The substructure carries the facade
A cladding order that lists only panels is an incomplete order. Behind them sit carrier rails, brackets, fixings and thermal isolators, and those are what actually transfer wind load back into the structure.
Working out the substructure at the same time as the panels avoids the common failure on site, which is a full pallet of cladding and nothing to hang it on.
Movement has to go somewhere
Aluminium moves with temperature, and a long elevation moves a surprising amount between a cold morning and a hot afternoon. Expansion joints are how that movement is absorbed without buckling a panel or shearing a fixing.
Joint positions belong on the drawing, not in the installer's judgement on the day.
Gaskets and open joints
An open-joint rainscreen accepts that water gets behind the panel and drains it. A sealed system does not, which puts the whole burden on the gaskets and the sealant. Both work. Mixing them by accident does not.
Order the system together
Panels, carriers, brackets, gaskets and joints from one supplier, on one delivery, in the order the installers need them. Send the elevation and the quantities and we will price the whole build-up rather than the sheets alone.
