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Installation methods for wooden façade cladding

The installation of wooden façade cladding can be done in several different ways. In this expert article, we explain the most common methods and outline the advantages and disadvantages of each.

Different methods for installing wooden façade cladding

Round-head screw nails (stainless steel)

Round-Head Nails (Stainless Steel)

The most common installation method is the use of round-head nails. These nails can be fixed in two different ways:

1. By Hand

In the traditional way, using a hammer. This is the most common, simplest, and most affordable method.
The downside is that it takes more time. In addition, when installing softer wood types such as thermally modified wood, the surface is more prone to damage. If you miss with the hammer, dents can easily occur.

2. Nail Gun or Stapler (Tacker)

This can be pneumatic (with a compressor) or battery-powered.
The advantage is that it is much faster than installing by hand. A possible drawback is that wood is never equally hard or soft everywhere. As a result, some nails may remain slightly protruding or, in the worst case, be driven too deep into the wood, causing damage.

Important:
Do not use nails with a lost head (brad nails) or large staples that disappear completely into the wood. These can slightly damage the wood at the point of entry, allowing moisture to penetrate. This may cause the wood to weather faster locally.

Advantages;

  • Simple: No expensive equipment required. Easy to install yourself using a hammer.

  • Clean look: The nails create a neat and consistent appearance.

  • Affordable: Allow for approximately 15 nails per m², depending on the profile. As a result, the cost of round-head nails is around €1.50 per m² excluding VAT.

Disadvantages;

  • Risk of damage: There is a possibility of damaging the wood. If you miss with the hammer, softer wood types are more prone to denting.

  • Time-consuming: Installation takes more time, which can make it more expensive if carried out by a professional company.

Screws (stainless steel)

Using screws is an increasingly popular installation method. The main advantage is that it is less permanent than nails. Each board can easily be unscrewed, replaced, treated, and then reinstalled on the façade.

With tongue-and-groove profiles, sections can be removed by unscrewing several boards and taking them off the façade.

Important:
For both screws and nails, it is essential to use stainless steel (RVS). If you use non-stainless steel or the wrong type of stainless steel, the wood may start to “bleed.” Rust from the fasteners can cause unsightly streaks running down the façade.

Advantages;

  • Simple: No expensive equipment required. Easy to install yourself using an electric screwdriver.

  • Flexible: Easy to remove a board for treatment or replacement.

  • Affordable: Allow for approximately 15 screws per m², depending on the profile. This results in a cost of around €2.50 per m² excluding VAT.

Disadvantages;

Time-consuming: Installation takes more time, which can make it more expensive if carried out by a professional company.

Important:
For both screws and nails, it is essential to use stainless steel (RVS) fasteners. If you use non-stainless steel or the wrong grade of stainless steel, the wood may start to “bleed.” Rust from the fasteners will cause visible streaks running down the façade.

In the image, you can clearly see what happens when the wrong stainless steel materials are used. The screws shown are stainless steel, but the washers behind them are not. Because the washers started to rust, the effect on the façade cladding, in this case Western Red Cedar, is very clearly visible.

Installation tip:
Stretch a string line across the entire façade to ensure that the nails are perfectly aligned in a straight line. This creates a clean and professional finish.

In the photo below, this is clearly visible. The wood shown is Western Red Cedar with knots (also known as Tight Knotty or WRC STK).

 

Clips (concealed installation)

Clips are a form of installation commonly used for decking boards. They can also be applied when installing façade cladding; however, this must be taken into account during the planing process.

The boards are then provided with an additional groove along the sides to accommodate the clips.

Concealed Installation of Wooden Boards Using a Clip System

Clips are a commonly used installation method for decking boards. This system can also be applied to wooden façade cladding. However, this must be taken into account during the machining process.

The boards need to be provided with an additional groove along the sides to accommodate the clip system, allowing for a concealed (blind) installation without visible screws or nails on the surface.

Advantages;

  • Clean appearance: Creates a sleek and uniform look for the façade.

  • Fast installation: Quick and efficient to install.

  • Flexible: Also easy to dismantle if needed.

Disadvantages;

  • Harder to source: The wood must be pre-machined with grooves in advance. Doing this yourself or afterwards is quite labor-intensive.

  • Price: A clip system such as B-Fix can increase the cost of a façade by approximately €15–20 per m² excluding VAT, depending on the board width.

  • Finishing details: Finishing corners and edges can be challenging. While special starter and end clips are available, they can be inconvenient to use.

  • Fragile: With façade boards of around 18 mm thickness, the grooves are relatively delicate. When fastening the clips, the wood can easily be damaged, potentially ruining an entire board.

Clips (concealed installation) – click systems

Several suppliers also offer click systems for installation. In this case, a recess is milled into the wood. Thanks to this recess, the façade board can then be clicked onto a clip that is mounted on aluminum rails behind the wood.

Advantages;

  • Flexibility: Even after installation, it is still possible to easily dismantle the boards. You can then replace or treat them and reinstall them afterwards.

Disadvantages;

  • Price: The system is relatively expensive. Expect an additional cost of approximately €25–30 per m² excluding VAT.

  • Harder to source: The wood must be pre-machined with the required recesses. Doing this yourself or afterwards is quite labor-intensive.

  • Fragile: With façade boards of around 18 mm thickness, the grooves are fairly delicate. When clicking the boards into place, the wood can easily be damaged.