Install DuraKlad Double Embossed PVC-U cladding with ventilated battens and concealed stainless-steel mechanical fixings.
Plan and risk-assess all work at height and use suitable access equipment. The supporting wall, battens, wall fixings, membrane, insulation, cavity barriers, flashings and fire suitability must be designed for the building height, exposure, wind load and applicable Building Regulations by competent people.
These instructions apply to DuraKlad Double Embossed exterior cladding. Confirm that the boards and matching trims are from the Double Embossed external range before installation.
Technical basis: the matching product document Double Embossed Cladding Installation Guide, currently hosted by Monster Plastics. Confirm with Kalsi Technical that the boards, trims and revision supplied for the project match this method before installation.
Store packaged boards flat and away from direct sunlight so heat cannot build up inside the packaging. Check every board and trim for damage before installation. Do not install below 5°C or above 25°C, and complete each elevation in one continuous installation where practical.
Fix treated timber battens vertically, keeping them level and in a single flat plane. Battens must be at least 22 x 30mm and spaced at no more than 300mm centres. Use battens at least 70mm wide at external and internal corners so the corner can be fixed securely away from the edge of the wall.
Maintain uninterrupted vertical ventilation behind the boards. Without insulation, leave a minimum 22mm clear cavity. Where insulation is used, position it behind the battens and leave at least 30mm clear between the insulation and the back of the cladding. Do not pack insulation between the battens or obstruct the airflow path.
Fix the ventilation strip and starter trim together against the face of the battens. Leave 22mm clear below the lowest board and above the highest board for ventilation. Set the bottom batten line 55mm above finished ground level and check that the starter trim is perfectly level before fitting the first board.
Install the base sections of the two-part edge and corner trims before the boards. Fix the back of a two-part edging trim at 500mm intervals. Keep trims straight, plumb and positioned so the specified expansion gaps remain available at every board end.
Use 30mm stainless-steel screws where possible, or 30mm stainless-steel cladding nails. Seat the first board in the starter trim, check it is level, then fix it through the concealed fixing edge at every batten crossing.
Leave an 8mm expansion gap at both ends of every board. Engage the next board using the tongue-and-groove joint and tap it fully home along its length with a nylon hammer, taking care not to damage the face. Continue upwards, checking level regularly and fixing each board mechanically at every batten.
Use matching joiner pieces where boards meet along an elevation, maintaining 8mm movement allowance on each side of the joint. Before the final board, fix the top ventilation strip and the base of the finishing profile. Support any cut top edge with a thin treated batten, then snap the trim cover into its base without blocking ventilation.
Keep the vertical ventilation route open when finishing below eaves or a drip edge. The drip edge must remain at least 22mm above the ventilation and edge trim and 22mm away from the cladding face.
Use the appropriate starter, edge and corner trims around windows and doors. Continue the same mechanical fixing, expansion and ventilation requirements at every opening.
Clean the installed boards with warm soapy water and a soft brush. Do not use solvent-based cleaners. Periodically check that trims remain secure and ventilation openings are clear.