External cladding styles for every home.

It’s the protective and decorative covering on the external walls of a building. It prevents wind and rain from entering the building. Exterior wall cladding comes in many styles. Architects and designers consider cladding selection carefully as it contributes significantly to the overall design of a building.

External cladding is easy to install. Nevertheless, it should be installed by a qualified professional with an intermediate knowledge level of building design and construction.

Carpenters are tasked with installing most cladding. Most of the time they install it to timber frames or light gauge steel frames. They can also install it over concrete or masonry walls, providing the substrate can hold the extra weight.

Different cladding styles require different installation methods and fixings. Territory™ cladding uses a clip system that’s screwed onto timber frames concealing all but a few of the fixings. Surround™ cladding, on the other hand, is fixed to metal top-hats using special rivets. 

All Cemintel cladding products have comprehensive installation guides. These should be read before installation and followed during cladding installation.

You can drill into external wall cladding. People drill into cladding to install exterior lights or house numbers. When attaching something heavy to cladding, it’s best to drill through the cladding and into the structural frame. It’s important to wear the correct Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) when drilling to protect your eyes and lungs from dust.

Pricing varies depending on your project and the amount of cladding required. For an indication of pricing, please email [email protected] or get in touch with your Cemintel account manager. 

You can fix fibre cement cladding or timber cladding onto a timber frame with nails or screws. In building terminology, “to fix” means “to attach”. Similarly, nails and screws are referred to as “fixings”.

“Direct fixing” is the description used when cladding is attached directly onto a frame.

“Cavity fixing” on the other hand, is a cladding solution where battens or top hats are fixed to the frame. Then the cladding is fixed to the battens or top hats. This results in a cavity between the wall and the cladding. This can be good for moisture management and the performance of the building.

Cladding becomes dusty and dirty over time. It’s best to clean it with warm, soapy water and a brush. Then hose off the soap. Use no more than 700psi of water pressure with a hose nozzle on fan mode at a distance of at least 500mm away from the face of the wall. Apply water pressure in a downward direction and away from joints. For more information see Cemintel’s guide to storage and handling.

Cemintel’s range of external fibre cement cladding complies with the New Zealand Building Code (NZBC) requirements for fire performance, making it suitable for applications where non-combustible materials are specified. These cladding products have been tested and certified to meet NZBC Clause C (Protection from Fire), with specific compliance details available on the product pages.