Cladding Systems

Is Knotwood aluminium cladding CodeMark certified?

Yes. Knotwood Interlocking Boards hold CodeMark certification, the Australian Building Codes Board scheme that provides nationally recognised evidence of suitability under the NCC. For a certifier, it means the compliance evidence has already been independently assessed rather than needing to be established project by project.

Certification documents, test reports and product data are available in Resources. If your certifier needs something specific for a submission, send us the request and we will supply it.

What warranty does Knotwood cladding come with?

Knotwood cladding carries a standard 15 year warranty, with up to 25 years on selected finishes. The term that applies depends on the finish specified, and the full terms and conditions are set out on our warranty page. If you need warranty documentation for a submission or for a client, send us the request and we will supply it.

What is aluminium cladding?

Aluminium cladding is a non-combustible facade system of extruded aluminium profiles, fixed over a substructure to weatherproof and finish an external wall. It’s specified in place of timber, fibre cement and composite cladding because it won’t warp or rot, and Knotwood’s timber-look finishes deliver the warmth of real wood without the maintenance.

Is Knotwood cladding an aluminium composite panel?

No. Knotwood cladding is extruded solid aluminium with no polymer core. Aluminium composite panel, also called ACP or ACM, is a different product built from two thin aluminium skins bonded to a core, and it is the core material that determines how that product performs in fire. Knotwood boards carry an AS 5637.1 Group One classification and hold CodeMark certification. Documentation is available in Resources.

Why choose aluminium cladding?

Knotwood’s aluminium cladding is non-combustible, corrosion resistant and will not rot or rust. It is lightweight, which makes it easier to handle and fix at height, and it needs no painting, sanding or resealing. The range is available in a wide selection of colours and timber-look finishes.

What should I consider when specifying aluminium cladding?

Aluminium expands and contracts with temperature, so expansion allowance has to be built into the setout on long runs. Darker colours absorb more solar radiation and run hotter at the surface, which is a finish selection question rather than a material one. Cladding is a weather and appearance layer rather than insulation, so thermal performance comes from the wall build-up behind it. In C4-C5 coastal or industrial zones, use 316 grade stainless fasteners rather than 304 or hot-dip galvanised. And price the subframe at the same time as the boards, since it is easily left out of an early budget.

What cladding profiles does Knotwood offer?

Knotwood’s aluminium cladding range includes Shadow Line, V Line Boards, Weatherboards, Castellated Boards and Fixed Gap Boards. Each shares the same aluminium construction, concealed fixings and architectural-grade powder coat finishes, so profiles can be mixed across a single facade while maintaining a considered, consistent look.

What lengths is Knotwood cladding available in?

Knotwood cladding is supplied in 6.5m lengths. On most residential elevations that means a run can be completed without a join, which is worth planning for at setout because a horizontal join in a board is the detail people notice on a finished facade. Where an elevation is longer than 6.5m, boards are joined with a trim or the joins are staggered across the run so they do not line up vertically. Boards are cut to length on site, so nothing needs to be ordered to a fixed dimension. Send us your elevation lengths and we will advise how the runs are best set out.

Does aluminium cladding need maintenance?

Aluminium cladding requires no painting, sanding or resealing, and unlike timber it will not warp or split. The powder-coated finish is corrosion resistant, so the facade holds its look without ongoing refinishing. For coastal installations, periodic washing with a pH-neutral detergent is all that is recommended.

Can aluminium cladding be retrofitted?

Yes. Knotwood aluminium cladding fixes to a substructure rather than directly to the wall, so it can be installed over most existing materials including timber, brick, blockwork and concrete. That makes it a practical option for recladding and commercial refurbishment, since the existing wall does not have to be stripped back. What matters is whether the existing structure is sound and able to carry the substructure and the cladding, and whether the wall is straight enough for the substructure to be packed true. Have the existing wall assessed before you order, and send us the details so we can confirm the right fixing method.

Does aluminium cladding make a building hot inside?

Aluminium itself does not store heat the way a dense material does, but the surface temperature of any cladding depends on the colour and finish, since darker colours absorb more solar radiation. What determines the internal temperature is the wall build-up as a whole: the cavity, the insulation and the ventilation behind the cladding. Send us your wall detail and we will confirm what the system can accommodate.

Can I use Knotwood in C4-C5 coastal or industrial zones?

Yes. Knotwood aluminium cladding is suitable for coastal and industrial environments when installed with the correct fastener specification. Use 316 grade stainless steel fasteners in C4-C5 zones rather than 304 grade or hot-dip galvanised. The non-chromate pre-treatment and VOC-free powder coat finish provide additional protection against salt-laden air and industrial pollutants.

Is Knotwood cladding compliant with the NCC for multi-storey or Type A and Type B construction?

Knotwood Interlocking Boards are tested to AS 4284:2008 for NCC weatherproofing requirements (FV1.1 and V2.2.1) and carry an AS 5637.1 Group One fire classification, supporting their use in Type A and Type B construction. Project-specific compliance assessment by a qualified building professional is required to confirm suitability for your specific building classification and location. Knotwood boards are extruded solid aluminium, not aluminium composite panel, so there is no polymer core in the system.

Is aluminium cladding non-combustible, and can it be used in bushfire-prone areas?

Knotwood aluminium cladding is not deemed combustible when tested to AS 1530.1, and achieves a Spread of Flame Index of 0 and a Smoke Developed Index of 4 when tested to AS/NZS 1530.3. For bushfire construction, CSIRO has assessed the cladding as suitable where AS 3959 requires non-combustible material up to BAL-19. The Knotwood clad wall system has been separately assessed by Ignis Labs as suitable up to BAL-40 when built to the specified wall make-up, including 9mm fibre cement external sheeting behind the cladding. Send us your BAL rating and wall detail and our technical team will confirm what applies.

How does Knotwood aluminium cladding compare to fibre cement cladding?

Knotwood aluminium cladding is non-combustible, recyclable and does not absorb moisture or require repainting. Aluminium profiles are lighter than fibre cement sheet, which affects handling and fixing on site. Knotwood also offers sublimated timber grain finishes. Which system suits a project depends on the facade design, the compliance requirements and the finish you are after, so compare them on the specifics of your build.

Is there an aluminium alternative to traditional timber weatherboard cladding in Australia?

Yes. Knotwood Tab-Lock Boards are designed as a modern aluminium alternative to traditional weatherboard cladding. They replicate the horizontal weatherboard profile in a non-combustible aluminium system, available in sublimated timber grain or solid powder coat finishes. No painting, sanding or sealing is required.

Is Knotwood cladding suitable for use in a ventilated facade or rainscreen assembly?

Yes. Knotwood aluminium cladding profiles are well-suited to ventilated facade and rainscreen assemblies. The clip-fixed installation system creates a cavity between the cladding and the building envelope, allowing moisture drainage and air circulation behind the boards. This makes Knotwood appropriate for moisture-prone climates and high-rainfall Australian regions when installed over a compliant building membrane.

Is aluminium cladding a sustainable choice for an Australian building project?

Knotwood aluminium cladding is made from recyclable aluminium with a non-chromate pre-treatment and VOC-free powder coat finish. Aluminium can be recycled repeatedly without loss of quality. For projects targeting a green building rating, your certifier will assess embodied energy alongside service life, so send them the product documentation early.

How much does aluminium cladding cost in Australia?

Knotwood does not publish fixed pricing, because cladding is quoted on specification. The main variables are the profile, the area, the finish and the fixing system. On a facade, the cost of access at height often matters as much as the material. It is also worth pricing the framing or subframe behind the cladding at the same time, since that is easily left out of an early budget and then lands as a surprise. Send us your elevations or an approximate square metreage and we will quote it.

Can Knotwood cladding be installed vertically as well as horizontally?

Yes. The same profiles and the same interlocking system run in either orientation, so the choice is a design decision rather than a product one. Horizontal runs read as wider and lower, vertical runs as taller, which is why vertical is often used on entries and feature panels within a predominantly horizontal facade. The substructure changes with the orientation, since it has to run perpendicular to the boards, and that affects how the cavity drains behind the cladding. Confirm the orientation before the substructure is set out rather than after.