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Glossary & Knowledge Base
Plain-English definitions of the cladding, finish and compliance terms that come up when specifying woodgrain aluminium in Australia.
Specifying cladding throws up a lot of jargon - BAL ratings, AS 1530.1, sublimation, concealed-fix, marine-grade alloy. This glossary gives plain-English definitions of the terms that come up when you are choosing woodgrain aluminium, with links to the pages where each one matters.
Terms A-Z
Cladding & compliance terms
- Oxide Layer
- The thin protective film that forms naturally on aluminium and resists corrosion.
- Patina
- The change in a material's surface and colour as it ages and weathers.
- Powder Coat
- A baked-on architectural finish that protects aluminium and forms the base for the woodgrain.
- Render
- A cement-based coating applied over masonry for a smooth painted finish.
- Sarking
- A pliable membrane behind cladding that manages water and vapour.
- Screening
- Using battens or panels to provide privacy, shade or concealment while keeping airflow.
- Shou Sugi Ban
- The Japanese tradition of charring timber for a black, textured finish.
- Soffit
- The underside of an eave, overhang or projection.
- Spotted Gum
- A dense Australian hardwood with flowing grain and warm variegated browns.
- Sublimation
- The heat process that fuses a woodgrain image into a powder-coated finish.
- Substrate
- The base material beneath a finish - here, the aluminium under the woodgrain.
- Thermal Movement
- The expansion and contraction of a material as temperature changes.
- UV Stability
- A finish's resistance to fading and degradation under ultraviolet sunlight.
- Weatherboard
- Horizontal board cladding, traditionally timber, that overlaps to shed water.
Where these terms come up
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