James Hardie cladding installation in Bishops Stortford, Hertfordshire

Disagreement about natural wood versus composite materials will always be with us, but in our view composite cladding is now so good that the argument is already won.

Take this recent job for Summit Cladding. We travelled to Bishops Stortford in Hertfordshire, to meet clients whose home was part clad with treated timber. It must have looked lovely when it was first constructed. But therein lies the problem with wood.

The trouble with timber cladding

Our clients had spent thousands of pounds on maintenance, but even with constant care the timber boards were twisting and splitting, which meant they could no longer be sure that their house was fully weatherproof.

The quality of domestic timber is not what it was, and with so many forest and plantation fires around the world, sources of sustainable timber are decreasing anyway.

At a major construction exhibition in London, our clients found what they were looking for – maintenance-free material that still has the character and kerb-appeal of natural wood. James Hardie concrete composite cladding has an authentic raised grain that looks exactly like the grain of natural wood. It also comes in a wide choice of different colours.

Preparation for new cladding

Summit began the task by removing all the existing timber, as well as some of the fixing battens which had deteriorated. With new battens firmly in place, we fitted a Tyveck breathable vapour barrier all around the property. This is a durable, lightweight membrane that is water resistant and windproof.

Finally we fitted the Hardieplank cladding in the colour anthracite, including aluminium vent sections and powder-coated corner pieces to match.

The end result is a maintenance-free makeover, but which leaves the house with the charm and character of the original construction.

Categorised in: James Hardie Cladding

This post was written by Summit Cladding