ChamClad's Quick Click column wrap turns a standard structural post into a finished 10-inch column using a recycled PVC covering rather than a structural material. This video shows two ways to install it — a same-day method using OSI QuadMax adhesive and a pre-glued, 24-hour-cure method — and explains how to account for expansion and contraction so the wrap doesn't crack or gap over time. Whether you're a contractor, remodeler, or timber framer, it covers cutting the wrap to length, setting a fixed point, and building a slip joint at the base for movement. By the end, you'll see how to get a clean, trim-free finish with no visible screw holes.

VIDEO TRANSCRIPT:

What is ChamClad's Quick Click column wrap (0:00–0:53)

Good afternoon, everybody. On behalf of ChamClad, thank you all for stopping by and checking this out. We're going to be installing ChamClad's 10-inch Quick Click column. ChamClad is a recycled PVC product—it is not a structural component. So what we have here is the structure, and we're going to be putting a wrap around it. This column is 10 inches on the exterior dimension. This one was done 24 hours prior, so it's already clamped and glued with QuadMax to the face. We're going to show two different installation options: this same-day application, and the pre-glued approach.

Cutting the column wrap to length and accounting for expansion (0:53–1:45)

You need to cut the wrap to length, and you have to subtract for expansion on the post—about 3/8 inch for growth. We're going to put two pieces together, starting with two halves, and apply the OSI QuadMax approximately every 16 inches. The benefit of the OSI QuadMax is that it takes a lot of the growth and expansion out, and it keeps the plies from slipping past each other. When you put this up, it unifies the wrap into one solid column. Whoever designed this needs a hug, because this stuff does not come apart.

Applying OSI QuadMax adhesive to the column (1:45–3:29)

Now we're going to install the QuadMax on the column, applying it at a diagonal so water sheds away instead of getting held in—water does get inside the post. We're spacing it roughly every 16 inches. In this case, we're making the top our fixed point, so the column can grow toward the base. We've also drilled a hole bigger than the face of the screw so you don't dimple the front side of the column. When you cut this, you don't need a special blade. A 60-tooth carbide blade on a chop saw works fine, and as long as you don't rush the cut, it won't chip or blow out.

Installing the wrap and setting the fixed point (3:29–4:51)

Once the QuadMax dries, it bonds and becomes one with the post. Starting at the top—our fixed point—we set our screw there first. We did a slip fit for the rest of the piece, and in my experience, clamping does just a little better than fastening; it's not as harsh on the material. We fastened into the wrap at the top because that's the fixed location, so any growth will happen at the bottom.

Creating a slip joint for expansion at the base (4:51–5:27)

At the bottom, we do things a little differently—we make it a slip joint so the wrap can grow, and we don't fasten into the wrap itself there. A little OSI adhesive goes on the bottom so that once it's set on the finished surface, it will adhere, while the column is still able to move as needed.

Comparing the same-day vs. pre-glued installation methods (5:27–6:06)

So that's one option for installing the ChamClad Quick Click wrap. The other piece was prepared the day before—the OSI QuadMax was installed and left to dry, with no backing added because you really don't need it; any backing is just a bonus. Since that piece bonded a day earlier and we're in a warm temperature right now, we're not worried about growth; we're worried about contraction, so no gap was left. Because there are no screw holes to hide, no trim is needed for this method.

Achieving a clean, trim-free finish (6:06–6:33)

In timber framing, sometimes you want a nice clean look, and this method gets you there. For a clean install like this, the two pieces go on individually, one at a time, since you won't be able to get the wrap to fit in place otherwise—it requires a little more clearance.