Exciting design options with Millboard cladding

Give your home or garden room a whole new look with Millboard cladding. Whether you want to upgrade the exterior walls of your house, dress ugly boundary walls, add personality to outbuildings or give a new style to your patio, this technically advanced composite cladding gives you all the beauty of wood without its maintenance requirements.

Manufactured in a wood-free, fibreglass reinforced resin-mineral composite, and designed for residential and low-rise buildings, Millboard cladding comes in two different styles—Shadow Line+ and Board & Batten+—to provide a choice of modern and traditional aesthetics.

Shadow Line+

Just like other Millboard products, the Shadow Line+ range has been inspired by the natural beauty of wood but created to outperform it. The edges of the boards have profiled to create a visible edge. This adds linear interest to surfaces and enhances the impression of natural timber planking.

The cladding has the exceptionally realistic appearance of natural wood with a flat grained finish, thanks to the careful selection of real timber boards to create the moulds for the Millboard planks. The increased width of the boards, compared to standard timber boards, means there is larger grain detail, offering enhanced visual impact and creating shadow definition.

And why not add luxury detail in the form of Décor Shutter or Curve aluminium trim? In ridged or smooth options, Décor has been created for five popular colours in the Shadow Line+ range—Burnt Cedar, Limed Oak, Golden Oak, Smoked Oak and Antique Oak. In Gold, Carbon or Bronze, the trim sits in the shadow-gaps, to emphasise the boards' linear form, and gives a special, designer-led finish to this luxury cladding.

Millboard's Shadow Line+ can be installed either horizontally or vertically and, in nine colours ranging through natural and distressed oak tones to Scandi-inspired Sage Green and Salt Blue, this cladding provides plenty of design inspiration.

Board & Batten+

Our Millboard Cladding Board & Batten+ has a striking resemblance to natural smooth timber, to bring a stunning finish to your home and garden. Millboard's Board & Batten+ are moulded from individual pieces of timber each with varying widths and grain patterns to create a unique and balanced design. The boards and battens feature differing angles that create shadowed definition between the grain patterns, as well as aiding with drainage. The sleek and stylish design of this Millboard cladding is ideal for both contemporary and traditional designs.

Technical comparison of Millboard Cladding

Construction of Millboard

Surface finish

Millboard has a unique surface with a fire-rated elastomer chemically melded to the core materials beneath. It has a UV-stable 2K coating and the surface is designed to stand up to demanding weather conditions and for resistance to scratching and damage.

Internal construction

Unlike some composite cladding, there is no wood used in the manufacture of Millboard. The core of the board structure is made up of a blend of natural minerals which are bonded into a polymer resin. This is then reinforced with long fibres, making the boards extremely strong and durable.

On top of this, the core has a closed "cellular" structure which reduces weight and increases its insulating abilities, without sacrificing strength.

The result of the time-tested combination of ingredients and the manufacturing methods of Millboard is that it does not rot, split or offer a home to insects, unlike timber.

Why Millboard looks so realistic

Moulded from wood

The authentic appearance of Millboard cladding is partly down to the "timber masters" used to create the moulds for the planks. These original boards were chosen for their grain and character. Retaining the imprint of the natural imperfections of the wood makes a vital contribution to the natural look of Millboard cladding and decking.

Processes by hand

Materials alone do not account for the very natural appearance of the Millboard cladding and decking. A great deal of thought has gone into what creates a natural look; achieving a quality finish is a top priority.

Many of the processes are carried out by hand, from the pouring of the resin material to the hand-painting. The hand-painting gives the finishing touch to the two-tone surface of the boards. Enhancing the character of the boards with pigments (which are chosen for their resistance to UV light and fading) is one of the elements that makes Millboard so extraordinarily realistic.

Tolerances

Although boards are moulded, there will always be slight discrepancies in measurements between boards because of the different moulds used and pressure exerted during the moulding process.

This adds to the natural appearance. While boards are manufactured to as consistent a profile as possible, they have tolerances of +/-2mm in width and thickness, and +/-5mm in length. These small differences play an important part in the cladding's natural, organic feel.

Benefits of Millboard Cladding

Like all cladding, Millboard has the advantage of adding insulation to your home, helping to retain heat in winter and remain cool in summer. The insulating effect of the boards also reduces intrusive external noise.

Advantage of Millboard composite cladding over timber cladding:

• Rot-proof and long-lasting. Boards are extremely weather-resistant, so your home will retain its good looks for decades to come.
• Maintenance-free, so boards need no stain or preservative applied.
• Non-porous, so the cladding does not need to be sealed against the weather.
• Installation time is reduced, compared to traditional methods.
• Fixings are inserted through the board's hidden tongue, so they're out of sight, creating a smooth, clean finish.
• The boards retain their appearance without risk of twisting or warping.
• Colours are UV-stable, meaning that you don't need to worry about your cladding fading.
• Boards are fibre reinforced. This not only makes them strong, but makes manoeuvring easier, thanks to their reduced weight.
• Easy to install, the cladding can be treated like timber, with the same tools. No pre-drilling or specialist equipment is required.
• Because it's non-porous, Millboard cladding does not, unlike wood, release tannins, so there is no staining of surrounding materials.

Fire performance

Fire retardants are included in the make-up of the boards and boards are rated to Euroclass D (BS EN 13501-1) for added assurance and quality. The addition of Décor trim to Shadow Line+ cladding increases the rating to Euroclass C. (Fire ratings explained).

Millboard cladding must be correctly specified and used only in areas that accord with government guidance in the UK or abroad. England's building regulation Approved Document B can be found on the government website.

Installing Millboard cladding

It is recommended that a licensed architect or engineer is called in to approve your cladding design before you begin installation, as it is your responsibility to ensure local building regulations are met.

Boards are fixed to a support of battens which have been attached to the surface of the structure that is being clad. Please note that continuous air flow from top to bottom is mandatory. This is to control moisture levels.

Boards have a tongue-and-groove profile, and fixings are inserted through the tongue, creating a smooth, screw-head free finish that contributes to the svelte appearance of the cladding. Consistent spacing should be left between boards to allow for expansion.

To install the cladding, the following will be required:

• Standard wood-cutting tools: e.g. mitre saw, jigsaw or handsaw. A carbon-tipped saw blade will produce the best results. Other tools you would normally employ—such as tape measure, set square, drill bit set etc—should also be on hand.
• Spirit level: this is used to check battens are upright and starter trims are level, ensuring the right foundation for the boards. A laser level can also be employed.
• Personal Protective Equipment: long sleeves, gloves, FFP3 dust mask, ear defenders and safety glasses. This is to ensure your protection when cutting and handling Millboard products.
• Standard power drill driver: this is required to fix the cladding. Where a board's tongue is removed, a 2^nd fix nail gun can be used with stainless steel brads.

For comprehensive detail on every stage of installation, see the appropriate Shadow Line+ or Board & Batten+ installation guides. These should be read before work begins.

How to clean Millboard cladding

If the cladding boards become dirty during installation, clean them promptly using warm soapy water (with dishwashing liquid) and a brush. Clean your cladding as needed to remove general dirt or debris, starting at the top and working down along the grain. A brush with an extendable handle is recommended for ease of use.

It's unlikely that your cladding will be affected by a stubborn stain, but if it is, please contact technical@millboard.co.uk for advice, as different cleaning solutions may be suitable, depending on what's caused the mark.

Pressure washing Millboard cladding

Pressure washers can be used on Millboard cladding for cleaning and rinsing, but care is required, as direct and lengthy contact with a strong spray could damage the surface of the boards.

The following recommendations should be followed:

• A PSI of no more than 2,000 should be used, with a 40-60 degree spread fan tip.
• The head should always be kept around 300mm (12 inches) away from the surface.
• Take extra care when using a pressure washer around windows, doors and cut ends of boards.

FAQs

Is Millboard environmentally friendly?

Millboard is made from sustainable materials and can be fully recycled at the end of its life, making it an eco-conscious choice for your outdoor projects. Learn more about Millboard's sustainable practices.

Does Millboard cladding fade over time?

Like all materials exposed to sunlight, snow and rain, Millboard will naturally weather. Colours will tone down over time. Slight yellowing, especially in the deeper grain of our cladding boards will be visible and loss of gloss is also expected and intentional. This is for it to replicate the natural wood it has been so carefully moulded from.

Can Millboard cladding be painted?

Yes, but Millboard's cladding range has been designed to provide a durable woodgrain finish in a variety of colours. You could well find that painting over the boards would compromise both its attractive appearance and its low-maintenance benefits.

For minor damage, perhaps sustained during installation, Millboard offers colour matched touch-up paints. If a completely new colour is needed, the cladding can be professionally refinished.

Does Millboard cladding expand and contract?

Yes, but much less than wood or wood composites. The minimal expansion—up to 0.2%—is thanks to its resin/mineral composition.

Does Millboard cladding come with a warranty?

Yes. It comes with a 15-Year limited structural warranty for your peace of mind.

Can I view Millboard composite cladding in your showrooms?

Yes! Our nationwide network of showrooms present inspirational displays where you can view our materials in person. Don't worry, you will never receive a 'hard sell' approach from London Stone - our showrooms offer a relaxed atmosphere, with complimentary refreshments and free customer Wi-Fi. Our friendly, expert sales staff are always on hand to answer any questions you have, and to guide you towards the right materials for your project.

At our Birmingham showroom, we are also proud to be home to the first ever Millboard Experience Centre and Training Academy. On the mezzanine floor, with excellent views across the rest of London Stone's products, you'll find full-size Millboard decking installations, styling zones and displays designed to inspire you with ideas.

We encourage you to visit a showroom prior to purchasing. There's nothing like touching and seeing products to help the decision process and most customers find viewing materials in person highly beneficial.

Do you supply other cladding materials?

Yes, we have a wide range of cladding options, from outdoor porcelain and stone cladding to composite battens and facing bricks. Find out more about our outdoor cladding.

How do I contact London Stone?

There are several ways to contact us, including via WhatsApp chat, phone, email, or in person. Our trading hours are Monday — Saturday, 08.30 — 17.00.