When architects, siding suppliers, millwork shops, and commercial project teams evaluate exterior wood cladding, the material is only part of the decision. The fastening system, board profile, spacing, ventilation, and machining all influence how efficiently the project comes together.
Pairing Kebony® modified wood with Grad® hidden fastening technology brings those pieces together in a coordinated cladding system. The result combines the long-term performance and appearance of Kebony with precise board alignment and concealed fastening.
For Rex Lumber customers, there is another advantage. As an Official Grad® Milling Partner, Rex can provide the material, precision machining, Grad® grooving, and system support needed to help prepare the components before they reach the project.
What is Kebony?
Kebony is a sustainable, long-lasting natural wood that has been modified using a bio-based liquid. The Dual Modification process permanently modifies the wood cell walls, giving this sustainable softwood premium hardwood characteristics including:
- High durability
- Low maintenance
- Enhanced strength and hardness
- Rot resistance
- High stability
Ideal for decking and cladding applications, Kebony is warrantied against rot for up to 30 years. After exposure to sun and rain, the wood develops a natural silver-gray patina, enhancing beauty while maintaining performance.
What is Grad System?
The Grad® System is a concealed fastening solution for decking, cladding, and select interior and exterior architectural applications. It uses pre-mounted clips on aluminum rails to secure properly profiled boards without visible screws or nails.
The clip-and-rail system helps create consistent board spacing, clean architectural lines, and a more efficient installation process. In applicable systems, Grad® can reduce installation time by up to 50% compared with traditional fastening methods. Individual boards can also be removed and replaced when needed without disrupting the entire installation.
For architects, installers, and commercial project teams, Grad® offers a precise, streamlined approach to fastening while keeping the focus on the finished wood surface.
What is the Click-in Cladding System?
The Click-in Cladding™ System combines Kebony Clear cladding with the Grad® Mini Rail to create a complete wood rainscreen system.
Kebony boards are machined with a profile designed specifically to engage with the clips on the Grad® Mini Rail. Once the rails are installed, the boards snap into position without visible face fasteners.
The system also creates a built-in air gap behind the cladding, eliminating the need for conventional furring strips in applicable assemblies.
Click-in Cladding can be installed horizontally, vertically, or diagonally depending on the project configuration, giving architects greater flexibility while maintaining consistent spacing and clean architectural lines.
It is important to distinguish the Mini Rail from Grad’s decking systems. The Grad® Mini Rail used with Click-in Cladding is designed specifically for cladding applications.
Benefits of the Click in Clad System:
- Faster installation: Kebony reports installation times up to 50% faster than traditional cladding methods.
- Hidden fastening: Clips remain behind the finished boards, eliminating visible face screws across the primary cladding surface.
- Consistent spacing: Factory-positioned clips help establish repeatable alignment across the installation.
- Built-in rainscreen air space: The Mini Rail creates an air gap behind the boards as part of the cladding assembly.
- Flexible design: Systems are available for horizontal, vertical, and diagonal installations.
- Long-lasting wood cladding: Kebony’s modification process improves durability and dimensional stability for exterior applications.
- Reduced installation steps: Properly configured installations do not require pre-drilling of the boards or rails.
The real value of the system is how the individual components work together. Kebony provides the finished wood surface and long-term material performance, while the Grad® Mini Rail controls fastening, spacing, and attachment behind the boards.
Rex Lumber can help connect those components before installation begins.
The system combines Kebony Clear wood with the Grad’s mini rails to deliver efficient and unique siding building solutions that are not only faster to implement, but that also effectively deliver high-precision quality work for both residential and commercial projects.
For distributors, siding suppliers, millwork shops, architects, and commercial project teams, that means fewer production handoffs and greater control over how the material and fastening system come together.
If you’re evaluating Kebony® and Grad® for an upcoming cladding project, involve Rex early. Share your application, profile requirements, quantities, and project specifications with our team, and we’ll help you determine the right material and machining approach before production begins.
Learn more about Kebony®, explore Rex Lumber’s Grad® System capabilities, or contact our team to discuss your next project.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can Kebony® be used with the Grad® System?
Yes. Kebony can be paired with Grad® fastening systems when the board profile and rail are designed for the application. Kebony’s Click-in Cladding™ System specifically combines Kebony Clear cladding with Grad® Mini Rails.
What is the Kebony® Click-in Cladding™ System?
It is a wood rainscreen system that combines specially profiled Kebony Clear boards with Grad® Mini Rails and pre-mounted clips. The boards snap onto the rail to create a concealed-fastener cladding system.
Can Rex Lumber machine Kebony® for Grad® applications?
Yes. Rex Lumber is an Official Grad® Milling Partner and offers in-house Grad grooving and custom profile capabilities for compatible materials, including Kebony®.