CUTTING CLADDING CEDRAL BOARDS*
Cedral cladding materials have become popular with architects as they allow them to design buildings with highly weather resistant exteriors and robust interiors. As you would expect they are typically tough and resist scratches and water. They are also easy to keep clean. However, these materials are difficult to cut. It is also important to use the right method and tools for the application to ensure you have the finish needed when cutting very hard composite panels.
When you get your composite cladding, it is important to make sure each plank is the correct size for your project and to do this you need to cut down each plank using the correct methods. The method of cutting is dependent on the amount there is to be done.
The question is how to cut the boards in a way that ensures that the finished product looks like it was done by a professional, rather than by your children?
There are actually several different ways for cutting Cedral Weatherboard. In this article we cover 6 tools that you can use when cutting composite cladding boards.
✅ 1. CEDRAL BOARDS CUT BY HANDSAW
First one on the list is the traditional Handsaw. It is a must have tool to any tradesman or DIY enthusiast. Handsaw is often used for either plastic or wood. They cut using both the push and pull stroke. Selecting the wrong blade for Cedral boards may result in a raw finish, while selecting the right blade will result in a finer finish.
Handsaws with fewer teeth are not recommended to cut Cedral boards as they are best for fast, coarse cuts only.
Also with this method, cutting from the back of the board is advisable as the saw guide leaves marks across the board surface.
Board cut by handsaw
Advice
Never use masking tape on cuts when working with wood grained structure. Tape won't stick to the raw surface as well as to plain finish board. As earlier mentioned cutting from the back will stop your board of chipping on edges. Why? When the saw is pulled up it pushes and presses the fibre-cement plank, avoiding chipping and tearing at the same time. By doing other way round you will be pushing the material out and damaging board edges.
If you decided to use handsaw as a main tool to cut your Cedral boards you should fallow simple rules. You are free to copy and share the text from this blog, as long as you provide proper credit and a link to the original source - https://insulationgo.co.uk/.
Rule 1. Don’t try to cut to fast!!
Remember! Boards are 3.6m long and 186mm wide. If you rush your cut through, you may end up splitting your board at the end. This is not something that you want to see, for sure.
Rule 2. Holding it down firmly.
Cedral board should resist on a firm surface. Any movement may cause the board to crack in an unwanted direction. You will find that the straight edge will tend to shift during your cut, especially on long cuts, if you don’t have a firm grip on it and a lot of weight pressing down on it. That tends to ruin the cut and send you back in search of more material.
Rule 3. Test cutting is recommended.
By doing so you will see possible results. It's very important in situations where you don't want to pay for extra boards. Not using test technique may led to more than one piece of paneling being discarded.
Rule 4. Measure twice, cut once.
The last thing that any of us need is to end up having to buy more material, because we found that we cut it off twice and it’s still too short.
It is good practice to cut board 20mm longer. Why? You will relieve the board of heavy off cut. By having only 20mm off cut you eliminate risk of damaging the board.
✅ 2. CEDRAL BOARDS CUT BY GUILLOTINE
Second method to cut cladding boards is to use Guillotine. They’re designed to cut long pieces of Cedral boards into smaller, more manageable boards.
Cladding guillotine operates similary to the action of scissors. The blade shears the material, starting at one side of the sheet. Guillotines are operated and powered by a single person. The small force provided by the operator is increased to provide much larger force at the blade. By pushing straight down the blade, material shears in 2 separate pieces. You are free to copy and share the text from this blog, as long as you provide proper credit and a link to the original source - https://insulationgo.co.uk/.
Cutting by Gillotine
If you are working with Cedral cladding boards you should consider getting one of these tools. Good thing about them is that you can use them and sell them after. The cost of doing it will not be very much.
You get your money back and you are not forced to breathe dust unlike with a circular saw.
Quality of the cuts like?
When using guillotine, the quality of the cuts are clean and sharp. Guillotine takes a thin piece out of the middle. If you look, why is that? It's because the guillotine got two shoulders.
Off cut of Cedral board
CAN I CUT CEDARL CLICK BOARD WITH GUILLOTINE?
No, Guillotine will only work for square cuts. In this case that will be our 10mm Cedral Lap board.
✅ 3. CEDRAL BOARDS CUT BY ELECTRIC JIGSAW
While the method of cutting the boards with a handsaw or guillotine is ideal for many situations, there are times when you can’t use it, such as when cutting a curve. So we need to look at a more conventional manner of how to cut Cedral panel. This is where the jigsaw takes its place.
Board cut jigsaw
You’ll want to work from the back side of the panel as well, as that is the side that the saw will naturally splinter. It is best to work with a fine-toothed blade. This will provide a better finish, as they won’t go dull easily.
IS JIGSAW GOOD FOR STRAIGHT CUTS?
Jigsaws can be great for cutting cladding panels but it can be hard to make a straight cut with them. The secret is to use a straightedge, which is clamped to the panel you are cutting.
Cedral fibre-cement board is very abrasive and dulls ordinary blades very quickly. While the blade works well at first, after a few cuts you will notice that blade dulled quickly! If you use metal blades for fibre cement cutting material will literally eat up the teeth within a length of about 1 meter. It this situation is recommended to use Bosch T 141 HM circular JIGSAW BLADE
✅ 4. CEDRAL BOARDS CUT BY CIRCULAR SAW
Our fourth method of cutting cladding boards will be Circular saw. When cutting fiber cement siding with handheld circular saw, you should use an appropriate blade. To keep dust to a minimum, use a circular saw that's equipped with either a dust collection bag.
A hand held circular saw is ideal for cutting large quantities. It is ideal for shaving off overhanging edges of your project.
For this type of tool you would be looking for a blade with poly crystalline diamond teeth that cut effortlessly through high quality composite panels. For the best quality cuts it is crucial to make sure the blade does not protrude more than 1-2mm out of the base of application.
Circular saw
And again, cutting from the back of the board is advisable as the saw guide leaves marks across the board surface. As mentioned earlier, test cutting is recommended.
Circular saw produces a clean cut. It eliminates the need to try and make good.
Saw blades are available in a number of diameters ranging from 160 to 230 millimeters. A 4 tooth blade on a 180mm diameter blade is recommended for cutting.
WHAT ARE DISADVANTAGES OF CUTTING CEDARL CLADDING BOARDS WITH CIRCULAR SAW?
The cost of the circular tungsten blades can run as dear as £120. So something that’s not going to get used perhaps for job after job after job maybe that is a consideration too.
✅ 5. CEDRAL BOARDS CUT BY ANGLE GRINDER
You can also cut Cedral board with an angle grinder fitted with a diamond-impregnated cutting wheel, but this tool produces a lot of dust and is harder to control than a circular saw.
Some people still use angle grinder as a the only tool to cut Cedral planks. Some people say “this is the worst option to choose”. Why? Because of Dust! We all know that dust is not a healthy thing to breathe.
Angle grinder
✅ 6. CEDRAL BOARDS CUT BY MITRE SAW
Our last tool is mitre saw. This tool can deliver smooth and accurate cuts along the length of your composite panel. It is an excellent tool to achieve straight clean cuts and multiple angles. An ideal solution for achieving both cross cuts and mitre cuts.
.
Cutting boards with mitre saw
Now we got cutting techniques out of the table, let’s answer a few questions.
How do I make holes in Cedral boards?
Simply equip a jigsaw with a metal cutting blade. To start the saw in fibre-cement board, drill a hole through the Cedral cladding board large enough for the jigsaw blade.
Do I need to clean Cedral boards after cutting?
Yes, always make sure that after cutting you wipe away dust with a clean, dry cloth.
Can I cut Cedral board with a utility knife?
This type of cladding is difficult to cut. If you cut Cedral fibre cement board with a utility knife it will take you forever.
BIBLIOGRAPHY
1. youtube.com “HardiePlank HardieGuillotine - Demo, No dust” June 17, 2019, accesed April 08, 2021
youtube.com/watch?v=WqEFyZJzwBU
2. youtube.com “How To Cut NeoTimber® Composite Decking Boards” February 13, 2020, accesed April 08, 2021
youtube.com/watch?v=O57DZKDHhKk
************
*Disclaimer
Insulationgo LTD strives to ensure that the content in this blog is accurate and up-to-date; however, we cannot be held responsible for any errors, omissions, or inaccuracies.
The information provided in this blog is for general informational purposes only and does not constitute professional or expert advice (No Professional Advice Disclaimer). It should not be considered a substitute for consultation with qualified professionals. Before making any purchasing decisions or taking action based on the information presented here, we strongly recommend contacting the relevant manufacturer or certified expert directly to verify product suitability for your specific needs.
Descriptions, illustrations, photographs, data, dimensions, weights, and measurements provided in this article are subject to change without prior notice and do not represent guaranteed contractual product characteristics. Users are solely responsible for ensuring compliance with all applicable laws, regulations, and proprietary rights.
By using this blog, you acknowledge and agree that Insulationgo LTD shall not be liable for any damages, losses, or inconveniences resulting from the use of or reliance on the information provided. This limitation of liability applies to all users, including visitors, readers, and subscribers.
This blog is written in good faith and intended exclusively for neutral, informational, and comparative purposes. It is not intended to endorse, promote, or discredit any specific brand, manufacturer, or product (No Endorsement Clause). Therefore, Insulationgo LTD assumes no responsibility for any misunderstandings, disputes, or claims that may arise from the content. This article cannot serve as a legal basis for actions against any of the companies or brands mentioned. At the request of a manufacturer, we may edit or remove the article. All rights, including potential claims, are expressly waived by all parties involved.
All product names, logos, and brands are property of their respective owners. All company, product, and service names used in this blog are for identification purposes only. Use of these names, logos, or brands does not imply endorsement (Trademark Disclaimer).
Insulationgo LTD is not affiliated, associated, authorized, endorsed by, or in any way officially connected with any of the manufacturers or brands mentioned in this article.
Legal context: This disclaimer is grounded in general principles of civil and consumer protection law, including — but not limited to — the EU E-Commerce Directive (2000/31/EC), the UK Defamation Act 2013, and the UK Consumer Rights Act 2015. These legal frameworks support the limitation of liability for online publishers, the use of disclaimers where no expert advice is provided, and the protection of neutral comparative content. The use of No Professional Advice and No Endorsement disclaimers is a common legal and industry standard to maintain transparency and reduce legal risk.
Some links in this article may lead to external product pages. If a purchase is made after clicking such a link, Insulationgo LTD may receive revenue or commission from the sale. This does not influence the objectivity of the article, which remains neutral and written for informational purposes only. The presence of a link does not constitute an endorsement.
For more details, please refer to our Terms of Use and Privacy Policy. This disclaimer applies to all blog content published on insulationgo.co.uk/blog.Illustration generated with AI for illustrative purposes only. All trademarks and brand visuals belong to their respective owners.
