Flatline is funded by the Forest and Wood Products Research and Development Corporation as a stimulus to timber industry product development. It is the first fully integrated cladding system of its kind, a clean break from current ad hoc timber cladding solutions.

Flatline looks different from traditional cladding and is designed for modern architectural trends in housing. It compares favourably with the functional performance and construction efficiency of non-timber cladding systems. It provides, moreover, the unique warmth, feel and versatility of timber. Features of the Flatline system include:

• A deeper but narrower rebate than most boards - thus creating a stronger shadow line appearance.&
• A new "raked" tongue and groove arrangement that:
  • Allows a simpler and tighter fit when placing boards
  • Creates less grab/sticking between boards
  • Facilitates the implementation of other parts of the system
• Improved weather resistance via:
  • The use of anti-capillary grooves machined into the overlapping parts of the boards
  • A 21 mm overlap between boards (which is larger than most other tongue and groove boards)
• Hidden nailing (facilitated by increased overlap between boards).
• The ability to integrate the profile with a metal cavity batten fixing system suited to the thermal and fixing requirements of hot, humid, high rainfall and high wind climates.
• Removal of the need to join boards over studs using a special metal end connector and adhesive - thus saving on waste and reducing site cutting of boards.
• The option to pre-prime boards using a long-life stain primer - thus permitting a variety of final finishes using either stain or opaque paint top coats.
• The option to use new preformed timber stop mould and capping designs at corners.
• The option to use new bent metal flashings at corners and around windows and doors.

Flatline is based on the use of treated Radiata Pine cladding boards but, with minor adjustments, other species could also be used.