Any commercial building or home should have the right interior decoration, and this often includes wood, or the appearance of it. Ever since the colonial days in North America, native hardwoods have proven popular for flooring, building houses and tools, and much more. Today, even with modern metals and plastics and more, wood still has a time-honored place in American construction. Hardwood floors are often a staple, but sometimes, there are alternatives that a homeowner or commercial building owner may prefer. One example is peel and stick paneling, and peel and stick paneling can create the charming appearance of wood without actually using any. In some cases, this may be more practical than real wooden floors or paneling, such as on top of concrete. Adhesive shiplap, stick on shiplap, and peel and stick wood wall planks are similar products that some building managers or homeowners may prefer as well. In what cases is peel and stick paneling the best option, or when might a homeowner prefer the real thing?
Wooden Floors
For reference, one may first consider real wooden floors, which are still a staple in construction, especially in homes. Wood has long since proved itself a fine construction material, and despite being entirely organic, it can last a long time if taken good care of. Wood issues can easily be avoided with proper care, and it has already been established that proper care can keep wood in good shape for centuries. Many historic buildings in North America, Europe, and Asia are still standing and contain a lot of wood. There is a very old, tall pagoda in China that is made of wood and still standing after all this time. American carpenters can make similar use of wood’s durability, and already, many historic American and Canadian buildings are still standing, wood and all. Wood factors into the larger interior design industry, since wood floors can be torn up and replaced with fresh planks if so desired. Today, the interior design industry makes some $10 billion every year, and this includes work on floors. Oak and cherry are common hardwoods in North America, and have been used since the colonial days to make houses, floorboards, and more. This may continue for many years, but there are some other options, too, such as peel and stick paneling. When is that preferred over real wood?
The Right Place For Peel and Stick Paneling
Many buildings or room types are known for their wooden surfaces and paneling, such as studies, bars, and more, but in other cases, a substitute, peel and stick paneling, is preferred. These peel and stick materials can afford a room or floor the appearance of wood without actually installing it, and there are a number of reason to do this. For one, a building may already have concrete floors for purposes of durability and expected traffic, and it may be much more money and trouble than it’s worth to replace concrete with wood. But many people are comforted by the sight of wooden floors under their feet, even just the appearance. So, many public buildings may soften the look of a lobby or other room with peel and stick paneling on the walls or floor. This may range from libraries to museums to office lobbies, and it can quickly make a room look classy and comforting.
A business may also invest in peel and stick paneling to make use of their temporary nature. Wood tends to be more permanent and is meant to be a long-term investment, and this is ideal in many cases. But other times, a public building manager may own a space for only a limited time, and they can use non-permanent items such as peel and stick paneling to modify the appearance of a room. Once the peel and stick paneling has served its purpose, it can be removed again, no mess or fuss involved. This can be attractive to many business owners or managers who will soon move out of the premises or who may update the peel and stick paneling look with a new one. Such false wood may come in a number of colors and other aesthetics as the owner likes.