External Wall Cladding

Reflective foil sarking can be attached to the external flange of the steel studs with self-drilling screws fitted with 25mm flat fibre washers. Alternatively wafer head screws can be used.

Brickties are normally screwed to the face of each stud at spacings specified in the building code. Depending on the wall frame system used, wire brick ties which clip on to steel stud flanges may be available for brick veneer construction.

For light weight cladding, the building code requires a thermal break such as a 12mm expanded polystyrene strip (EPS) be fixed to the outer stud face to reduce heat transfer across the wall system.

For single wall construction, fibre cement sheeting can be fixed to steel frames with self-drilling, self-embedding head screws.

Timber weatherboards can be fastened to steel studs with extended point countersunk head self-drilling screws. Insulation foil should always be installed between red cedar cladding and coated steel wall studs.

Steel or aluminium wall cladding is fixed with self-drilling screws to manufacturers’ instructions.