When looking at a material for the external envelope of a residential building and examining the lifecycle cost and values and compliance with the new Future Homes & Buildings Standards, fibre cement cladding is a strong choice. Cedral fibre cement cladding gives specifiers the design range and technical confidence for new builds as well as retrofits and renovations.
Cedral’s advantages include:
- Fire-resistant: Cedral cladding is fire performance classified to A2-s1, d0
- Low maintenance and durable: Cedral cladding is low maintenance and lasts longer than traditional cladding materials with a minimum life expectancy of 50 years.
- Stands up to the harshest weather conditions: A strong, versatile and sustainable material containing cement and fibres, Cedral does not rot, rust, warp or crack. It can withstand severe frosts, torrential rain, high heat and direct sunlight. and has a minimum life expectancy of 50 years.
- Style and creativity: Cedral cladding offers two principal cladding profiles. Cedral Click uses a tongue and groove fixing system to deliver a clean, flush contemporary finish. Cedral Lap offers a traditional shiplap profile. Boards can be mounted vertically or horizontally and can perfectly complement brick, natural stone, tiles, stucco and even metal. Cedral is available in two finishes and in 21 different factory-applied colours across four collections each inspired by the world around us.
- Ease of installation: Cedral planks are easy to cut, there’s no need to predrill and there’s a comprehensive range of matching trims.
- Ventilation: Cedral Facades are installed using the ventilated rainscreen system which helps to support energy efficiency improvements and enables the rapid drying of external walls. A cavity is created between the wall insulation or substructure and the cladding, allowing air to flow in at the base and out at the top.
- A sustainable material: Cedral cladding uses fewer raw materials and less energy in its manufacture and produces less waste than some traditional building materials.
- CCPI accreditation: Cedral Sidings have been CCPI assessed and certified.
Transforming a home in Scotland with Cedral
Eòlas Architects, based in Aberfeldy, Glasgow and Aberdeenshire, were called in to modernise a tired split-level home which was built in the 1990s on an elevated site with beautiful Highlands views.
The architects specified Cedral cladding for the clean, modern look the owners wanted, transforming their home from dated to timeless. It also ticked other boxes including sustainability, energy efficiency and comfort.
Having previously fitted Cedral cladding on a housing estate project, Eòlas Director Oliver Hardiman said, “We knew the classic look Cedral provides would fit the brief and it’s also low maintenance for ease and comfort. The cladding was fitted by the building contractor and the whole process was very straightforward.”
Cedral also works well with insulating materials to improve both thermal and acoustic insulation. Oliver explained, “The house had recently lost power for a few days after a storm and they were very keen that the renovation would provide a certain degree of self-sufficiency in future storms, as well as high energy efficiency.” Solar panels connected to batteries were installed to provide heat and power even in power cuts and new external wall insulation ensured heat retention for longer periods.
The project used three different Cedral materials: Cedral Lap in C18 Slate Grey formed the eaves box and fascias, Cedral Click in C51 Silver Grey covered the main body of the building and Cedral Click in C05 Grey was used on the ground floor balcony and lower ground floor level
“Cedral absolutely lived up to our expectations,” says Oliver. “The clients were really pleased with the finished look and pleased with the energy efficiency. Cedral cladding is very stable, doesn’t expand and contract significantly, is very resistant to water and frost damage, maintains its appearance and is low maintenance. I would absolutely recommend Cedral.”
Cedral’s UK technical team supports specifiers through the process. Cedral’s dedicated Professionals hub at cedral.world offers a material calculator, an augmented reality cladding visualizer and a full document library covering datasheets, installation guides, BBA certificates and sustainability information. A RIBA-assessed CPD seminar on ventilated fibre cement rainscreen facades is available. Visit here to read Cedral latest whitepapers, Building the Future and Fit for Purpose.