Cladding

Fixed Gap Cladding

Aluminium Fixed Gap Cladding

Features

Overview

Fixed gap cladding holds a deliberate, consistent space between boards instead of closing them up flush, and Fixed Gap Board is Knotwood's version of it, keeping a fixed 15mm gap along the full run. It suits projects after a more architectural, design-forward finish, structured and deliberate, with straight, uniform lines across the elevation. Available in a 150mm size, also known as open joint cladding.

Where It Fits

Built to Perform

Sizes & Options

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Horizontal Install

Each Fixed Gap board hooks onto a tab-lock starter at the base and swings flush against the substructure, secured with a concealed cladding clip. Installation works from the bottom up, one board locking into the next, finishing with a cover trim pressed over the base trim to close the perimeter.

Vertical Install

Starter

Trims

Corners

Profiles

Suite

Fixed Gap Tab - Lock Board
150mm

KECT150

Tab - Lock
Starter

KECTS

Cladding - Clip
45mm

KACC

Base Trim
(F)

KECFF

Cover Trim
(M)

KECFMM

Base Joiner Trim
(F)

KECJF

Cover Joiner Trim
(M)

KECJM

Reversible Corner Base Trim
(M)

KECCML

Standard Profile - Top Hat
90 x 25mm

KECT9025

Fixed Gap Tab - Lock Board - 150mm

KECT150

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PDF

DWG

Customisation

Downloads

Specification

Product Details

Material

Tempered Extruded Aluminium Alloy.
*See individual profile specification sheets for exact alloy and temper.

Country of Origin

Australia
Manufactured in Australia and supplied to the UK market.

Length

6500mm

Finish

Traditional solid powder coated colours or a sublimated timber grain surface

Availability

Lead times can vary between 2–4 weeks, depending on the time of year. Contact us for an accurate estimate.
Made to Order - 8-20 weeks.

Warranty Life

Backed by a standard 15 year warranty and up to 25 years on selected finishes.
See our warranty page for the terms.

Maintenance

Periodic washing with a soft broom and water, using a pH-neutral detergent

Sustainability

Recyclable Aluminium
Non-Chromate Pre-Treatment
VOC free Powder Coat

Performance Requirements

Fire Standards

Certified A2-s1,d0 to BS EN 13501-1

Testing Design Standards

CWCT Standards

Performance Standards

BS EN 755 Aluminium Alloy Extrusions

BS EN 12206 Powder Organic Coatings

FAQs

What is fixed gap cladding?

Fixed gap cladding is a facade system where boards are fixed with a deliberate, consistent gap between them rather than sitting flush, also known as open joint cladding. Knotwood’s Fixed Gap Board holds that gap along the full run at a fixed 15mm, giving a structured, contemporary look that reads as a clear step away from close-fitted cladding. The open joint is a recognisable feature of architect-led contemporary builds across the UK.

What is the difference between fixed gap cladding and standard cladding?

In a standard close-fitted system, boards butt together or interlock into a continuous surface with no visible gap. Fixed gap cladding, also called open joint cladding, holds a consistent space between boards instead. That changes how the facade reads, how water and air move behind the cladding, and how the system is fixed. Knotwood’s Fixed Gap Board is engineered to hold the gap as the building moves through temperature and humidity cycles.

Does fixed gap cladding provide drainage and ventilation benefits?

Yes, and it’s the practical reason to choose it over a flush board. The 15mm gap lets water that gets past the outer face drain away and lets air move behind the boards, so the wall behind can dry rather than holding moisture against the substrate. That makes it a drained and ventilated rainscreen build-up rather than just a look. Cavity depth, breather membrane and fixing centres are part of the wall design rather than the cladding, so send us a section through the wall and we’ll confirm the detail.

What is fixed gap board cladding suited to?

Fixed Gap Board suits contemporary residential and commercial facades where a structured, open joint look is part of the design brief. It is common on architect-led projects where deliberate material detailing carries the design language. It also works paired with a close-fitted profile elsewhere on the same facade, the open joint section acting as a considered contrast to the solid surface.

What is visible behind fixed gap cladding boards?

Whatever sits behind the cladding is visible through the gap, so it’s part of the design decision rather than an afterthought. Most projects use a dark breather membrane or a dark-finished substructure so the gap reads as a shadow line rather than showing the wall construction. The substructure and membrane are specified for the building rather than supplied with the boards, so tell us what’s behind and we’ll advise on what will read well through a 15mm gap.

What finishes are available for Knotwood Fixed Gap Board cladding?

Solid powder coated colours and sublimated timber grain finishes, the same architectural-grade range as the rest of the Knotwood cladding system. That means an open joint section can sit alongside a flush profile on the same facade with an exact finish match. See our finishes page for the current range.

What are the gap and board dimensions for Knotwood Fixed Gap Board?

Fixed Gap Board is a 150mm board holding a consistent 15mm gap along the run, supplied in 6500mm lengths. The gap is set by the fixing system rather than by the installer, which is what keeps the line consistent across a long elevation.

Do cavity barriers apply behind fixed gap cladding?

Cavity barriers are a requirement of the external wall construction rather than something supplied with the boards, and where they’re needed comes from the building’s height and use under Approved Document B. They matter on an open joint system because the cavity is deliberately ventilated, so the design has to account for both the drainage the gap provides and the compartmentation the regulations require. Send us the wall build-up and we’ll flag where this needs input from your design team or building control.

Can the gap be made wider or narrower?

No. The 15mm gap is set by the fixing system rather than by the installer, which is the point of fixed gap cladding: the line stays consistent across a long elevation instead of drifting board by board. If a project needs a different rhythm, that’s usually a batten screen rather than a cladding board, and we can talk through which suits the brief.

Does the gap let insects or birds behind the cladding?

The cavity behind any rainscreen build-up needs closing at the top, bottom and around openings, and that detailing is what keeps birds and insects out rather than anything to do with the boards. Vented closers at the base allow drainage and airflow while restricting access. It’s part of the wall design rather than the cladding, so it needs specifying alongside the substructure.

Can fixed gap cladding be mixed with flush profiles on one building?

Yes, and it’s one of the more effective ways to use it. An open joint section on a feature elevation or an entrance, with Shadow Line or V Line running flush across the rest, gives a facade a hierarchy without introducing a second material. All Knotwood cladding profiles share the same finish range, so the boards match exactly even where the profiles don’t.

How does fixed gap cladding handle wind-driven rain?

Better than a flush board, which is counterintuitive until you think about where the water goes. A sealed face relies on the joint staying sealed; an open joint assumes water will get behind and gives it somewhere to drain. In UK conditions, where wind-driven rain is the normal case rather than the exception, that’s a more forgiving way for a wall to behave. The drained and ventilated cavity behind fixed gap cladding does the work, so it has to be designed properly rather than treated as a void.

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Woodgrain Finishes

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Aluminium Fixed Gap Cladding

Features

Take a Closer Look

Profiles

Customisation

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Downloads

Specification

Product Details

Performance Requirements

FAQs

What is fixed gap cladding?

What is the difference between fixed gap cladding and standard cladding?

Does fixed gap cladding provide drainage and ventilation benefits?

What is fixed gap board cladding suited to?

What is visible behind fixed gap cladding boards?

What finishes are available for Knotwood Fixed Gap Board cladding?

What are the gap and board dimensions for Knotwood Fixed Gap Board?

Do cavity barriers apply behind fixed gap cladding?

Can the gap be made wider or narrower?

Does the gap let insects or birds behind the cladding?

Can fixed gap cladding be mixed with flush profiles on one building?

How does fixed gap cladding handle wind-driven rain?

Why Knotwood?

Free Estimations & Support

Huge Range of Woodgrain Finishes

CPDs & Educational Support

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Need More Help?

Want some samples?

Speak with a Knotwood Expert

Need more technical info?

More Cladding Solutions

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Free Estimations
& Support

Huge Range of
Woodgrain Finishes

Want some
samples?

Need more
technical info?