We have been delighted with the reaction to A-lign Concealed Fix. We launched it at the BuildNZ trade show in Auckland in June, and people were just blown away by its simplicity – and the quality of fix and finish. It was great to see not just builders, but their partners and even their children, trying out the fixing system and seeing just how easy it was to put the cladding in place.

Jenkin A-lign Concealed Fix builds on the success of our pioneering Jenkin A-lign cladding solution which was launched in 2007. The original A-lign has won support over the last four years from builders, and homeowners, who were returning to traditional claddings in the wake of the leaky homes disaster. For all of us at Jenkin who were involved in developing A-lign, it is pleasing to now see it in place on quality new and reclad homes, schools and small commercial buildings across the country. 

When we launched the original A-lign, we thought it was a step-change for timber cladding, making it easy for builders to install weatherboards to the highest craft standards. But once we had it perfected and on the market, we were already looking for ways to make it even better. We wanted to be able to offer a premium nail-free option. So over the last two years we have developed A-lign Concealed Fix, put it through a BRANZ appraisal, and put international patents in place before we took it to the building trade.

A-lign Concealed Fix has all the elements that made our original Jenkin A-lign so successful – but the Concealed Fix is just that much easier to install, that much more weatherproof because there are no nail holes on the weatherboards, and the face finish is just outstanding. The system starts with the placement of the structural cavity battens which are machined with precision-cut lock-grips. The battens are nailed in place then the weatherboards are placed. A machine cut groove on the weatherboard connects on to the batten’s lock-grip. As each board is put in place, a robust lockstrip is then applied to lock it on firmly. Once all the weatherboards are up, box or soaker corners are nailed in place, and the wall is then ready to be prepared for painting.

In this issue of Proven, you'll find an article on the first build with Jenkin A-lign Concealed Fix. This was completed at premier retirement village development, Lauriston Park in Cambridge. There is also an article on Pat Coll and his team at Draftline in Timaru who designed the A-lign-clad home which won a gold award for Aorangi Homes at the South Canterbury Registered Master Builders' 2011 House of the Year Competition, and an article on a new convert to Jenkin A-lign, Mike Hayward of Hamilton's Hayward Builders.