Cladding is  one of those features of interior spaces where aesthetics meet functionality. Wooden panels for that touch of tradition and warmth, ceramic tiles for a clean, colourful look, polished granite slabs for rich, hassle-free maintenance, veneer on ply or paintings on ply for sophistication and versatility.

Every cladding material has its unique purpose. Thrusting pre-conceived likes and dislikes about them simply won't work. Any (mis)adventure may not only spoil the purpose but also the look. So, some knowledge of varied cladding materials and their distinct qualities is important.

Wooden panels were used on walls until recently, but now the cost factor, difficulty in maintenance and sparse availability of quality material are reasons virtually pushing them out of the cladding scene.

Wooden panels are normally used in ¼ inch, ½ inch, ¾ inch-thickness. The overall size of the covered area is also taken into consideration. They are are excellent sound-and-heat insulation materials.

Normally, teak wood is preferred for panelling (of course, there were days when the rich preferred rosewood too) because of its workability, finish, quality, timelessness and high resistance to termites.

As design evolved with a practical edge, ply with different finishes became a major player, slowly replacing the classical and formal approach.

With time, more technically suitable acoustic panels replaced the wood panel cladding concept. Also, with air-conditioners and sophisticated heating systems being used extensively, the purpose of wood in maintaining temperatures too became irrelevant.

Further, with the concept of minimalism and its thrust on practicality catching on across the globe, the use of extensive wooden panelling has been considerably reduced, unless the theme of the interior warrants it. So today, the use of wood panel is just a matter of personal preference.

Ply panel is a cheaper option to wooden panelling. It comes mostly in ¼ inch, ½ inch and ¾ inch-thickness and different sizes. Ply considerably saves wall panelling construction time and also adapts to the site conditions well. Apart from its weakness against termite, the surface of ply cannot be exposed if one wants easy maintenance and aesthetics. So, finishing the ply surface with laminate, veneer, varnish or paint is a must.

For economical and colourful ambience, laminate finish is ideal. But if one wants more sophisticated finishes, the natural or dyed veneer finishes are perfect.

Natural and dyed veneer are available in almost all kinds of wood finishes such as mahagony, red cedar, maple, white cedar, biege, walnut and oak. It gives the user plenty of options. After veneer is fixed on the panel, the surface needs varnish, melamine or polyurethane coats.

The other option for ply finish is enamel, duco or vapocured painted surfaces. Though vapocure finish may be expensive, compared to enamel and duco, it is best for easy maintenance and for keeping the surface new for a long time.

Wood and ply would make you put on your thinking caps this fortnight, lets explore the other cladding options in the next column

Polished granite cladding on the interior wall has its own merits and demerits: The advantage of polished granite slabs is clearly its availability in huge sizes, polished surface and almost negligible joints, which naturally offer the option of covering huge wall surfaces. Besides, polished granite is one of the best cladding materials that allows easy cleaning and thus better hygiene.

It comes in tile form with 2'x1' with ¼" thickness and also in large slabs of approximately 8'x4' with ¾" thickness. They come in different colours and patterns. Certain colours and patterns are expensive while others are economical.

Granite slabs and slates can be creatively used on the walls of kitchens, toilets, wash areas, utility, courtyards etc. Nevertheless, they are most ideally suited for the walls at places like hospitals, railway stations, airports and so on. They are also useful for large service areas in hotels and restaurants.

Polished granite slabs do have some limitations when it comes to colours and patterns. It does absorb oil and in light shades, the stain shows, while the dark ones are slightly better. So, one is forced to choose dark colours in most situations and thus make the space look smaller than what it is.

The economical options like sandstone, kotah stone and slates can be very effective and appropriate in certain places. Options like wire-cut bricks and dressed stones are also very interesting materials for cladding.

However, when it comes to overall performance, polished granite is one of the most effective cladding materials. In the hands of a creative designer, the solutions with these wonder stones can be stretched much more than expected.

Ceramic tile has come a long way and has its certain striking advantages over other cladding materials because of the variety in sizes, colours, textures, patterns and shapes. Now we can proudly say Indian ceramic tiles have come of age and are almost on a par with international standards.

In addition to enormous collections of Indian tiles, many imported varieties are also available. Ceramic tiles are a designer's delight because they are available in glossy, matt, satin finishes.

Creatively, ceramic tiles can be used anywhere. Yet, they are mainly used for kitchens, toilets, corridors, service and utility walls. The ceramic surface is excellent for rough use and rough maintenance like acid cleaning etc. Ceramic tiles can be used on the walls of sump and overhead tank for easy cleaning.

One has to be careful in selecting the ceramic tile in terms of quality to make the best use of it. Sometimes the most fancy ones can be deceptive!

Though vitrified tiles are relatively less familiar for cladding  in India, its usage is fast catching on. It has the advantages of size and polished surface like granite slabs and an impressive range of colours and patterns. Further, like ceramic tiles, vitrified ones are much easier to handle and to install. With plenty of options and more to come from domestic and foreign markets, vitrified tiles are here to stay.

Beautiful materials like rectified tiles and glass mosaics can also be creatively used to evolve outstanding finishes.