A composite-cladding order starts with a wall elevation, not a square-metre total. Board direction, batten layout, openings, corners and finishing trims determine both the material quantity and whether the installation can be detailed properly.
Stonegate currently lists ClickClad kits combining 3.6 m boards with L trims, including configurations with recycled battens, as well as individual composite cladding boards. Confirm which system is being used before mixing components.
Draw every elevation
Measure each wall separately and show:
- Overall width and height
- Doors, windows and vents
- External and internal corners
- Sills, soffits and roof junctions
- Service penetrations
- Changes of material or board direction
Subtracting all openings from one overall area is only a first estimate. Narrow strips around windows may still consume full board lengths, while offcuts can be reused only where length, direction and fixing positions suit.
Choose board direction before quantities
Horizontal and vertical layouts create different batten directions, cuts and trim requirements. The support battens normally run perpendicular to the boards, with additional framing around openings and edges as the system requires.
Changing direction on one elevation needs a designed junction. Do not rely on two cut board ends meeting without a compatible trim or backing detail.
The subframe is part of the system
Composite cladding should not be treated as a decorative sheet fixed directly to an uneven wall. The battens create a straight fixing plane and the ventilation or drainage space required by the build-up.
Check:
- Batten material approved for the cladding system
- Maximum support centres
- Fixing type and substrate capacity
- Additional battens at corners, ends and openings
- Ventilation path at the base and head
- Separation from ground splash and standing water
Stonegate's ClickClad subframe kits include recycled battens in some configurations. Use the kit schedule and current installation instructions rather than substituting arbitrary timber sizes.
Calculate boards by course or column
For horizontal boards, calculate the number of courses needed for the finished height, then determine how many full lengths and joins each course needs. For vertical boards, reverse the logic.
Board coverage is not necessarily the same as the physical face width because profiles can overlap or interlock. Use the published installed coverage for the exact board.
Plan board joints
Where a wall exceeds the board length, decide where joints will occur and how they are supported. Random unsupported butt joints are not a cutting plan. Staggering may improve appearance, but every joint still needs the system's required support and gap.
Stonegate lists 3.6 m ClickClad board kits. Compare this length with each elevation and the delivery route before assuming one full board per run.
Trims are not optional decoration
| Detail | Possible finishing requirement |
|---|---|
| External corner | Compatible external or L trim and supporting battens |
| Internal corner | Approved internal-corner detail |
| Board start and finish | Starter, end profile or trim as specified |
| Window or door reveal | Edge trim, support and weathering detail |
| Top of wall | Ventilated head and compatible closure |
| Base | Starter position with drainage and ground clearance |
Count trims in full purchasable lengths and show where each offcut will be reused. Mitres and short returns create waste that a simple perimeter measurement misses.
Openings consume labour
A wall with several windows may use fewer square metres of boards but more battens, trims, cuts and installation time. Price each opening as a detail, not simply as area deducted from the quote.
Resolve cills, heads and reveals so water can drain out and the cavity remains functional. The cladding should not bridge or block required ventilation paths.
Allow for movement
Composite boards move with temperature. End gaps, fixing slots and clip positions must follow the product instructions. Do not clamp boards tightly between trims or use fixings that prevent the designed movement.
Ordering sequence
- Select the exact cladding range and board direction.
- Draw elevations and mark every trim.
- Design the batten grid and supports around openings.
- Calculate board courses and cutting lengths.
- Count full trim and batten lengths.
- Add approved fixings and clips.
- Check delivery access and storage.
Browse Stonegate's composite cladding range after the elevations are complete. Where the project also includes matching decking or fencing, compare colours using physical samples rather than assuming similarly named finishes are identical.
Frequently asked questions
Can composite cladding be fixed directly to brick?
It normally requires a suitable subframe and ventilated build-up. Follow the exact system design rather than face-fixing boards to an uneven wall.
How much wastage should I add?
Build it from board lengths, openings, mitres and reusable offcuts. A fixed percentage can understate a wall with many short details.
Can decking boards be used as cladding?
Not unless the manufacturer explicitly approves that application and provides a compatible fixing and weathering system.
