint, can change the profile of the cladding material. For example, you could get cladding made with non-toxic materials but then paint the cladding with old paint that emits volatile organic compounds, which can have effects on people who inhale them. If you add insulation in between the cladding and wall, made from materials that contain formaldehyde, for example, you're essentially eliminating the non-toxic status of the cladding.

Obviously, you'll have to discuss what you want with the installers, but you should ask them specifically about what materials they'll use for pest exclusion and insulation. If you have a specific goal, such as making the home as non-toxic as possible or protecting the interior from exterior noise, the cladding installers will be able to point you toward the right types of cladding.

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