Installation Guidance - Cladding

It provides the initial fixing point for the panels and helps direct water away from the structure.

The starter profile can be positioned vertically for vertical cladding installation.

It neatly covers the exposed ends of the panels and conceals any remaining gaps, ensuring a smooth and professional appearance while also helping to protect the cladding system from moisture and debris.

Ensure that the substrate is clean, level, and structurally sound before installation begins. Verify that all work complies with applicable building regulations and standards.

For optimal performance, we recommend installing a suitable framing system to create a stable fixing structure for the cladding panels. A vapour barrier should also be applied to help prevent moisture penetration and protect the underlying structure.

Attach wire mesh to all ventilation openings created for moisture escape. This mesh is essential for maintaining a healthy façade system, as it allows air to circulate while preventing rodents, insects, and other pests from entering or nesting between the cladding and the building structure.

Ensuring these openings are properly protected helps preserve ventilation performance and supports the long-term integrity of the cladding installation.

Position the starter profile along the bottom edge of the façade and ensure it is perfectly level before fixing. Secure the profile at intervals of approximately 400 mm to create a stable and accurate base for the first cladding panel.

Note: When fixing the starter profile, the screws must be placed in the centre of the pre-formed slots. This allows for proper expansion and contraction of the material and helps maintain the long-term performance of the cladding system.

Before positioning the cladding panels, install the masking profiles that will frame and conceal the panel edges. Since each cladding panel has a length of 2500 mm, the masking profiles should be installed at a spacing of 2530 mm. This provides a 15 mm allowance on each side of the panel, ensuring it can be easily slotted into place and has sufficient room for thermal expansion.

Correct spacing is essential to prevent stress on the panels and to maintain a clean, professional finish across the façade.

Carefully slide the cladding panel between the masking profiles, lowering it until it reaches the starter profile. Engage the bottom edge of the panel by hooking it into the specially designed lip of the starter profile. This ensures the panel sits securely and aligns properly.

Once the panel is seated, pull it slightly upward to its final position and fix it to the building’s subframe. Only the top edge of each cladding panel requires mechanical fixing, as the lower edge locks into the panel beneath it or into the starter profile.

Install each subsequent panel following the same procedure, working upwards across the façade to achieve a uniform and secure cladding finish.

Continue installing the cladding panels using the same procedure, working methodically upward until you reach the final row. Slide the last cladding panel into place, but do not fix it yet.

Once the panel is positioned, insert the top masking profile by sliding it into place above the panel. When both the final panel and the top masking profile are correctly aligned, fix them together to secure the top of the façade. This completes the installation and ensures a clean, professional finish.

Once the first section of cladding is complete, repeat Steps 2 through 7 for each subsequent section of the façade. Ensure that every new section aligns correctly with the previous one and maintains consistent spacing, ventilation, and fixing patterns. Continue this process methodically until the entire façade is fully clad and all profiles are securely installed.

This systematic approach ensures a uniform appearance and a durable, high-quality finish across the entire building.

With all sections installed, your cladding façade should now present a clean, uniform, and professionally finished appearance.
Important reminders:

• Do not use an angle grinder to cut the material, as it will damage the protective surface.
• Always allow adequate space for thermal expansion throughout the installation.
• Confirm that your framing and material layout align with the building’s edges before installation begins. Cutting a panel after it has been installed is significantly more difficult than adjusting a loose panel.