What Should You Consider When Specifying Aluminum Cladding for an Architectural Project?

A good aluminum cladding specification should leave little room for interpretation once the project reaches procurement and installation. The architect needs to define the profile, dimensions, finish, color, joint appearance, installation system, trims, substrate conditions and required documentation. We support this process with separate Click and Universal systems, product specifications, three-part specifications, shop-drawing resources and CAD/Revit files for many profiles. That information can be reviewed while the design is still being developed, rather than leaving product selection and detailing to the installation stage.

Start With the Building Condition

The first specification decision should come from where the cladding is going. An exposed exterior facade has different requirements from an interior feature wall, ceiling, door or architectural detail. Our Universal 2+2, for example, is documented for both interior and exterior cladding, while the wider GTO range also includes dedicated fencing and other special applications. Defining the application first helps narrow down the appropriate system before the specification gets into profile dimensions or finishes.

Define the Profile You Actually Need

An aluminum cladding specification should identify more than a general product description. The specification should identify the actual profile or profile family, because width, depth, joint arrangement and coverage vary between products. Our technical range includes Click 20, 40, 60, 120 and 180 profiles, alongside Universal 2+2, 3S, 4+4, 120, 140 and 200 options. Those profiles do not create the same visual rhythm, so the selected profile should be identified directly in the drawings and product schedule.

Decide How the Joints Should Look

The joint is one of the easiest details to overlook in early design drawings. With our Click System, profiles use snap-on installation with visible gaps between them, while the Universal family uses tongue-and-groove connections. However, the Universal range is not visually identical across every profile. Universal 120, for example, is designed with a 0.4-inch groove reveal rather than a flush appearance. The specification should therefore state the exact profile and reveal rather than simply calling for a “Universal system.”

Match the Width to the Building’s Scale

Profile width affects both coverage and appearance. Narrower profiles can create more frequent horizontal or vertical lines, while wider profiles produce broader bands across the facade. Our product information provides coverage details for the different profiles, so the width can be considered from both a design and material-planning perspective. For example, the technical resource lists Click 20 at approximately 1.23 square feet per profile and Click 180 at approximately 11.4 square feet per profile.

Specify the Finish Separately

Color and profile should not be treated as one decision. Two identical aluminum profiles can produce very different results depending on their finish. GTO offers standard solid and woodgrain options, and we can also provide RAL solid colors and custom woodgrain options for qualifying larger orders. Our documented sublimation process transfers a printed design onto the aluminum profile after application of a suitable base coating. This gives designers more choice, but the exact finish should still be identified clearly in the project documents.

Think About Color Availability Before Final Approval

A custom color is not the same as selecting a standard finish from a sample board. We offer custom RAL colors and custom woodgrain finishes for large quantity orders. Our FAQ specifies a minimum of half a metric ton per profile for custom orders and an approximate timeline of 60 business days. That can matter when the architect is working against a construction schedule. A specification should therefore distinguish between standard and custom finishes before the finish is approved.

Include the Installation System

The drawings should make clear how the profiles are intended to connect to the supporting structure. Our two primary systems approach that connection differently. Click profiles are snapped onto rails, creating the characteristic open-gap appearance. Universal profiles use a slide-on tongue-and-groove approach, with the exact joint depending on the selected Universal profile. The installation method affects sequencing, detailing and access, so leaving it unspecified creates unnecessary room for substitutions or installation decisions that were not part of the original design.

Specify the Supporting Components

A complete cladding specification should cover more than the visible profile. Rails, angles, U profiles, furring strips and other components may be required depending on the installation. Our technical range includes these supporting components alongside the profile information, including rail, furring strip, Angle 30/30, Angle L and U10. Including the relevant supporting components in the project documentation helps contractors understand the intended assembly and makes material takeoffs more accurate.

Detail Corners and Terminations

Corners, openings and changes in direction need to be considered before the profile is selected. A profile that looks appropriate across a flat wall may require a different accessory or transition at a window, door, corner or termination. We provide accessory profiles and installation information for the systems, allowing these details to be considered as part of the same assembly. The goal is not simply to select the main profile; it is to make sure the entire visible edge condition can be properly resolved.

Check the Technical Documentation

Before the aluminum cladding specification becomes final, review the technical documentation against the project requirements. We provide submittal guides for multiple Click and Universal profiles, three-part specifications, Revit libraries and DWG files. This is useful because the architectural team can check actual dimensions and incorporate manufacturer information into its drawings rather than relying on a photograph or generic product description. For larger projects, that level of documentation can also make review between architect, contractor and supplier much more straightforward.

Use Samples for More Than Color Approval

A physical sample can answer questions that a digital rendering cannot. The profile width, depth, groove or gap, texture and finish can look different when viewed at actual scale. Our sample box includes selected woodgrain profiles, giving designers an opportunity to examine the finish and profile before committing to a larger specification. A sample should be reviewed alongside the elevation and not in isolation, because the same finish can produce a very different visual effect when repeated across a large surface.

Consider Replacement Before You Finalize the Detail

Maintenance access is worth considering during specification, especially on large facades. Our current replacement guidance differs between the two systems. A damaged Click profile can be removed without dismantling the entire wall, while replacing a Universal profile requires removal of the profiles installed above the damaged section. That does not automatically make one system better; it simply means the replacement sequence is different. Architects should understand that distinction where future access or repair is an important project consideration.

Give the Contractor Enough Information

A specification works best when the contractor does not have to reconstruct the design intent from several unrelated documents. Identify the profile, system, finish, color, joint appearance, supporting components and relevant drawings in a coordinated package. We provide separate product specifications, installation information and digital model files that can support this approach. For projects using our systems, the product information can be incorporated into the architectural documentation before procurement, reducing the chance that a visually similar but technically different profile is selected later.

Where GTO Fits Into the Specification Process

Our approach brings the profile and installation system together rather than treating them as separate selections. The Click and Universal families are supported by dedicated accessories and technical documentation. The product range also covers standard profiles, special products, fencing and custom finishes. For an architect, that means the discussion can stay focused on the complete assembly: what the facade should look like, how the components connect, which profile provides that appearance and what documentation is required to build it correctly.

A Better Way to Write the Specification

A practical specification should answer five questions without requiring the contractor to guess: What profile is required? How should it connect? What should the joint look like? Which finish and color are approved? What supporting components and documentation complete the system? Our product and technical resources can supply much of the information needed to answer those questions. The remaining project-specific decisions should come from the architect’s drawings and site requirements. Keeping those responsibilities clear produces a specification that is easier to price, review and install.

FAQs

Does specifying the GTO Universal System tell the contractor everything they need to know?

Not necessarily. Universal is a product family containing different profiles with different dimensions and joint appearances. The specification should identify the exact profile, finish, color and relevant accessories. Universal 120, for example, has a groove reveal and is not the same visual condition as a flush Universal profile.

Can GTO provide files for architectural drawings?

Yes. We provide Revit libraries and DWG files for multiple Click and Universal profiles, along with three-part specifications and submittal guides. Availability varies by product, so the specific profile should be checked in the technical library.

What should I do before approving a custom color?

Confirm the required color or woodgrain finish, quantity, lead time and project schedule before approval. Our current custom-order requirements include larger minimum quantities and an approximate 60-business-day timeline for custom orders.