Easy Installation

“It’s a real easy system to work with…the way it hangs, it’s basically like hanging shelves.”
– Bill Miller, Zephyr Aluminum

To help ensure a successful and profitable installation, Avenere Cladding offers comprehensive detailed shop drawings, a Pre-Construction Orientation, and Jobsite Orientation (currently being performed virtually).

While we maintain competitive material pricing, so much of Avenere Cladding’s affordability comes down to installers understanding and being educated on just how easy it is to install over competing systems. The main factors which separate us from the competition are:

  • Only 3 universal component parts and no clips, gaskets, or caulk to install.
  • Lighter panel weight of only 7.2 lbs./sf. compared to the competition’s 12-15 lbs./sf.
  • Experienced terra-cotta rainscreen installers maintain that they can install NeaCera in half the time that it takes to install competing systems.

3 Universal Components

1. Marine-grade Aluminum Support Profile
2. Marine-grade Aluminum Joint Insert
A NeaCera panel, one of the three components of the NeaCera system.
3. NeaCera Panel
Vertical Support Profile, 1 of 3 components of the NeaCera Terra-cotta Rainscreen System.
The hooks of the Support Profile mate with the ribs on the back of the NeaCera Panel.

1. Marine-grade Aluminum Support Profiles

Support Profiles are 5083 aluminum and come in 9’9” (3-meter) lengths and are available in a variety of depths, typically 2-⅛” (55-mm) deep.

The upward-facing hooks on the Support Profiles are engineered to engage precisely with the reinforcing ribs of the panels. As a result, individual Support Profiles are engineered differently for each different size of panel and are not interchangeable.

Support Profiles for most panel heights have convenient notches to indicate where to cut.

Joint Insert, 1 of 3 components of the NeaCera Terra-cotta Rainscreen System.
The Joint Insert is designed to snap into place on the Support Profile.

2. Marine-grade Aluminum Joint Inserts

Joint Inserts come in a variety of different sizes and shapes. They are produced from powder-coated aluminum, and are made to just snap into place in the Support Profile. The Joint Inserts also come in 9’9” (3-meter) lengths and, while they are finished with a black powder-coating as standard, they can be powder-coated to a color of your choosing. 

Flanges located on the side of the Joint Insert are designed to mate with the registered tab marks (“half-disc” indentures) on the Support Profile, so each Joint Insert is designed for a specific size of Support Profile and panel, and are not interchangeable.

Available Joint Inserts (click image below to view more detail)

Closed Joint – Flush (Most commonly used), Recessed, or Proud.

Blank Joint Insert – for corner and window jamb details.

Open Joint Insert

Fine-Line Joint Insert – Flush, Recessed, or Proud.

Closeup of security tab on NeaCera's system
The Security Tab can be bent down to secure the NeaCera Panel into place on lower elevations of a building.

Security Tabs

To avoid any unauthorized removal of panels, the Joint Insert has a Security Tab cut into the tongue. This can easily be turned down with a screwdriver during the installation and will effectively lock the panel into place. On many installations, this is done on the first six to eight feet above grade.

3. Terra-cotta Panels

NeaCera Terra-cotta Panels are extruded solid-wall panels with integral reinforcing ribs configured to match the upward-facing hooks on the required Support Profile.

Once the Support Profiles and Joint Inserts have been installed on the elevations, the rainscreen panels, which weigh only 7.2 lbs./sf., are installed. Using our unique “Lift & Lock” installation method, NeaCera Panels are secured into place by lifting the reinforcing ribs on the panel over the corresponding upward-facing hooks on the Support Profile, and then tapped into place.

NeaCera Panels have reinforcing ribs on the back side of the panel, allowing the "Lift & Lock" installation method of the panels onto the wall.

How Easy is NeaCera to Install?

Installing the Sub-construction on a NeaCera Terra-cotta job
1. Install sub-construction.
Installing Vertical Support Profiles on a NeaCera Terra-cotta job
2. Install Support Profiles.
Installing Joint Inserts on a NeaCera Terra-cotta job
3. Snap Joint Inserts into place.
An installer placing a NeaCera panel onto a facade.
4. Lift & Lock panels into place.

The Joint Insert is designed to keep a perfectly uniform vertical joint line no matter how tall the elevation. Compare this to the many other systems that rely on the installer measuring or using a small spacer to gauge the vertical joint line.

NeaCera is a non-sequential system, meaning that any panel on the elevation can be removed or replaced without having to remove any of the surrounding panels.

This 16" H x 60" L NeaCera Panel shown above weighs only 48 lbs.!

Lighter Weight

NeaCera’s lighter weight makes it easier to carry, which means increased productivity on every installation while reducing structural support backup.

Additional weight adds additional costs to all aspects of a terra-cotta rainscreen system. Using heavier panels means:

  • More raw material required per sq.ft.
  • Less sq.ft. can be loaded into shipping containers.
  • Greater freight/shipping costs.
  • More substantial sub-construction and framing.
  • Less sq.ft. can be loaded into boom lifts etc. during installation.
  • Less productivity during installation.

 

See how we compare on coverage of a 5 sq.ft. area:

  • NeaCera® at 7.2 lbs./sf with a 1’ x 5’ panel weighs 36 lbs.
  • Hollow-core ranging from 11 lbs./sf to 14 lbs./sf with a 1’ x 5’ panel weighs 55 lbs. to 70 lbs.
Advantage Avenere Cladding