Brick cladding for walls

An often requested home improvement project that seems to be on the increase is cladding walls with stone or brick veneers. I know that quite a few homeowners have already tackled this as a home improvement project, and I receive many enquiries for information on cladding with brick or stone veneer.

 

Not only does cladding with brick veneer add texture and architectural detail to walls, it's also a great way to cover up walls that are prone to hairline cracks, have a rough plastered finish, or blank walls that lack interest.

When researching more information on cladding with brick veneer rather than stone, I came across Rockwood Mouldings - www.rockwoodmouldings.co.za - who have an impressive range of brick veneer cladding styles if their website is anything to go by.

What's especially nice about their product range is the styles that they offer. While many love the look of facebrick, you can also clad walls in light-coloured brick veneer that lends itself to a modern or contemporary home and does not darken the space, as is the case with a darker facebrick veneer.

Properties of veneer wall cladding panels

Each wall cladding panels is hand painted to offer a naturally occurring stone, brick or slate finish. The panels are coated with an acrylic sealant used in all outdoor house paints and have a 15 year UV resistant, fade-proof additive ensuring each panel is colour fast when used indoors or outdoors. Rockwood manufactures 2 types of panel one for indoor use and one for outdoor. Both are UV resistant as they are coated with a UV sealant

The surface of the veneer cladding panel is manufactured with a special protective layer, which gives them a fire classification according to UNE EN 13501-1:2002 E. the panels are fire retardant, and panels are 100 % water resistant.

 

Is wall cladding a DIY option?

Any intermediate DIY-er will be able to install about 35 panels a day, depending on the size of the wall and the number of cut-outs required. Installation is fairly simple and step-by-step instructions are provided.