Knotwood vs. Longboard Cladding
Knotwood and Longboard Cladding are both great products in their own respects under the umbrella of the cladding manufacturing industry. What is so unique about Knotwood and Longboard is their wood-grain finishes on aluminum cladding. This opens a new world of design possibilities for architects seeking the warm, natural look of wood with the strength and durability of aluminum cladding.
That said, Knotwood and Longboard cladding are not limited to wood-grain finishes. They also provide an assortment of powder-coated, solid finishes that allow them to compete alongside the rest of the aluminum cladding industry.
Below, is a side-by-side comparison of Knotwood and Longboard’s aluminum cladding products. In this case, the standard features, benefits, and advantages of both Knotwood and Longboard will be compared.
That said, it should be known that Knotwood is ETG’s product of choice and our recommendation for any project. However, by providing insight to both Knotwood and Longboard, readers will be able to make an educated decision for themselves.
Benefits
Knotwood and Longboard Cladding both have a variety of benefits that make them a great choice for your next project. Primarily, the majority of the benefits of these products is their functionality and behaviour of aluminum cladding, with a variety of design options in solid and wood-grain finishes.
Below is a list of Knotwood and Longboard claddings standard benefits found across their websites, datasheets, and within the community.
Longboard
Clean crisp lines, budget-friendly, code compliant
Save on long term maintenance costs, have a great looking facade for years to come
Easy, fast installation
Minimal waste, fully recyclable
Fast lead times (10 business days), on-demand technical assistance
Chrome-free Pretreatment
Powder-coated for weather resistance
LEED Certified
15-year warranty
Fire code compliant
Knotwood
Shortest lead time in the industry
Complete line of trims: Window, corner, door, end, and starter trim in matching the colour
Most competitive pricing
Greater wind load tolerances
Faster installation
Impact-resistant. Maintenance-free, carefree
Stronger, thicker material makeup than competitive systems
Largest stock colour inventory in the industry
The easiest system to install in the marketplace
Extremely flexible. Bottom to Top / Top to Bottom installation sequence
The best flexibility installing on out of plumb, out of square walls
Adjustable Joint Reveal
Limited lifetime warranty for the material, 15-year warranty for the finish
Cools faster than traditional wood, composites, and IPE
Up to 40% savings over CMU enclosure structures
100% recyclable
At face value, Knotwood has a longer list of benefits than it’s Longboard counter-part, but it’s possible not all of those features are what you need or are looking for in your next project.
A few key takeaways for both products is that they are more durable than wood, easy to install, have fast lead times, and are 100% recyclable.
Installation Systems
Knotwood and Longboard Cladding are available in a variety of different applications, making them strong solutions for any cladding needs. However, Knotwood has engineered its product to be more versatile offering 6 more solutions across a wider variety of use cases.
Longboard
Cladding
Linear Metal Soffits
Linear Metal Ceilings
Thermally Broken Sub-structure
Link and Lock Battens
Privacy Screens and Slats
Knotwood
Cladding
Battens
Soffits
Screens
Railings
Fencing
Awnings/Pergolas
Decking
Enclosures
Gates
Knotwood and Longboard cladding can both be used as a solution for cladding, battens, soffits, and screens. Knotwood, on the other hand, can also be used for smaller projects such as railings, fencing, awnings, decks, enclosures, and gates.
Product Finishes
Knotwood and Longboard cladding both take pride in their large variety of product finishes guaranteed to satisfy any architect’s vision. As mentioned earlier, both come in wood-grain finishes for the classic, warm look of wood cladding. As well, both products offer their solutions in solid powder coats for a standard aluminum cladding finish.
Knotwood
30+ unique yet traditional woodgrain finishes that appear like natural wood.
70+ unique solid powder coat finishes
22 stock woodgrain finishes that can be produced and delivered within 3-4 weeks
Custom colour matching available upon request with an extended lead time
Available with Interpon EC “Anti-Graffiti” coating
Longboard
21 woodgrain finishes for external and indoor use
3 Terra-Cota finishes
14 solid/shimmer powder-coated finishes
Custom colour matching with a min. order of 1000 sq.ft, a 4-week lead time, and a one-time fee
Not every system is available in every colour
While Knotwood and Longboard both boast enough finishes that enable incredibly unique designs, Knotwood takes it a step further than Longboard Cladding. Although Longboard Cladding offers 3 Terra-Cota finishes that Knotwood does not, Knotwood has 9+ more wood-grain finishes, 56+ standard solid finishes, and “Anti-Graffiti” coating.
That said, both companies are also capable of manufacturing their cladding in custom finishes by request. Feel free to contact us and we will help you design the perfect Knotwood Cladding for your next project.
Knotwood Advantage
Knotwood and Longboard Cladding are innovative and unique solutions to the cladding industry. They take a step away from the standard look and design of aluminum cladding and equip architects with an abundance of new design ideas.
However, as mentioned before, Knotwood is ETG’s product of choice and ultimately the solution we recommend from our portfolio when compared to Longboard Cladding. With that said, the following are some of our personal favourite advantages of using Knotwood as a cladding solution.
Corrosion-resistant
Knotwood is made from high-quality, marine-grade Aluminum. Oxygen in the air forms an extremely thin layer of oxide for excellent corrosion protection and self-repairing capabilities.
Light Weight
Knotwood has a density of one-third that of steel, a weight 50% less than wood, and uncompromised strength. Knotwood lowers transport costs and improves installation and handling.
Stain & Scratch-resistant
A topcoat of specially developed, exterior-grade paint is baked on to provide resistance to chipping, flaking and blistering to retains Knotwoods finish for longer. Knotwoods finish is the industry’s leading material in hard-wearing wood-like products.
Insect-proof
No need to worry about termites or ants affecting the beautiful finish. In contrast to wood, because Knotwood is aluminum its impervious to insects and doesn’t require additional chemical treatments to protect them from pests.
Dissipates Heat
Knotwood is perfect for the outdoors and direct sunlight. It remains cooler than most other materials as naturally absorbs heat slowly but releases it quickly. Whether it be a decking, handrails, or any other application, Knotwood remains cool.
Freeze & Frost-resistant
Knotwood does not become brittle at low temperatures. As well, Knotwood doesn’t absorb water or moisture, so it won’t warp and expand when exposed to extreme cold.
Colour Stability
Knotwoods advanced paint technology and sublimation process provide a durable, baked-on paint finish that resists peeling, chipping and cracking.
Eco-friendly
Choosing a material with sustainability in mind is becoming more paramount and Knotwood is 100% recyclable. It uses VOC free coatings and lead-free finishes resulting in a smaller environmental footprint for us and for you.
Non-combustible
Fire resistance and resilience are important no matter where we live. This is where Knotwoods benefits truly surpass the use of wood. Knotwood is a non-combustible product that meets international fire standards.
Non-porous
Unlike wood, Knotwood is non-porous and will not swell, grow mould or mildew when exposed to wet conditions. As it doesn’t retain water, it’s easy to maintain as it doesn’t require regular sealing like it’s wood counter-parts.
Request Samples
Knotwood is a strong, appealing, and innovative product that ETG is proud to offer as a part of our portfolio. To learn more about Knotwood and all of its unique specifications, visit our Knotwood product page.
If you would like to contact us directly to learn more about Knotwood or to request a sample you can visit our contact us page or fill out the form below.