GRADwood
Facade and terrace assemblyThe GRADwood facade and terrace fixing system is characterized by innovation and convenience. This is often seen as the perfect solution by the architect, contractor and end user. The GRADwood system provides a blind mounting that looks very modern. Furthermore, the factory-determined distance and mounting of the clips ensure that the lines are straight and that making mistakes during mounting is virtually impossible.
The system can also be very interesting from a financial point of view. After placing the aluminum rails, the planks only need to be clicked. Especially for larger projects, this can save a lot of time in assembly and therefore the labour costs. Finally, the most important property of the system is that it ensures optimum conditions for biological materials such as wood and Moso Bamboo. To keep a facade or terrace beautiful, good ventilation and drainage is necessary. This is where the GRADWOOD system excels.
Facade & Terrace
The GRADwood mounting system is suitable for both a terrace and facade. As can be seen from the draggable image, you can use the GRADwood rail system to create an transition between your terrace and facade. This looks very modern and gives the impression that it consists of one whole. Here you see the Speehuis. This project shows the possibility of blind mounting around the building with the GRADwood system.
Quality & Trust
The aluminum alloy of the rails combines rigidity and resistance to create the ultimate load-bearing capacity for facades and terraces. The rails therefore ensure a permanent straight line pattern. The manufacturer’s confidence in the GRADwood system is reflected in the product’s 30-year warranty.
In addition to the rails, the clips are also of very high quality. The clips provide good guidance during expansion, contraction and buckling of the planks without damaging the clip. The tensile strength is 1.5 to 2.5 times higher than the requirements of DTU 51.4. The clips are produced in France.
In addition to its strong properties, the clip is completely and easily removable with the accompanying removal keys. This is done by lowering the keys between the clip and the rail and then unclipping the clip with leverage.
This does not damage the clip and the clip can simply be clicked back on the rail. Even when clicking the clips on the rails yourself, no mistakes can be made. The clip has two protrusions at the bottom and the rail has two holes where the clip should be placed.
GRADwood or traditional intstallation?
With a traditional assembly of a facade or decking, screws are used. There are several drawbacks to this.
- Screws damage the material and remain visible after assembly;
- screws allow for seepage, which prevents water from draining and can cause rot and discoloration;
- the mounting distances must be measured per shelf;
- installation takes longer.
With the GRADwood system, the clips are already mounted on the rails in the factory, so the clips always have the correct distance on the rail. This ensures easy and quick installation. Once the rails have been mounted, the wood or Moso Bamboo only needs to be clicked onto the rails.
In addition, the GRADwood system ensures blind mounting. This not only looks modern, it also prevents damage to the planks. Also seepage cannot take place with the GRADwood system, water does not remain there for too long, which prevents rot and discoloration. The rails are designed to leave a distance of 6mm between the shelves for warping and ventilation.
Traditional installation
GRADwood installation
Rails
The GRADwood system is simple, but very ingenious. In addition to the basic version of the rail (including clips) and the planks with GRAD profile, many additional parts and accessories are available. This makes the system flexible enough to provide a suitable solution for every situation. Whether you want to create a concealed corner, want a straight terrace over a sloping surface or want a passage from terrace to facade, GRADwood provides the solution.
GRADwood flat rail is available with centre-to-centre distance 51mm, 70mm, 125mm and as Varibo (multiple widths). The 51mm flat rail is for a 45mm plank, the 70mm flat rail for the 64mm, 161mm for the 155mm and so on. The Varibo rail has a pattern of alternating clips to which the 45mm, 64mm and 119mm can be mounted. This allows you to create a playful effect.
In addition to the flat rail, we can also provide you with the GRADwood PR 39 raised rail. This rail is self-supporting and can therefore be mounted in combination with support mounts or tiles. With its self-supporting property, the raised rail is therefore intended for decking. You can determine the height yourself with the help of extensions for the carriers.
Flatrail 150
The flat rail is the most commonly used GRADwood rail. This rail can be used in the most diverse ways. In contrast to the PR39 rail, the flat rail is suitable as a facade and decking mounting system. This rail is not self-supporting and must therefore be mounted on a beam construction or other suitable construction.
Flatrail 150 sizes
The flat rail is available in the following sizes with center-to-center spacing: 51mm, 70mm, 124mm, 161mm and Varibo (variable widths). By removing 6mm you can see for which size the rails are suitable, for example the 51mm flat rail is suitable for 45mm wide planks.
PR 39 rail
The PR 39 rail is a self-supporting rail. This can be mounted directly on the GRADwood support mount or can be chosen for mounting on concrete tiles / support mounts.
PR 39 rail sizes
The PR 39 rail is available in sizes 70mm and 124mm centre-to-centre distance. The 70mm flat rail is suitable for 64mm wide planks and the 124mm flat rail is suitable for 119mm wide planks.
Accessories
Adjustable support mount
For a stable construction you can use the GRADwood adjustable support mounts. An advantage of a GRADwood support mount compared to a regular concrete tile / support mount, is that it is made to click unto a GRADwood rail (PR 39). This ensures an extra stable construction, without the need for screw work. In addition, the support mount is adjustable: with the top lift you can lower or raise the terrace even after installation. Under the heading “Accessories in use”, you can see how the adjustable mount is used.
UP+ extension pieces for TOP LIFT
If the adjustable support mounts cannot reach the desired height, extensions can be used. Several extensions can be used per support mount. The extensions and the top lift (turntable) provide many possibilities during mounting. The range is increased by 45mm per pair of extensions, to a maximum of 325mm. Under the heading “Accessories in use” you can see how the UP+ extensions are used.
TOP+ core reinforcement for TOP LIFT
The extensions discussed above are located on the sides of the support mount. To guarantee the stability of the system, core reinforcement must be used. This is easy to assemble by sliding them into the base and attaching extensions to the sides of the core amplifier. Under the heading “Accessories in use” you can see how the UP+ extensions are used.
TOP CUBE
With the use of the TOP CUBE you can add a beautiful touch to your terrace. The TOP CUBE must be fixed to the side of the rail. Then you mount the necessary number of clips on the side of the TOP CUBE and you can then mount the decking board. This also allows you to give the sides of the terrace a completely concealed mounting. Under the heading “Accessories in use” you can see how the TOP CUBE is applied.
TOP LINK L
If the rail is not long enough, for the length you want to have, you can use a TOP LINK L. Click this on one side of the last clip of the first rail and on the other side of the first clip of the second rail. Next the TOP LINK L must be screwed on. With the TOP LINK L you can therefore make longer lengths without reducing the stability of the facade or terrace. Under the heading “Accessories in use” below you can see how the TOP LINK L is used.
Disassembly keys
You can release the clips by lowering the disassembly keys between the clip and the rail and then clicking the clip with a lever action. This action will not damage the clip and it can therefore be reused. After the clip has been released, it can be slid off the plank. By means of bulges on the bottom of the clip and holes in the rail, the clip can easily be clicked back in the right place.
Accessories in use
To give you a better idea of how these different accessories are applied in practice, please refer to the images below.
Corner and side solution
As can be seen from the picture, you can also mount the sides concealedly by means of a TOP CUBE. After the TOP CUBE has been mounted on the rails, you can mount clips on the sides, then you can mount the decking board.
Elevation Support Mount
For a stable construction you can use the adjustable support mount. The height of the support mount can be increased by means of the turntable. If the desired height cannot be reached with this, you can use extensions. The Extensions UP+ ensure that the range of the turntable is increased. TOP+ core reinforcement is placed in the middle of the support mount and the UP+ extensions are mounted on this. The core reinforcement ensures that raising the support mount does not negatively affect the stability of the system.
Warranty-free corner solution
Awood recommends to always mount the corners with 5 to 6 mm clearance. If you do not wish to give the corners space between them or if you do not agree with the current dimensions of, for example, a window frame, you can use the guarantee-free corner solution. To be able to do this, craftsmanship is required, and the end result is not always perfectly closed.
Warning: With this method, the clip will be damaged and the warranty will become void. This solution can help you, but is entirely at your own risk.
First, grind off the rail and clip as shown in the picture below. Then saw the 45, 64 or 120 mm planks at a 45-degree angle. Then you glue two 45 degree boards to make a corner, for this you must use a strong glue or sealant that remains elastic. You can shoot the parts together with a stainless steel nail, in the case of Moso Bamboo you can stick the parts together by means of plank tape. The adhesive tape can be removed after 24 hours.
After gluing, you can click the plank onto the rails. The plank must of course fall between the other GRAD rails on a rear slat. After this, you can fix the pieces of strip with a parker screw or you drill a hole in the strips and fix it with a screw against the rear slat.
Horizontal warranty-free corner solution
If you want horizontal cladding without gaps, you can consult the example on the right. The advice is to always keep a 5 to 6 mm gap because of the absorption of moisture. Due to capillary effects, moisture will get into the seams. These seams then stay wet for longer, and become a breeding ground for algae and fungi. The water will also go into the head end, which can also cause wet spots. It is therefore important to make the ends water-repellent by means of a sealant or sealing kit.
Green value
The rails consist of multiply recyclable aluminum. The use of recycled aluminum compared to new aluminum ensures a saving of 95% energy and 70% water. The aluminum chips and production residues are sorted and processed into new usable material. When recycling the aluminum, there is no loss of quality. This is also a case of ‘zero waste’, which is necessary for the long term and is the basis for a circular economy. The mounted clips are made of 100% recycled and 100% recyclable plastic. Because production takes place in Europe, transport emissions are saved.
Green, greener, greenest
If you prefer the greenest option, we recommend the GRADwood system in combination with Moso Bamboo. Moso Bamboo planks can be used as facade parquet and terrace decking. Bamboo is a very strong grass that grows fast enough to be harvested and used within five years. After harvesting, a new stem grows in the same spot, so there is no deforestation when harvesting bamboo. To be sure of this, we work with Moso. Moso is a producer of impact-resistant and solid bamboo planks that takes the environment into account. The entire production process of each product from their range is CO2 neutral or better. For further information about the green value of Moso Bamboo, please refer to our environment page.
