Grad’s hidden fastening system secures both decking and siding without visible screws or fasteners, leaving the material clean and uninterrupted. The system uses precision-engineered aluminum rails fitted with discreet clips that work like mini harpoons: simply push the board against the clips and their specially designed teeth grip and hold the material securely in place. The result is a fast, precise installation with consistent spacing, excellent ventilation and a refined finish that lets the natural beauty of the wood take center stage.

Grad systems are engineered to bring precision and consistency to every installation. Precision-manufactured aluminum rails and carefully designed clips help establish accurate board alignment and spacing, creating a clean, uniform finish across the project. The system is designed to simplify installation while accommodating the natural movement of wood, helping deliver a deck or cladding installation that looks refined and performs as intended over time.

Grad offers an aluminum-based installation system designed for projects where non-combustible construction is a priority. The rails and structural components are made from aluminum, a non-combustible material that does not provide fuel for fire. While certain system components may melt when exposed to extreme heat, they do not act as a combustible material that sustains or spreads fire. This makes Grad an excellent solution for applications where fire performance and material safety are important considerations.

One same rail can be used to build cladding, decks, soffits, docks, fences, indoor wall panelling… with the same or different surface materials.

Using different rails system to use is straightforward, rendering various styles with the same product is feasible,  and installation is simplified.

— all rails are made of the same aluminum, with the same clips

— all rails can be used with the same surface materials

— all rails can be used for all purposes: walls, soffits, decks…

Say goodbye to nail popping, distorted looks, water traps, or lack of moisture control.

Because we use great quality materials, Grad products are extremely resistant to corrosion, fire, insect attacks, and rot. The system works perfectly across a wide temperature range of use. 

Boards can be subject to quick deterioration due to dampness but because boards sit on our clips, there is no contact between grad aluminum joists/rails and the boards, which helps prevent water traps and cupping. In siding applications: water drops easily and for decking applications: boards never touch joists.

Start Rails are wider than joists and can protect them better to keep them away from water: less need for joist tape.

The clips are made of material that does not fear humidity. They will not become brittal, and will keep their elasticity as they remain hidden below the boards and are kept away from UV light.

For vertical cladding (requiring rails to be fastened horizontally across studs): no 2 rails are ever fastened one after one: there is always a gap between two rails meaning that water would thin out before dropping down this gap.

Rails can be applied directly onto the prepared wall for vertical cladding, the rails have been profiled so that to ensure minimum water retention and to let water flow down. It is also important to note that walls are rarely straight and very often, when rails are applied on walls, there is gap between the rails and the wall they are on.

Ventilation: when anchored onto the clips, each board is sitting onto the clip, never directly onto the ground or the joists themselves

Durability: alu rails don’t warp, do not absorb moisture, are more resistant to corrosion (but cannot be in constant contact with salt water), do not fear insects, moss, algae, UV, and remain stable overtime unlike PT

Grad® clips are hidden under the boards and do not damage boards before their first utilization, they will not create splinters or water traps unlike board pre-drilling would do.

Grad® rails are light and easy to carry and ship.

No screws, no drilling = smoother and safer surface all around for enhanced board durability.

Rails are laid over joists of the decking frame and therefore rails cover the joists, protecting them better from rain water while letting them breathe = helps enhance joists durability and requires much less joist tape.

In most cases, boards are not fastened with screws or do not need screws to be fastened on the rails = only rails are fastened to joists. Rails use 2.5 times less screws than hastening each board individually with screws.

Less screws to use, less drilling to do, easier installation, less equipment to handle.

Care for the planet,and people, with long lasting designs

The tracks are made of 80% recycled aluminum and are 100% recyclable.

Whenever possible, the clips are made of recycled material, but are also 100% recyclable.

Since clips and tracks can be easily separated: recycling is easier.

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