Composite Cladding - Light Oak

Ulkona slatted panels install onto a battened framework using a simple clip-and-groove system — no specialist tools required. The full process breaks down into eight steps:

1. Fix the battens to the wall horizontally at 400mm centres, with the top batten 10mm below the top of the wall and the bottom batten 20mm above ground level. Secure with screws at 500mm centres (pilot drill first).
2. Install your starting trim — either an External Corner, External End Corner, or Rigid Angle depending on your project. Keep the trim at least 10mm off the ground to prevent moisture wicking upward.
3. Fit the first panel into the corner trim, working left to right. Secure to each batten using the supplied fixing clips through the central hole (pilot drill the batten first).
4. Slot the next panel into the groove of the previous one, ensuring it's fully seated, then fix with clips at every batten.
5. Continue along the wall, panel by panel, until the run is complete.
6. Finish the right-hand edge with an External Corner Trim or Rigid Angle to neatly close off the installation.

A full step-by-step PDF installation guide is included with every order, with diagrams for each stage.

Yes — Ulkona composite slatted panels are fully weatherproof and designed specifically for exterior use. The composite construction won't absorb moisture, rot, swell, or warp, making them ideal for the UK climate including rain, frost, and humidity.

When installing, we do recommend keeping the bottom trim at least 10mm above ground level. This isn't because the panels themselves are vulnerable to water — it's a best-practice detail to prevent moisture being drawn upward into the batten framework behind, ensuring the whole installation performs at its best long-term.

A complete Ulkona installation uses the following components:

• Composite Battens — the horizontal framework the panels clip onto. Spaced at 400mm centres across your wall.
• Fixing Clips — used at every batten to secure each panel discreetly, with no visible screws on the panel face.
• Screws — for fixing battens and trims to the wall (pilot drilling is recommended throughout).
• Trims — choose based on your project:
  
  External Corner Trim — for wrapping around corners where panels continue in both directions.
  External End Corner Trim — a starter/finishing trim that covers the batten where the panels don't wrap around to the next wall.
  Rigid Angle Trim — for finishing neatly around windows and door frames.
  
  

For a standard wall installation you'll typically need battens, clips, screws, and a pair of end trims. For more complex projects involving corners, openings, or returns, you may need a mix of all three trim types.

Absolutely! We offer free samples on all our panel ranges so you can see and feel the quality before committing to your purchase.