When it comes to facade cladding, there is a wide choice of materials, but it’s critical to be aware of the local regulations or restrictions in relation to colours, finishes and energy performance. The UK has one of the oldest housing stocks in Europe with over 10,000 conservation areas in England alone. The style of an extension and the materials chosen for the exterior may be affected by special controls and even if a property is not in a conservation area, planning issues may arise such as the preservation of roof lines.
In general, specifying facade materials for a home and even minor alterations like re-cladding, will need a planning application. The roofing material will also need to be seen as sympathetic to the character of the building and its surroundings. The physical and environmental context of the building will often establish a range of pre-conditions for the design, choice of materials, fixing and installation of the roofing.
Increasingly, there has been a move away from products like high pressure laminate and aluminium composite cladding towards more natural, A-rated, tactile materials. Another trend in construction and renovation has been to combine several materials in a facade and mix in traditional materials with modern facades to give a contemporary edge to homes with older features. Many architects have adopted this type of approach in the form of an annex with cladding that will deliberately create a contrast with the main building.
Key points to consider when deciding on facade and roofing materials include:
- What are the fire safety ratings?
- What are the eco credentials?
- How does it add to the aesthetics?
- How durable is it, and in particularly, how will it wear in relation to the climate and exposure?
- What is the cost (not only the initial expense but maintenance)?
- How easy is it to install?
One product which has been growing in popularity is fibre cement. Fibre cement cladding and fibre cement roof slates can provide an appearance of traditional materials, offering technological advances while also satisfying the planning authorities.
Fibre cement uses fewer raw materials and less energy in its manufacture than most traditional building materials and is recyclable. Fibre cement cladding doesn’t expand in heat, rot or discolour, and has an excellent fire classification of A2-s1, d0. The fibre cement cladding can be combined with a wide range of materials. It imitates wood very well but will be much more robust and will need minimal maintenance. Additionally, a ventilated facade, where the facade cladding doesn’t sit directly against the insulation, improves energy efficiency. Fibre cement roofing slates are lightweight, easy to work with, can be placed on lighter roof structures without the need to strengthen them and are non-flammable, with an excellent fire classification of A2-s1,d0.
Here are examples of their use in renovation projects in conservation areas.
When an old doctor’s surgery in Malvern needed to be demolished to make way for three blocks of 16 apartments, the brief was very specific. The site is surrounded by trees and most of the apartments would have views of the surrounding Malvern Hills. Working in collaboration with the client and architect, Danny Pointon of Brooks & Pointon, the primary contractors on the site, explains the decision to install Cedral fibre cement slates for the roofing to match the high end brief and as part of a successful application for planning permission in this conservation area.
“In Malvern, we have to incorporate a lot of detail into new builds to meet the local planning regulations, hence the brickwork in the finished structure. We used Cedral Rivendale in colour Blue-Black. This is a very attractive and smart product, which fitted with the high end look the clients wanted to achieve. Everybody was very pleased with the finished result.”
The Rivendale slates are designed to reflect the qualities of natural slate and the material, fibre cement, is strong, sustainable material, lightweight and performs in the toughest weather conditions. With a textured surface and dressed edges, Rivendale combines the innovation of modern roofing technology with the look of a natural slate.
The planning application took over a year to be approved but the end result was worth it. The decision to install Cedral fibre cement slates for the roofing was as part of a successful application for planning permission in this conservation area. Cedral Rivendale fibre cement slates provided the perfect alternative to natural slate and ensured the project adhered to the strict planning requirements.
Market Harborough-based Leaf Architecture has achieved a visual cohesion with its modern, angular three- bedroom development and a neighbouring Grade II church spire. A key aim of the project was to use the application and tone of the cladding of the new home to create a visual harmony between the two bordering properties.
The use of Cedral Click in Slate Grey helped to allow the traditional and contemporary come together within the conservation area, with the new home’s facade making the most of the sunlight and shadow and complementing the adjacent honey coloured stone.
An architect-designed 1970s house in South Yorkshire was given a modern makeover using smooth-finish Cedral Click in Slate Grey. Over time the exterior had become dated and dilapidated. The homeowners considered replacing the exterior cladding with a similar type of tile but worried that vertical tiling wouldn’t give them the quality, contemporary look they wanted.
The fact the building was in the Ranmoor Conservation area could have posed a problem and initially the homeowners faced some challenges from the local authority planning office. As Cedral facades had been used successfully in other conservation areas, the project was approved and the tired looking house has been given a new lease of life.
When the new homeowners bought a 19th century clapboard house overlooking a beautiful stretch of the Essex countryside, the property came with planning permission to knock it down and build a new home. But keen to preserve a piece of history, the couple opted to restore the house instead, choosing Cedral facades to recreate the original clapboard look while benefiting from Cedral’s modern features. The fibre cement cladding imitates wood very well without the maintenance.
“We wanted the same look as before, to restore the house to how it had looked originally. We also wanted a property that was as maintenance free as possible.” Finding the right shade of white was important as well. “We went for Cedral C01 White because it’s more of a warmer shade, other options we looked at were too bright and cold. It’s a large area of cladding and we didn’t want it to be too blinding when the sun was on it.” The finished look is a beautiful New England style home that sits at the top of the hill.
There won’t be one single design solution that fits all and individual circumstances will vary but as these examples show, fibre cement cladding and roofing can be successful option that works in harmony with the surrounding homes and landscape.
Lisa Grosse, Brand Manager, Cedral
