Vinyl Cladding Installation Tips & Tricks by Austech

Austech are specialists in the field of Vinyl Cladding, having experience in supplying the product for over 25 years. From builders to home owners, there have been thousands of projects fitted with the installer-friendly Duratuff Select Vinyl Cladding. Austech have compiled a list of tips and hints for a successful install to ensure an effective, stylish, first class finish.

•             Even before installation it is important that boards are stored on flat ground, and if possible out of direct sunlight. The ends of the packaging may be cut to let the cladding breathe and allow for heat to escape

•             Corrosive resistant nails or screws with a large head should be used

•             It is important to not screw or fix too tightly. To provide expansion space & prevent buckling installers should use the rollover nailing strip as a hammer to avoid tight fixing

•             Leak prevention is essential with vinyl cladding, which generally won't show external evidence of underlying moisture problems. Panels are overlapped to guard against gaps that would allow water entry. J-channel or utility trim is used around windows and doors to seal against water seepage. Trim pieces should be installed snug to the frame, can be seated in a bed of caulking for extra insurance, and should have neat mitered corners

•             Use the centre of the nailing slot with a screw or nail to allow for movement. If extra slots are required, a nail hole punch can create these

•             For the horizontal boards, a floating overlap joint can be implemented to allow for expansion. Joins should not be sealed by using glue or silicone.

•             Although joins are not visible to the naked eye, if the width of the wall is longer than the panel size and multiple boards must be used, pipes or other fixtures can be used to hide the join in between the boards.

Vinyl cladding has come a long way since the 1950s. Early vinyl didn't age as well as modern vinyl does and sometimes had issues such as sagging, chipping, denting and fading. Vinyl cladding problems were frequently weather-related. By and large, those vinyl cladding problems are a thing of the past. Thanks to research, testing and advances in manufacturing processes, modern vinyl cladding is much more durable, more resistant to extremes of weather and more stable in high winds.

Austechs Duratuff Select is compatible with Australian standards and meets the highest quality with a 50 year warranty to keep your home's exterior trouble-free. Austech can offer a fully detailed installation guide or alternatively put you on to a recommended installer in your area.