Cladding Profiles Compared

Cladding profiles are the individual board shapes that set the surface texture, shadow line depth and overall character of a finished facade. Knotwood produces five distinct aluminium cladding profiles, each suited to a different aesthetic and application context. This guide covers how each one works, what it looks like on a building, and where it is typically used.

All five cladding profiles are available in the same finish range, including timber look and powder coat options, and all can be used on facades, soffits, and interior applications. Our cladding profiles are built to withstand Australian weather conditions, giving you peace of mind when making a design decision.

The Shadow Line profile produces a cladding surface with a recessed joint between boards. The joint runs horizontally across the facade and creates a fine shadow line at each board edge, which gives the surface a quiet, layered appearance. The shadow varies with the angle of light, so the facade reads differently in morning and afternoon sun.

Shadow Line cladding suits contemporary Australian residential homes where the brief calls for a restrained, sophisticated surface, without the heavier texture of more deeply profiled boards. It works equally well across a full façade or as a feature element on part of the building.

Best for:
Contemporary residential and commercial facades, interior feature walls, covered ceiling applications where a clean linear surface is required.

The V-Line profile produces a cladding surface with a V-shaped groove at each board joint. The groove creates a sharper shadow line than the recessed joint of the Shadow Line profile, which gives the facade more visual definition and a slightly more pronounced horizontal emphasis.

V-Line boards suit facades where a stronger horizontal line rhythm is part of the design intent. The V-groove is visible enough to read clearly from street level without being as bold as deeper profiles like Castellated.

Best for:
Residential facades where a defined horizontal rhythm is wanted, commercial facades with a moderate level of surface articulation, and applications where Shadow Line feels too quiet and Castellated feels too heavy.

The Weatherboard profile references the form of traditional timber weatherboard cladding, with a shaped profile that creates a pronounced shadow at the lower edge of each board. The result is a surface that reads as familiar in form but performs very differently from real timber in terms of maintenance and durability.

Aluminium Weatherboard cladding is popular on homes where the design intent is to reference traditional domestic architecture while using a material that does not require the ongoing maintenance that real timber weatherboard demands. It is also used where non-combustibility is required and the homeowner or architect wants to retain the weatherboard aesthetic.

Best for:
Residential homes referencing traditional weatherboard architecture, coastal and fire-risk locations (in accordance with AS 3959 standards) where timber weatherboard is impractical, recladding projects replacing existing timber weatherboards.

The Fixed Gap Board profile produces an open-joint cladding surface. Unlike the other profiles, which sit close to the board below them, the Fixed Gap Board has a consistent visible gap between each board. This gap allows air movement between the cladding surface and the wall behind, creating a ventilated cavity that assists with moisture management and thermal performance.

The open-joint appearance is more industrial and textural than the closed profiles. It is commonly used on commercial buildings, contemporary residential facades where the open joint is an intended design feature, and applications where ventilation of the wall cavity is a design priority.

Best for:
Commercial facades, contemporary residential homes where an open joint is part of the aesthetic, and ventilated cladding applications where cavity airflow is required.

The Castellated profile is the most texture-heavy of the five cladding profiles. Each board has a pronounced castellated shape that creates strong shadow lines and visual depth on the facade. The surface reads boldly from a distance and creates a significant three-dimensional presence on the building.

Castellated cladding is used on residential homes where the facade needs to carry strong visual weight, and on commercial buildings where architectural expression and surface character are part of the brief. It is less common on subtle or minimalist facade treatments, where the profile would feel out of scale with the design intent.

Best for:
Residential homes with a bold architectural character, commercial buildings where surface expression is part of the brief, feature elements on otherwise flat facades, and garage doors where a strong textural statement is wanted.

The choice between cladding profiles comes down to three things: how bold a surface you want the facade to have, how much shadow line depth the design needs, and how close the building is to the street or to neighbouring properties.

A fine shadow line reads clearly from five metres, whereas a deep castellated profile needs more viewing distance to fully appreciate its depth. For tight urban sites, finer profiles like Shadow Line or V-Line often work better. For detached homes with setback from the street, the bolder cladding profiles have room to express themselves.

Explore profile dimension drawings and finish options across all five cladding profiles, or order from our full range of samples online.