Based in Montgomery, Texas, Bill Starkey is a construction executive with an extensive background in the building and construction industry. For 37 years, Bill Starkey served as CEO of Starkey Construction, during which time he provided high-end homes with green building solutions, many of which involved carefully thought out techniques to prevent energy loss through the cladding of the building's exterior walls.
The building envelope, also known as the building enclosure, protects the interior of the structure from the weather while also allowing for the comfort of people in the structure. The cladding, weather barrier, thermal insulation, air barrier, framing, and other components make up the building envelope.
Cladding is an important exterior element of a wall assembly that protects a structure from water and wind. As it is directly exposed to the elements, it also contributes significantly to a building's overall thermal efficiency in multiple ways. There are many types of cladding materials, and different ways to attach them.
The words cladding and facade are sometimes mistakenly used interchangeably. Despite the fact that the terms are similar, they do not refer to the same construction element. A home or building's front section facing an open area or the street is referred to as the facade. Cladding, on the other hand, refers to the panels or other materials used to protect and insulate the exterior walls of a structure. Although it may enhance a building's esthetics, cladding primarily protects a building's structural components, resisting the weather and preventing energy loss.
