Patent ID: 8381475

Claim:
Cladded framing comprising: vertically extending framing onto which cladding boards are mounted; a plurality of fixing devices mounted to the framing, the fixing devices being spaced apart vertically and horizontally relative to one another and aligned in horizontal rows extending up the framing and each fixing device having an engagement portion for engaging with and supporting cladding boards, the engagement portion comprising an engagement surface that is arranged to extend upward and outward at an angle relative to the vertically extending framing; rows of partially overlapping elongate cladding boards covering the framing, and each cladding board being defined along the length of the cladding board by a front face and a rear face that extend between upper and lower surfaces of the cladding board, wherein adjacent rows of cladding boards overlap in respective overlapping regions such that a top portion of each cladding board is covered by a lower portion of a cladding board from an upper adjacent row of cladding boards, and a recess being provided in and along the rear surface of each cladding board into which the engagement portions of a number of fixing devices of a row engage to support the cladding board on the framing such that each row of cladding boards is supported by a respective row of fixing devices and wherein each recess of the cladding boards comprises a complementary angled engagement surface that extends downwardly at an angle toward the vertically extending framing and which abuts and rests upon the engagement surfaces of the engagement portions of its respective row of fixing devices in a hook-like engagement relationship to support the cladding boards in place on the framing; and a plurality of fixing components extending through the top portion of the front face of each cladding board within its overlapping region and into the framing to secure each cladding board to the framing in co-operation with the fixing devices, and such that the fixing components associated with each cladding board are concealed from visibility underneath lower portions of overlapping cladding boards from an upper adjacent row of cladding boards.