How is cladding attached to buildings?

How is cladding attached to buildings?

There are three main methods for attaching cladding to a building. The choice of one or another fixing method is determined by the building cladding material used, the aesthetic sought, the budget and the location within the building.

Adhesive fix.

Adhesive fix methods can be used in both, aluminium and timber framing systems and are often used for flat sheet materials such as porcelain tiles, natural stone and fibreboard panels. Whilst this type of systems are very cost effective, the presence of adhesive means that the system is not fully mechanical and therefore is not compliant with EWS1 and that limits the areas where it is suited for building heights no higher than 18 metres.

This type of cladding systems also require specific weather conditions for their application. They can be applied in temperatures ranging +5 to +35 degrees Celsius and when the air humidity is no higher than 75%. There are also huge risks in consistency of application using adhesive products that should be factored into consideration when using this type of application on buildings.

Rivet or Screw Face Fix.

Rivet or Screw Face Fixing methods can be used alongside aluminium and timber framing systems. They are fully mechanical systems and when used in combination with SFS they are EWS1 compliant and suitable for use in all areas of a building façade, including building heights of 18 metres and above, and soffits and can be installed in any weather conditions.

They are often used for flat sheet materials such as porcelain tiles, natural stone and fibreboard panels and although they are a cost effective solution, the presence of visible fixings can disturb the sleek appearance of the façade and that makes it an unpopular choice for architects and designers. In an attempt to blend the visible fixings  with the rest of the building façade, these are often powder coated to match the colour of the façade system’s material. Each manufacturer has specific guidance on fixing the panels with fixed and sliding points which should be adhered to in design and application of the panels. Often this is not adopted when panels are fixed on site.

Mechanical Secret Fix.

Mechanical Secret Fixing methods consist of an aluminium framing system and hidden anchoring points which depending on the cladding material used can be undercut anchors or hidden clips. These fixing methods are an engineered solution, EWS1 compliant and suitable for use in all areas of a façade system, including building heights of 18 metres and above, and soffits. They can be installed in any weather conditions and are often favoured by architects and designers because they give the facade a clean and sleek appearance unobstructed by fixings.

Flat sheet materials such as porcelain tiles, natural stone and fibreboard panels can be used in secret fixed cladding systems however they often require the setting of undercut anchors and this step of fabrication can be cost prohibitive. Materials such as the Argeton terracotta tiles have been specifically designed and engineered around the principle of being an element of a mechanical secret fixing system and as such, a vast amount of research and investment have gone into perfecting a production process that is both cost effective and sustainable. 

So when it comes to building cladding knowledge – the difference is Telling.

Want to learn about the history or Rainscreen cladding? Read more here: https://tellingrainscreens.co.uk/history-of-rainscreen-cladding/