weathertex information

Features and Benefits

• WeathertexisreconstitutedhardwoodWeatherboardsandPanelsfortheexteriorcladdingofresidentialandcommercialbuildings.

• Weathertexismanufacturedfromsustainablyharvestedtimbersourcedfromwithin150kmofthefactory.Theproductcontains97%timber

and3%naturalwax.Itcontainsnoglues,resins,orsilica.

• Weathertexhasanegativecarbonfootprint.Itcontainsmorestoredcarbonthanisgeneratedduringitsmanufacture.Timberistheonly

buildingproductthatstorescarbonsequesteredfromtheatmosphere.

• Duringthemanufacturingprocessallthesugarsandstarchesareremovedfromthetimber.WhilethisdoesnotmakeWeathertexTermite

proof,itisthelastthingthattheywilleat.

• WeathertexisquickandeasytoinstallwithSelflokandconcealedfixPrimelokWeatherboardsystemsandtheinvisibleonandoffstud

joiningsystemswithWeathergroovepanels.

• Weathertexiscoatedwithanontoxicacrylicprimerthatisquickandeasytopaint.

• Youcanusestandardwoodworkingtools.

• Notcontaininganysoftwoodorglues,Weathertex’swaterabsorptionandthicknessswellpropertiesarefarsuperiortoothertimberbased

WeatherboardsandPanels.

• Withapresenceinthemarketplaceforover40years,Weathertexisproudtooffera25yearproductwarranty.

Water absorption and thickness swell of Weathertex and other reconstituted timber cladding after water absorption

Generic reconstituted timber cladding thickness swell

Weathertex thickness swell

Weathertex water absorption

Value added product included

unsustainably harvested unharvested sustainably harvested

Generic reconstituted timber cladding water absorption

The Low Carbon Economy

And the use of timber

Timberistheonlybuildingproductwithapotentiallynegativecarbonfootprintie.itcanstoremorecarbonthanisgeneratedinitsmanufacture.

Sustainablyharvestingtreesisoneofthegreenestthingsyoucando(undertherightconditions)because:

• Carbonsequestration/storageslowssignificantlywhenatreereachesmaturity;25to30yearsoldinmostcases

• Harvestingorthinningmaturetreesletsyoungertreesflourishandsequestmorecarbon

• Thereisnoneedtoreplantasnaturalregrowthreplacestreesharvestedandmaintainsbiodiversity

HarvestingmustbetoastandardsuchasPEFCorFSCandcanbefromplantationornativeforests.Thismeansnohighheritageoldgrowth

forestneedstobetouched.

Timberisusedforsustainablepurposesinbuildingsfor:

1.Subfloors(joists)

2.Flooring

3.Framing

4.Cladding

5.Trusses

6.Doors/Windows

7.Furniture

Many countries around theworld have, or plan to legislate to have, aminimumpercentage of timber or a zero carbon footprint for new

construction.Thisisdifficultandexpensivewithouttheuseoftimber.

Mostnon-timberbuildingmaterialssuchasfibrecement,brick,aluminium,concreteandglass,haveapositivecarbonfootprint.

building mAteriAl selection

IntheGreenBuildingCouncilofAustralia'sGreenStarprogram,1or2pointsarecurrentlyavailableduetoselectionofPEFCorFSCsourced

timber. It isexpectedthatthiswill increaseoverthenextfewyearsastheaboveopportunitybecomesbetterknownandtheintroductionof

programsthatrecognisethecarbonstoredintimberbuildingmaterials,suchastheEcospecifierGreenTagprogram,aremorewidelyaccepted.

Weathertexismanufacturedfrompulpwoodonly.Foreverytonneofsawlogsorpolesthatareavailableinourforeststhereare6tonnesofpulp

woodavailable.Thereisonlyamarketfor4tonnes,ie.woodchipforpaperandWeathertex.Theother2tonnesareleftintheforesttomulch.

Therefore,Weathertexutilisingthisvaluableresourcepreventsitsdegradationandensuresthecarbonthetreehassequesteredislockedintothis

long-lastingproductforyearstocome.

Weathertexistrulyagreenproductwhichisthereforegoodforourenvironment.

Material Carbon Released(kg/m3)

Carbon Stored(kg/m3)

Sawn timber 15 1650

Steel 19500 0

Concrete 440 0

Aluminium 80500 0

Carbon in timber products

step 1

Weathertex comes from REAL timber... Sustainable

plantationandPEFCsourcesareused.

step 2

Logsarethenreducedto19mmchipsusingahighvolumechipping

machine.

step 3

Thewoodchipsarethenfired,usinghighpressuresteam,throughthe

masongun,theonlyoneofitstypeintheworld.

step 4

Thisisawetprocess.After3%waxisaddedthefibresarepassed

throughaboardmachineand reconstituted intowhat is knownas

“wet-lap”.

step 5

Atthisstagethe“wet-lap”isapproximately60%moistureandaround

35mmthick.

step 6

The“wet-lap”isthenfedintothehydraulicpressfor30minuteswhere

steamplatens“cook”thefinishedsheets.

step 7

Stainless steel plates are used in the press to emboss the easily

recognisedtexturesofourfeaturesheets.

step 8

Thesheetsemergefromthepresseshavingbeenreducedtoaround

10mmthick.

Factory Process

step 9

Afterbeingsorted into textures, thesheetsare thenhumidifiedand

processedthroughtheplaner,toensureallsheetsare9.5mmthick.

step 10

Now9.5mmthick,thesheetsarerippedintoprofilewidthsusingthe

multi-sawsystem.

step 11

ThesheetshavenowbecomeaWeathertexprofiledWeatherboard,

andreceivetheirfirstprimercoating.

step 12

Theboardsthenentertheinfra-redovenstocure,wheretheyreach

temperaturesinexcessof70°C.

step 13

Ourqualitycontrolteamsthengradetheboardsastheyexitthepaint

line.

step 14

Weathertex’s innovative “Primelok”systemsutilisesaspecial spline

machinetoinsertthesplineintotheboard.

step 15

Almostreadyfordespatch,Weathertexisthenpackedandwrapped

usinganorbitalplasticwrappingmachine.

step 16

Safelypackeditisnowreadytobeginthejourneytowarehousesand

buildingprojectsthroughoutAustraliaandtheWorld.

Factory Process

1. What are the main ingredients of Weathertex?

Australian hardwood timber, a small quantity of petroleum wax(<3%),whiteacrylicprimerappliedtothesurface.

TheaccessoryproductsaremadefromarangeofmaterialsincludingPVC(polyvinylchloride),aluminiumandgalvanisedsteel.

2. how do you get the timber grain pattern into the surface of the product ?

Thisispressedintotheboardusingaplateinthepresses.Similarly,thesmoothsurfaceispressedontotheboard.

3. What standard does Weathertex comply with?

AS/NZS1859.4:Wet–ProcessedFibreboard.

In addition, the process is certified to the ISO9001 standard formanufacturingandhasbeenunder this system forover15years.There are numerous other standards that the product meets or iscompared to for its performance, including: New Zealand BuildingCode, thermal insulation, bush fire standards, noise insulation,bracinganduseinhighwindzones.

4. What is Weathertex's carbon footprint?

Weathertex has recently undergone an environmental audit of itsprocesses.Thisprocessconfirmedthatthecarbonemissionscreatedat the factory during the manufacturing process are less than thecarbon storedwithin the final product.Weathertex are proud to beproviding a product which is sustainable and helping to save theplanet.

5. What thickness is Weathertex?

AllWeatherboardsandArchitecturalPanelsare9.5mmthick.Someproductsaremilledatdifferentpointstoathicknesslessthanthis.

6. Where does the timber that is used in Weathertex come from?

The timber used is brought in as round log. It is all hardwood. Itisaselectedmixofspecies(gums,ironbark,blackbutt,mahogany,stringybark)whichlendtheirnaturalcharacteristicstothefinalproduct(eg;productdurability,expansion/contraction,waterabsorption).The timber ismostly sourced fromForestsNSWwith someprivatetimberaswell.ForestsNSWtimber iscertifiedunder theAustralianForestry Standard AS4708. Weathertex carries this certified timberthrough its chain of custody certification, which means that someofourproductscarrythePEFC(ProgrammefortheEndorsementofForestCertificationScheme)logoandcertification.

7. What does the Warranty cover?

Thewarrantycoverstheboardagainstcracking,splittingandrotting.Some products are supported by otherwarranty terms. Seewww.weathertex.comforfulldetails.

8. What surface patterns of board are available?

Smooth,Ruffsawn,Ruff-XandWoodsman.

9. What lengths / widths of board are available?

Sheets–ExteriorBoardandHigh ImpactBoardare1220mmwide.Weathergroove is 1196mm wide. Various lengths are availableincluding:915mm,1220mm,1830mm,2440mm,3050mmand3660mm.

Planks – all planks are 3660mm in length. Different profiles havedifferentwidths,including:168mm(170),197mm(200),298mm(300),and145mm(150).Notallwidthsareavailableinallmarkets.

10. What does Weathertex weigh?

One,3660x1220sheet=50kgOne,plankofMillwood=10kgOne,plankofFederation=6kg

11. What is a datum line ?

Thedatumlineisalevelfromwhichallotherlevelscanbemeasured.Usuallysetatthebaseofthelowestplank,astringlinetogetherwithaspirit levelcanbeusedtosetthis.Also,laserlevelscanbeusedforthispurpose.Awaterlevelisalsouseful.Commonlyapositiononthebottombuildingplateisselectedforthispurposebecauseitcaneffectivelybemarkedforfuturereferenceinthebuildingprocess.

12. how many joiners are in a pack?

ArchitecturalPanel joinerscomeinpacksof5,whileWeatherboardjoinerscomeinpacksof25.

13. What is the r-value of Weathertex?

Weathertex'sR-valueinisolationis0.05m2K/W.Incombinationwithotherinsulationproducts,higherR-ratingscanbeachieved.

14. does Weathertex provide bracing for my structure?

WhenfixedaccordingtonormalspecificationstheWeathertexSheetsprovidebracingtothestructureatthelevelsexplainedintheInstallationGuide.Weathertexplanksalsoprovidesomesmallbracing,howeveratalowerlevel,thansheets.Yourarchitectordesignershouldprovidecalculationsforyourwholestructureduringthedesignprocess.

15. can i use Weathertex close to other building structures?

Generally this isaquestion forcouncil.Weathertex,when installedoverfireretardantlayerssuchasafireresistantgyprock,canprovidesufficientprotection tomeetvariouscodesorcouncil requirements.PleaserefertotheWeathertextechnicalguideforbuildinginfirezones.

Weathertex General

16. i am building in a bush fire prone area, can i use Weathertex as the external cladding?

The Australian Standard AS3959-2009: Construction of Buildingsin Bush fire Prone Areas, provides the framework forwhat is nowacceptable in building throughout most of Australia. Weathertex issuitable for use in BAL-LOW, BAL-12.5 and BAL-19 constructionlevels.Consultyourcouncilforfurtherinformationregardingwhatisacceptablefortheregion.

17. is Weathertex termite proof?

It is considered that where the Weathertex has been used incombination with other, more nutritious, cellulosic materials (eg;sawntimberframing,decking,skirtingetc)thenthesematerialsarethepreferredtargetfortermiteattack.

ThishasbeenproveninanexperimentperformedatatestsitewheretheWeathertexsamplespecimen,inacomparisontootherhardwoodtimbersamplespecimens,survivedmeasurablybetterover the testperiod.

frAming

18. can i install Weathertex on steel framing?

Yes.Steelgaugerangesfrom0.5mmto2.5mm,andtherearealsoavarietyofcrosssectionsthatareavailable.BothnailsandscrewscanbeusedtofixWeathertextosteelframes;dependingontheframethickness.Windliftoffresultsvarydependingupontheframeandtypeandnumberoffixingsused.Refertomanufacturer'srequirementsandWeathertexInstallationGuideforspecificdetailsofwhatcanbeused.

19. What support should i have behind my Weathertex?

In general, planks may be installed across studs which are set at450mmor600mmcentres.Unless theplanksare tobe joinedonstud,onawall less than5.5m long, theymustbe joinedusingajoinersothattheendscanbemaintainedinalignment,andthejoiniscorrectlyflashedagainstmoisture.

Forsheets,450mmand600mmstudcentresarealsoapplicable.However, if joiningoff-stud, noggingsmust also be in place every750mmtomaintainflatnessinalldirectionsacrossthesheet.

20. how close to ground level can i install Weathertex?

Aminimumof225mmaboveunsealedsurfacesand150mmabovesealedsurfaces.Also,thepossibilityofwaterpoolingatthebase,orrunningontothewall,mustbeassessedandbuiltoutofthedesigntoavoidoccurrence.

underboArd

21. Why should i use perforated sarking behind the Weathertex?

Watermoves intoandoutof thehomethroughventilationsystemsdesignedintothestructure.Sometimestheseventilationsystemsareeither ineffective or non-existent. When this is the case, the waterwillfindanotherway tomove through thewall.This ismost likelytobedirectlythroughthebuildinglayers.Withchangesinhumidityandtemperature,watervapourwillcondenseonsomesurfacesandsaturate the building layers. The perforated sarking is still largelyimpervioustotheflowofwaterbutallowsopportunityforthewatertoescape,asitvapourisesagain,throughthesmallholesinthesarking.Forthesamereasonsarkingwhichisawater/vapourbarriercannotbeusedaswaterdoesnothaveapathtoescapeinanacceptabletimeperiod.

22. Why should i use a cavity fix installation technique?

Asopposedtosarking,WeathertexWrapshieldisabreathermembranethroughwhichvapourcanmovefreely.Inplaceofcondensingonthesarking, the vapourwill condense on an alternative surfacewhichismostlikelytheinsideofthecladding.However,becauseacavityhas been designed directly behind the cladding, this condensationis able to vent immediately to the atmosphere, and the buildingstructurelayerswilldryintheshortestperiodpossible.Thisensuresthattherewillbenomoistureaccumulationthatcouldcausedamageovera longunmanagedperiodof time. Inadditionto thebreathermembrane,cavitybattens,cavityclosersand longerfixingswillberequiredtoproperlyinstallthesystem.

23. What is thermal break?

With steel frames, heat conductance through the frame is rapidandoccurs easily.A thermalbreakslows theconductanceofheatthroughtheframebetweeninternalandexternalenvironments.Thisreducesaneffectcalledghostingwhichisvisibleontheoutsidewallonadewymorning.Weathertexrecommend,priortoconsideringtheuseofa thermalbreak, that theholdingpowerof thefixing isnotcompromised.SomethermalbreakmaterialsareflexiblewhichwillcausetheWeathertextosit freefromtheframeandpotentially inalooseposition.

fiXings

24. What nails can be used to install millwood?

Generally,50mmx2.8mmCountersunkheadgalvanisedaresuitable.These are as supplied by Weathertex. Alternatively, nails with theequivalent dimensions and corrosion protection characteristics areacceptable. Nails with ring shanks have better holding power in

Weathertex General

timberframes.

Gunnailing–thereareawidevarietyofnailsinthisrange.Maintainthebasicdimensionsasdescribedabove.Thedifferencewillbethetypeofshankavailable(ring,twist,etc).Allofthesearedesignedforbetterholdingpoweronsteelframes,butthesameworksfortimberframes.Makesurethatthegunpressureisright.Overdrivingcausesthenailheadtopenetratethesurfaceandweakenstheholdingpower.Underdrivingcreateslooseboards.Itisacceptabletounderdrivethenailandtaphomewithahammer.D-headsarenotrecommendedastheyarelessaestheticallypleasing.Inaddition,inhighwindareasD-headnailshavereducedholdingpower.

Screws – ITW Buildex Countersunk Rib Head Wingtek screws(class3)No.8–18mmx35mmorequivalentaresuitable.Screwsprovide for improvedholdingpower. It isnecessary topre-drillandcountersinkpriortoscrewing.Otherwise,amushroomingeffectwillbe created around the screw head. Filled screw holes need to besanded,repaired,filled,andreprimedpriortotopcoating.

In some high-wind areas, specific fasteners are required. See theWeathertexInstallationGuideforinformationaboutfixinginhigh-windareas.

25. When building a home within 500m from the beach what type of fastener should be used?

This area is corrosive to some materials. All fasteners should besuitablycoatedtowithstandtheseconditions.StainlesssteelorClass4 screws may be suitable, but the advice of the fastener suppliershouldbesought.

26. if packers have been used on all studs, should the nail used change?

Yes.Thelengthmustincreasebythethicknessofthepackingmaterialtoensurethatthesameholdingpowerisachieved.Thiswillensurethatwindliftoffspecificationsarestillabletobemet.

27. can i countersink fixings and fill the holes effectively?

Yes.Initially,thesheetsshouldbepredrilledandcountersunkbeforeinsertingthescrewfixing.Thescrewfixingshouldbesunktightly,upto2mmbelowthesurfaceoftheWeathertex,sothattheboardisheldtightly inplaceand thefixing isnot loose.Useasinglepack,highquality,flexibleandpaintablefillermaterial.Thefillershouldbeforcedintotheholefromvariousanglestoensurethatthewholespaceisfilled,priortotrowellingoffandallowingtodrybeforesandingflat.Twopassesofthefiller,withsandingbetweenandafter,isthemosteffectivemethod.Aftersanding,asolventbasedundercoatismosteffectiveinsealinganyrawboardwhichmayhavebecomeexposedduringtheprocess.

PlAnKs

28. What is a Primelok starter strip?

This is a colorbond metal section which is used as the startingpoint for the first row of all Primelok products. It is placed at thedatum, starting line, and the first plank spline is pushed over thehookpart.Itissuppliedinlengthsapproximately1800mmlong.Itisnotstructural,asitisonlytopositionthefirstrowofplankswhichareheldinplacebytheirownfixings.Starterstripfixingsshouldbe30mmx2.5mmgalvanisedflatheadnailspositionedevery300mmalongthestarterstrip.

29. What is a storey rod or a step gauge?

Theseitemsaredesignedtoensurethatthespacingbetweenplanksup awall remains constant throughout the building process. Also,byusing joiners,which lap theproductbelow, thespacingcanbekeptconsistent.BothSelflokandPrimelokproductsaredesignedwithselfaligningcapability.Careshouldstillbetakentoensurethattheproduct lines up as accurately as possible, as small variations inproductandconditionsarecumulativewhenmovingupawall.

30. how many millwood planks will be required to clad a wall 10.4m long and 3.16m high?

Using the Wall Height Calculator in the installation guide, and theknowledgethataboardis3.66minlength,youwillneed36planks.Youwillneedtocutthetopplankdownandonlyusepartofit.Youcannotmodifytheoverlapas,inaclassicplank,thelookwillchange.Also, youwill have0.48moff cuts left overbecauseof the lengthdifference.

31. how many classic smooth 200mm planks are required to clad a wall 7.2m long and 2.95m high?

Using the Wall Height Calculator in the installation guide and theknowledgethataboardis3.66minlength,youwillneed,34planks.Note,youwouldhave tomodify the topplank tokeeptherequired20mm plank overlap or otherwise change the overlap to approx.25mm.Thiswillallow14plankstobefullyusedupthewholewall.

32. When building should i line up all my joiners to make the building easier?

It isbest tokeepthejoinersstaggered.Alternatively, if joinscanbelocatedbehindexternal fittings, eg;downpipes,waterheaters etc.,thenvisiblejoinscanbeminimised.

33. When installing rusticated or classic planks how do you install the first row of planks?

Thisproductisinstalledasanormallappedproductwhereeachrowis overlapped on the row immediately below it. If this first row is

Weathertex General

installedflat,thenthejoinerwillnotbeabletobeusedwithoutcuttingthe back leg off the joiner and the angle difference of the bottomboardmaybenoticeable.Toget theangle right,produceastripofWeathertexapproximately35mmwideandattachthis5mmupfromthedatum.

34. how do planks join at external corners?

The most efficient and aesthetic means of treating corners is theinstallationofananodisedaluminiumexternalcorner(largeboxorsmallboxstyle).Thesehaveneatwingsaspartofthedesignsothatsmalldifferencesinthecutendsmaybemaskedbytheoverlappingcoverofthecornerdesign.Thesejoinersalsoprovideflashingforthestructurewhichissuitableformostapplications.

Alternatively,woodstopjoinersasdescribedbelowmaybeused.

MillwoodandOldColonialareflatproducts,andwillmeeteachothersquareifallowed.LappingproductssuchasClassic,RusticatedandPrimelokwillnotcometogethersquareatacornerunless theyaresplay cut. Beneath the boards, a damp course (flashing) shouldbeapplied topreventwater ingress.Awoodstop(canbeanysizeaccordingtopersonalpreference)canbeusedonthecorner.Thiscanbeinstalledaftertheplankshavebeenputintoplace.Providea3mmclearancetothewoodstop.Thisshouldbefilledwithaflexibleandpaintablesealant.

sheets

35. What is the difference between exteriorboard, high impactboard and signboard?

ExteriorBoardishighdensityWeathertexwhichisdesignedforexterioruse.ExteriorBoardcanbeidentifiedbyitsgreenedging.

HighImpactBoard ishighdensityWeathertexwhichisdesignedforinterioruseonly.

SignBoard isa lowerdensityproductwhichdoesnot have the fullcharacteristics of other Weathertex products and does not carry awarranty.

Each product is labelled accordingly, on its back along with othernormalidentifiercoding.

36. When installing Weathergroove, can i nail in the grooves?

Weathertex does not recommend nailing in the grooves. It is verydifficult and the risk of damaging the sheet is high. (Refer to theWeathertexInstallationGuide.)

37. is there a certain nailing pattern i must use when installing sheets?

Yes.Thenailing/fixingpattern is importantwhen installingsheets

(Weathergroove, ExteriorBoard, or High ImpactBoard). Fixings arerequired to hold the sheet flat, achieve wind lift off specification,andprovidebracingtothestructure.Fixingsshouldbe45–50mmin length. Fixings should be spaced no further than150mmapartaroundtheperimeterofthesheet(orthenearestedgetotheperimeterifnailingoffstud)andnofurtherthan300mmapartthroughoutthecentreofthesheets.Fixingsmustalsobenocloserthan12mmfromtheedgeofsheets.

38. Why do i need to use double studs when installing exteriorboard?

ExteriorBoard must be installed by fixing around the edge of eachsheet.WhentheDeepChannelJoinerisused,thisprovidesforagapbetweenboardsofabout12mm.Whenyoualsoconsiderthatfixingsmustbesetbackatleast12mmfromtheedgeofthesheetthenthismeansthatthefixingswillbeatbest36mmapart.Normalstudsare45mmwidewhichmeansthatthefixingwillbedangerouslyclosetotheedgeofthestudandatriskofmissingthestudorcompromisingtheholdingstrength.

boArd Joining

39. What is the Weathergroove horizontal joiner?

Twostylesareavailable, thePVCandanodisedaluminiumZstyle.Both styles have been designed to provide for an expansion jointbetween adjacent sheets, and to flash the bottom sheet againstmoistureingress.

40. how do you cut a joiner?

NormalwoodworkingtoolsoraStanleyknifeorhacksawbladewillwork.

41. how is a Weathergroove joiner different from a signboard sheet joiner?

The Weathergroove joiner fits onto the grooved sections ofWeathergrooveandhasafrontfaceequaltothewidthofthegroove(ie;12mm).TheSignBoardjoinerfitsoverthetopoftheboardthatis9.5mmthickandhasafrontfacethatis25mmwide.Thisjoineralsositsproudoftheboardsurface.

42. When should joiners be installed?

Joinersmustbeinstalledasyoubuild.Toputtheminlaterisdifficultand may not provide the full benefit that the joiner design wasoriginallycapableof.

43. to what extent does board expand / contract?

Boardexpansionandcontractionismostlyaboutthegainandlossofwater,respectively.Temperatureeffectsareminimalinthisregard

Weathertex General

whencomparedtowatereffects.Undertheextremesofhumiditythattheboardislikelytoexperienceinuse,thefulllength3660mmboardcouldexpandand/orcontractbyasmuchas9mm.Tominimisethiseffect,more studsandmorefixingswill assist as they restrain thesubsequent board movement. When fixed properly, the movementintheplankshouldbereducedtoamaximumofaround2–4mm.

44. on a traditional h-style joiner, what is a nib or a wing?

Thenibisasmalldevicewhichpreventstheplanksfrombeingplaceddirectlyagainst thespineof the joinerduring installation.Theplankmeets the nib during installation and provides a gap to the centrespine.(Therearetwoplanksinplay,oneoneachsideofthejoiner.)During its life, the plankwill expand and contract due tomoistureuptakeandloss,respectively.Whentheplankexpands,itwillpushover the nibs and move towards the joiner spine but will avoidbucklingof theproduct. If theproductcontracts, itwillmoveawayfromthespinebutremainwithinthejoiner.Ifthiscontractionoccursafter painting, a white line may appear usually along one side ofthejoiner.Thisistheprimerontheboardwhichwasnottopcoatedduringtheoriginalpaintapplication.

H-joinersforsheets(exceptfortheWeathergroovejoiner)haveawingattachment,oneithersideofthecentrespine,whichkeepstheboardsseparated.Uponanyexpansion,thewingscancollapsetoallowforboardmovementwithoutboardbucklingeffects.

45. What happens if the board is tightly installed and then it takes up moisture?

When moisture is absorbed, the board will expand and begin topushintotheboardadjacenttoit.Itcouldthenbuckleinoroutofitsnormalalignment.Toavoidadverseeffects,anexpansiongapmustbemaintained,oracorrectlyinstalledjoinerputinplace.

46. When should the ends of boards be primed?

Theboardsaresuppliedfullyprimed.Whencut,thereisanexposedtimbersurface.Allcutsurfacesmustbeprimedforfutureprotection.

47. What type of gap sealant should be used between planks?

Ahighqualitysealantwhichhasbeenmanufacturedforthepurpose.Thesealantusedmustpossesshighflexibilityandbepaintable.Eventhebestsealantsareonlycapableofexpanding/contracting40%beforefailure.Therefore,a2mmfilledgapwillonlygoto3mmbeforeitwill fail, orbecrusheddown to1mmbefore it getspushedout.Either of these eventswill likely crack the top coatpaint layer.WehavefoundthatSikaflexPRO2HPorSuperSealHPR25arethemostsuitableproducts.

48. When is butt joining of planks acceptable?

Thisisonlyacceptableon-studandonwallsnolongerthan5.5m;

thisequates tooneandahalfnormalplank lengths.Thecutendsmustbeprimed.Duringinstallationtheendsshouldbebroughtintocontactandthenbackedoffslightly(ie.agapofabout6mm)beforefillingthegapwithasuitablesealant.Thisshouldprovideajoinwithenoughscopetoexpandandcontracteffectivelyduringservice.

49. how do planks join at internal corners?

Thebestmethodofdealingwithinternalcornersistheuseofanodisedaluminiumcornermoulds.Theseareavailable in twosizes,one tocaterforboardthicknessesof9.5mm(ie.Millwood,OldColonialandWeathergroove),andtheothertocaterforoverlappingboardsgivingathicknessofupto19mm(ie.Classic,RusticatedandPrimelok).

50. What joiner would be recommended for my job?

Thereareusuallyseveraljoiningoptionsavailableformostjobs.Themosteffectivemethodisusingajoinerwhichcancaterformovementsintheproductorframeduringservice.ThetraditionalH-stylejoiner,whichprovidesbackflashingandafrontsurface,isstillthebestjoinerforthepurpose.Thisjoinerallowstheproducttoexpandandcontractwithin a defined boundary, and with the least amount of worryregardingwaterpenetrationorongoingmaintenance.Theconcealedjoinersystemhasbeendevelopedtoprovideamoreseamlesslooktotherangeofproducts.Thejoinerallowsforagapofatleast6mmbetween boards which must then be filled with a suitable sealant(SikaflexPROorFullerSuperSealHPR25areappropriate).

PAinting

51. What types of paints can Weathertex be painted with?

Mostlypeoplewillapplyamodernwaterbasedpaint(acrylic).Higherqualitypaintswillalwaysgiveabetterendresult.Theproductcanalsobepaintedwithsolventbasedpaint(enamel),butthis isbecomingrarer.(RefertoWeathertexPaintingandStainingFactSheet.)Allpaintsmustbeexternalpaints.

52. What happens when you paint Weathertex with dark colours?

Dark colours are highly absorptive of heat radiation. The heatdifferenceofproductspaintedwhiteandblackcanbeasmuchas20DegreesCelsius.Becauseofthisheatdifference,themoisturecontentof the board can be affected which leads then to expansion andcontractionof theproduct.The joinersaremadefromPVC.Athightemperaturesthestabilityofthejoineriseffectedanditmaydistort.ItisrecommendedtopaintWeathertexalightercolourratherthanadarkercolour(ifpossible.)

53. do i have to use a joiner?

Youdonothavetouseajoinerifyoumakeajoinonastudonwalls

Weathertex General

shorterthan5.5m.Usingajoinerwillensurethatthetwoneighbouringsheets/plankswillbeadequatelyalignedfortheirservicelife.Italsogivesthemostprotectionfromwaterseepingbetweenthesheetsandmovingintothecavity.

mAintenAnce

54. how do i remove the mould from my boards?

Mouldisusuallyafactoroftheenvironment,andattachestothepaintsurfacewhentheconditionsareconducivetomouldgrowth.Theuseofadilutebleachsolutionwill removemould fromthesurfaceandshouldnotdamagepaintwork.Immediatelyrinsetheareawithwater.Itisadvisabletotestthetechniqueonasmallsectionfirsttoensurethattheendresultwillbeacceptable.

Weathertex General

“Weathertex”,“Primelok”and“Selflok”areregisteredtrademarksofWeathertexPtyLtd.ABN67084713986

TheinformationinthismanualrelatedtoWeathertex’sproductasdevelopedandmanufacturedatthetimeofprinting.Importantly,Weathertexfollowsapolicyofcontinuousproducttestingandimprovement.ForthisandotherreasonsWeathertexreservestherighttomakeanychangesormodificationstothismanualandanyotherrelevantdocumentasandwhenitconsiders

necessaryandwithoutnotice.Accordingly,usersofWeathertex’sproductsareencouragedtoregularlycontactWeathertextoobtainthecurrentmanual.

d i s t r i b u t e d b y :

www.weathertex.com.au Ph:1800040080 Int.Ph:+61249803100

*RefertotheWeathertexManufacturer ’sWarrantyConditions

Peter Downes Design - Millwood Smooth