Yes, our bamboo X-treme cladding has been tested and appraised against the NZ building code by BEAL (Building Element Assessment Laboratory). BEAL is a recognised testing authority that tests and appraises the compliance of many building products against the NZ building code requirements (equivalent to a BRANZ appraisal).  

The BEAL certified Appraisal Certificate confirms that the Plantation Bamboo X-treme Cladding System, when designed, installed and maintained as per our technical manual will meet the following NZBC required clauses: 

Clause B1 Structure

Clause B2 Durability

Clause E2 External Moisture

Clause F2 Hazardous Building Materials

There are various options for certification to meet the NZ Building code requirements. The bamboo X-treme cladding is not Codemark certified – however it’s been fully tested and appraised against the NZ Building Code to meet the required building standards (E2, B2, B1 and F2) – as per the BEAL Appraisal Certificate. 

Bamboo X-treme cladding is only available in one, natural colour (as per the FREE sample available). Over time it will naturally weather and the colour will lighten (like most timbers). As it weathers the attractive natural bamboo grain becomes more apparent. Some people like this ‘weathered look’ and choose to leave it like this – unfinished.

If a darker colour (or different colour – there are many available) is preferred, maintenance can be carried out with a pigment coloured WOCA oil (or similar) to enhance the cladding to a colour of choice.  Therefore, there are many colouring options available. Here is an example of the cladding with a grey WOCA oil applied:

Bamboo x-treme cladding often only requires 3-5% wastage as all boards are straight and uniform in size – some other timber decking options can require 10-30% wastage due to warps in boards, knots in the wood, not being straight, etc. 

No, one of the many benefits of the bamboo X-treme cladding is that it’s considered low maintenance, as you can just leave it to weather naturally without the need to finish (oil/stain) it. The cladding comes unfinished and can be left this way, or it can be oiled to a preferred colour when installed, or at a later time by applying a pigmented oil. 

The cladding will gradually turn more of a silver/grey colour over time as it weathers in the sun – and the attractive bamboo fibres will become more noticeable.  However, if this natural look is not desired the cladding can easily be oiled to a colour of choice.

Unlike cedar (or other timbers), which can show dark mildew and require a lot of cleaning and maintenance, bamboo X-treme cladding has been through a Thermo Density heat treatment process, which helps prohibit these issues and extra maintenance requirements.

Contrary to many other wood products, bamboo X-treme cladding reaches a strong fire safety class of B-S1-d0 (EN 13501-1) and Class A (ASTM E84). This makes it suitable for commercial buildings, apartments and housing while giving a beautiful natural appearance.

The cladding reaches this exceptional fire safety rating without impregnation of eco-damaging and expensive fire retardants.  Therefore, the cladding is safe for the environment and for the installers.

The cladding will soon lighten in colour as it weathers to more of a silver-grey colour, which also doesn’t attract the heat so much.

The bamboo X-treme cladding is currently available in the one profile (1850 x 137 x 18mm – with a 128mm visible face once installed with clips/screws in a shiplap profile).  Every board is consistent in size and length – without the bowing/warping experienced with many timber products, resulting in minimal wastage.

While the cladding is shorter than some timber/other options, it has a unique tongue-in-groove join on the ends of the boards – providing a nice, tidy join and seamless finish with the invisible clip and screw fixings supplied with the cladding. 

All of our bamboo products (decking, cladding and flooring) are manufactured at one, standard length (1.85m lengths). This is due to it being made from long bamboo fibres. To get the same consistency with the bamboo fibres/ thickness the farmers (and factories) cut the bamboo in this length.

The cladding comes in one easy to install ‘shiplap’ profile and can be installed both vertically and horizontally.

With vertical installation, the cladding can be installed either ‘stacked’ or ‘staggered’. If stacked with an uncut board-to-board join, there will be a neat line where all the boards join. If staggered, you can create a pattern with the boards, with either one full, one half board or another pattern if installed over a bigger area (within the guidelines for batten fixing).

• The “invisible” clip and screw fixings provided (included in the price) make for a faster and seamless installation process over many other cladding boards – as you don’t need to screw through the cladding, match ends, or cut off bowed/warped pieces, resulting in less cutting and wastage
• Since the cladding has been heat treated (via the patented “Thermo Density” process) you don’t get the unsightly mildew and mould like you often see with cedar cladding.  As the bamboo X-treme cladding weathers, its beautiful grain will become more visible, which is a feature (rather than a bland grey fade, as with some other timbers)
• Due to bamboo X-treme cladding’s stability, unsightly gaps are not likely to open up, nor will the boards warp or buckle. The cladding is heavy, dense and has a real quality feel to it
• No excessive bleeding or leeching like some other timber cladding options.
• Being bamboo (and the fastest growing plant in the world), it’s an eco-friendly, sustainable cladding option. The Moso (giant) bamboo species from which the cladding is made only takes 3-5 years to grow to full maturity, enabling the stems to be harvested annually in many cases
• The bamboo X-treme cladding comes with a 25 year warranty
• No pre, or ongoing oiling and maintenance is required – unlike some other cladding options that require regular oiling, staining or painting (unless a colour change is preferred, which can be carried out with a pigmented oil colour of choice)
• Bamboo X-treme cladding performs well in all climates (both hot and cold), including areas such as central Otago, coastal salty regions, the west coast and far north, etc
• Bamboo X-treme cladding is suitable for extra high wind zones (55m/s) – in accordance with the NZBC.

Here is a short and interesting video (3 min) showing how bamboo X-treme cladding is made and why it’s such a fantastic, sustainable and durable cladding option – see video

Some refer to bamboo X-treme cladding as a “rainscreen” – however, it is better referred to as a “cladding system” or bamboo weatherboard, as the cladding is installed over a cavity system (like many other modern cladding options) with a batten on top of a weathertight rigid or flexible air barrier (RAB or FAB). This cladding system provides a double layer of protection against the weather.  

There is a small gap between the cladding boards (that the clips provide), which provides ventilation to the cavity behind.  In the unlikely event that any driving rain or storm weather should get through the gap in the board, it may hit the weathertight RAB/FAB and trickle out the bottom of the cavity, through the alloy cavity closers provided – ensuring the framing and house remains dry at all times.  The cavity will soon dry out afterwards.

Weathertightness testing was carried out as part of the BEAL appraisal, ensuring that the bamboo X-treme cladding system met the NZ Building Code E2 requirements.

Some “backyard” testing of our own, which involved spraying a water hose at full force at the installed cladding resulted in only a little water getting through the gaps between the boards – but the cladding absorbed the water pressure with minimal water trickling down the back of the cladding boards (and out of the cavity closers at bottom of wall). Any splashing would simply hit the RAB/FAB and later dry out.

Yes, although it’s designed primarily as an exterior cladding system, it can also be used creatively for fencing, gates, planter boxes and screening applications.

Absolutely. The cladding can be used for recladding over existing weathertight cladding, if required.