Installation Hub
Our installation hub is filled with useful guidance and information to help you complete your fibre cement cladding installation, exactly how it should be done.
Following the manufacturers fixing details, we will guide you through step by step showing everything from where each trim is installed, to which tools are required to do the job correctly.
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Fixing Guides
Below are the fixing guides for each fibre cement cladding manufacturer.
Supertech Fixing Guide
Supertech
Storage & Handling
Storing Cladding
All boards must be stored flat, on the ground, on the pallets they are supplied with ensuring sufficient support.
Keep Dry
All boards must be stored under an opaque tarpaulin to keep them dry. Any temporary transportation hoods must be removed to release any trapped moisture.
Moving Boards
Do not drag boards off the pallet, this could cause scratches on the face. Boards must be lifted off the pallet carefully.
Carrying Boards
When carrying a board, it should be turned onto its side before being lifted off the stack, with your hands as far apart as possible to provide maximum support for the board.
Warning - Do not install wet boards, this could cause efflorescence and discolouring.
Cladding Trims
Each manufacturer has their own trims and they all have their differences, but they all use same system when it comes to installation locations. Below shows the locations of each trim when using each system.
Select a manufacturer from the below tabs to see details of each trim location.
Cedral Lap Cladding
Cedral Click Cladding
Cladding Accessories
When using fibre cement cladding there are accessories required to complete the installation. Below shows what these accessories are, how they are used and what each manufacturer requires.
Touch up paint
For touching up the ends of any cut edge. Although the touch up paint is a colour match, due to the way the product is painted in the factory, any paint on the face of the cladding will show when installed. The best application method is using a small brush or washing up sponge, wipe any excess paint from the front face immediately.
Stainless Steel Fixing Screws (Recommended)
Screw fixing into timber batten is recommended and can be done without pre-drilling. Screws must be stainless steel with recommended sizes:
Cedral Cladding - 4.0 x 45mm (38mm Batten)
James Hardie Cladding - 4.0 x 35mm (25mm Batten)
Supertech Cladding - 4.0 x 45mm (38mm Batten)
Fixings should be positioned 20mm below the top edge of the cladding and when fixing the ends the fixing positioned 20mm in from the edge. (See diagram)
Fixings are available in our online store.
Nail Gun
Whilst a nail gun can be used the best results are from screw fixing. You get a better hold on each board which in turn helps to prevent any chattering/rattling in high winds. Nails must be stainless steel with recommended sizes:
Cedral Cladding - 2.5 x 45mm 7mm head diameter (38mm Batten)
James Hardie Cladding - 2.5 x 35mm 7mm head diameter (25mm Batten)
Supertech Cladding - 2.5 x 45mm 7mm head diameter (38mm Batten)
Fixings should be positioned 20mm below the top edge of the cladding and when fixing the ends the fixing positioned 20mm in from the edge. (See diagram above)
Colour Matched Torq Screws
A2 stainless steel colour matched screws are recommended for all visible fixings into timber battens.
4.8 × 38 mm with 12 mm domed head diameter.
Timber Batten
Fibre cement cladding needs to be fixed to vertical timber battens (Treated & Regularised), these provide support for the boards and also ensure a ventilation cavity. You should ensure each board is fixed to at least three battens at a maxium of 600mm centres. To allow the trims to have a fixing point, batten should be doubled up on corners and around openings.
The recommended batten sizes for each manufacturer are:
Cedral Cladding - 38 x 50mm Batten
James Hardie Cladding - 25 x 50mm Batten
Supertech Cladding - 38 x 50mm Batten
EPDM Tape
Protection of the batten from moisture ingress is essential when installing fibre cement cladding. The best way to do this is to fix a protective strip of 60mm EPDM tape along the length of the batten and behind all vertical trims.
Fibre cement cladding manufacturers recommend only using EPDM where two boards join together, but for the best protection we recommend installing EPDM on all vertical battens.
Breather Membrane
Fibre cement cladding systems are not airtight, watertight or water-vapour tight. When used on timber batten walls it must be backed by a breather membrane acting as a vapour-permeable water barrier. Installed behind the timber batten and the cladding.
The flexible rainproof, breathable membrane should meet EN 13859-2 and have increased UV stability in case of (partial) direct exposure behind open gaps. Breather membrane is available in our online store.
Cladding Tools
You can install fibre cement cladding with basic DIY tools, but if your looking for the professional look there are some options to help you during your installation.
The Gecko Gauge is an excellent tool to help with the installation of your fibre cement cladding. Holding the board in place at your selected overlap, the Gecko Gauge is like an extra set of hands for fast, accurate cladding installation. We have both sizes of Gecko Gauge Clamps available in our online store.
Specially designed to produce only a very low amount of dust, this circular blade is perfect for straight-cutting fibre cement cladding. Using normal wood blades causes excessive levels of dust and very fast blade wear.
Available in 160mm, fitting 20/16mm bores, 190mm, fitting 30/20mm bores and 254mm and 305mm, fixed at 30mm bores, diameters. You should always cut fibre cement cladding outdoors and always wear a mask. We have all 4 sizes of fibre cement cladding saw blades available in our online store.
Guillotines are a great tool for cutting fibre cement cladding. They are fast and accurately every time, with no breaking, chipping or sawing dust. The cutting movement is tightly controlled to enable safe, precise cutting of even the smallest slivers of material. Fibre Cement Cladding Guillotines are available in our online store.
Installation Videos
COMING SOON - Our installation videos will be available soon.
View our Cladding Installation Step-by-Step Guide for Beginners
How To Clean Fibre Cement Cladding
If you are looking for the best ways to clean fibre cement cladding, check out our recent blog post for all the tips and tricks.
