I'd like to use some metal cladding without having studs / screws / etc showing. I guess I'll need some kind of bracket, but I have no idea where to look. Would anybody have any leads?

Thanks Tony! Do you mean at the edges of the metal? So the sheets need to be folded at the edges? Or how else are the clips joined to the metal?

I'd say about 3m x 4.5m area.

Marble? Stone? I think COP's asking about metal cladding; first sentence of his first post seems to say so. Title should be “invisible metal-cladding brackets”, though; hyphens have meanings, too.

Standing seam systems use proprietary clips hidden behind the standing seams, but as MarkyP says they're not really a DIY job although I think you can go on the installation courses with at least some suppliers. ComeOnPilgrim will have to tell us what effect he's looking for if it isn't standing seam.

If you don't want any visible fixings then I suspect you would need to weld or glue some brackets to the back of the panels. There are such systems apparently e.g. http://www.nes-solutions.co.uk/cladding/corten-cladding

@djh, yes, I think some kind of welding is inevitable. But what to weld and what bracket? I was thinking that just simple hooks of some kind might be sufficient, with gravity holding the panels in place.

On the other hand, if it is really Invisible Metal Cladding do you even have to bother with brackets?

I've found these. Only trouble is they need to be screwed or rivited to metal, which won't be invisible: http://button-fix.com

I used some of those to mount my house's name plate. They work well. They're invisible as long as the fixing to the panel doesn't penetrate all the way through the material. Not really a problem with a wood panel but might be with a metal one. Again, welding or glueing are likely to be better methods of fixing, or folding the edges, and pre-engineered proprietary systems will be much the easiest to use.

I don't understand your apparent reluctance to weld or glue. You seem to be looking at any (insert adjective of your choice) alternative to avoid one or the other.

I spoke to button-fix today. The concern they have is about the thermal expansion of the metal. Their fixings are normally used internally where there is little change in temperature and hence little movement. For a large panel, there could be enough movement to put a lot of pressure on the fixings.

As an update, I have sent some cor-ten samples for testing for suitability. I'll keep you posted when I hear back.

There used to be a company in Woolmer Green, Knebworth, Herts called Entech (Entech House). MD and Inventor Brian Bailey, who developed an invisible mechanical system called Rotolock. This was a form of Rainscreen cladding that was fixed to Al channels over a weatherproof layer. Al panels were fixed via a steel screw fixing and locked into place, a quarter turn cutting into the sides of the Al panel, leaving a 3-4mm slot for the spanner. You could try emailing Brian at en-rail technology ltd to see if he passed the patent onto another company. Brilliant yet simple system which we used on many railway station projects. Good luck...Jamie

Hi,



Heard back from Sika, apparently the Sika Tack panel adhesive is not suitable for corten/ weathered steel. Anyone have any pointers?

if the Corten is sanded first and you have a good surface area then the Sika glue or similar should be ok.