What are clapboards (rabatdelen)?
Clapboards are profiled timber boards for facade cladding, with an angled profile so that they overlap and form a weatherproof facade. The difference from featheredge boarding: clapboards have a profile (thinner top edge, thicker bottom edge) so the overlap is narrower and cleaner.
Profile
A clapboard is thinner at the top and thicker at the bottom:
- The next board overlaps the thin top edge of the previous one
- The result: a clean, slightly angled facade that sheds water well
- The overlap is approximately 10-15 mm
Types of clapboards
| Type | Profile | Appearance |
| Angled clapboard | Angled cross-section | Classic, most common |
| Swedish rebate | With a groove at the top | Scandinavian style |
| Channel siding | Board with a wide groove | American/modern |
Timber species
| Timber species | Outdoor lifespan | Colour |
| Douglas fir | 15-20 years | Reddish-brown to silver-grey |
| Larch | 15-20 years | Yellow-brown to silver-grey |
| Thermowood | 20+ years | Dark brown to silver-grey |
| Western Red Cedar | 25+ years | Reddish-brown to silver-grey |
| Pressure-treated spruce | 10-15 years | Greenish to grey |
Installation
- Battening — Vertical battens (50×50 mm) on the wall, 60 cm centres
- Ventilation cavity — The battening automatically creates an air gap
- First board — At the bottom, minimum 3 cm above the ground
- Build up overlapping — Each board overlaps the previous one by 10-15 mm
- Fix — Stainless steel screws through the thick part of the board
Clapboards vs. featheredge boarding
| Clapboards | Featheredge boarding |
| Profile | Yes (angled edge) | No (flat board) |
| Overlap | Small (10-15 mm) | Large (20-30 mm) |
| Appearance | Clean, modern | Robust, rural |
| Timber usage | Less | More |
Related terms
- Clapboard cladding
- Featheredge boarding
- Swedish rebate
- Douglas fir wood
- Battening / furring strips
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