Latest Posts
November 23, 2020 9:34 am
Published by Summit Cladding
A marvellous example of how James Hardie cladding can transform the exterior of a property in Royston, Hertfordshire. During the Tudor period 500 years ago, house builders had a plentiful supply of materials to work with — mainly, of course, timber. Britain was a much more heavily-wooded country in those far off days and many of the timber-framed houses which were built then still survive today. They look solid and attractive, which is why there was a recent design fashion for “Mock Tudor” — homes built with modern materials but clad in strips of timber to give the appearance of structural beams. Damp problems This design might look nice, but it can give rise to big problems with damp penetration.... View Article
November 6, 2020 3:31 pm
Published by Summit Cladding
One of the challenges facing Summit Cladding when starting a new job is to find out whether any restrictive covenants might influence how we do the work. Covenants are rules and regulations that are agreed between landowners, developers and homeowners, such as stipulations about building materials, paintwork and access. Our client, Alison, who lives in a quiet close in Croydon, came to us about replacing her front door canopy. But her road had a covenant in place, ruling that the window frames and canopy had to remain the same colour. Worn out roof The covenant did not, however, stipulate what materials should be used, and Alison urgently needed to replace the feather-edge timber canopy roof, which was far from watertight.... View Article
October 26, 2020 2:51 pm
Published by Summit Cladding
We have written several times on this blog about the problems caused by cracked render, and how Summit Cladding is called in to help homeowners find a solution, particularly using James Hardie cladding. When rendering works properly it can extend the life of a wall by stopping damp penetration and adding a layer of insulation. But when it cracks, bulges or flakes you know you’ve got trouble. Our clients in the leafy Kent town of Westerham called us in before things got that bad, although hairline cracks were starting to appear in their external render. It was a case of “just in time.” Famous location As you may know, Westerham is near Sir Winston Churchill’s country home, Chartwell, which is... View Article
September 19, 2020 11:07 am
Published by Summit Cladding
This was a very unusual project for Summit Cladding and one with its own unique set of challenges from the start. The targets were three superb penthouse flats in the heart of Chelsea, one of the most desirable parts of London. But they sat on the sixth floor of a residential block just off the Kings Road, and the question of how to get the materials up there caused a bit of head-scratching. Our initial inspection of the penthouses had revealed the problem that Summit was tasked to fix: fascias and soffits made of plywood that had been badly affected by the weather. Water penetration damage The big disadvantage of plywood is that, over time, water can start to penetrate... View Article
September 8, 2020 4:42 pm
Published by Summit Cladding
Summit Cladding is often called to the rescue by homeowners when things go wrong with their walls. And number One on that list of problems is cracked render. Now, render can be a good thing. It can extend the life of a brick or breezeblock wall, it can add a layer of insulation and stop damp penetration. But the problems start when the render cracks and lets in moisture. Cracking, bulging and flaking are all telltale signs that water has got in and frost damage has done the rest. Summit recommended This is what faced our clients at their home in Theydon Bois, Essex when they came to Summit Cladding for a solution, after being recommended by a friend we... View Article
August 21, 2020 10:21 am
Published by Summit Cladding
The history of weatherboarding on buildings is a topic that Summit Cladding is keenly aware of when it comes to its modern equivalent. Timber cladding is thought to have been in use since around the 5th Century, wherever there was a plentiful supply of wood such as in Britain, Scandinavia and North America. It’s still widely in use today, of course, and it’s lovely to look at. But to keep it in top condition it has to be carefully maintained and re-stained or painted every few years. Cladding revolution In recent years Summit Cladding has been at the forefront of the evolution of traditional timber to the James Hardie composite material with a wood grain effect that is so good... View Article
August 14, 2020 9:34 am
Published by Summit Cladding
What do you do when you have to cancel your dream holiday because of the pandemic? The answer: fulfil another dream and give your house a makeover instead! That was the choice facing our clients in Cheshunt, Hertfordshire when Covid-19 put paid to their plans for a holiday in San Francisco. They had also wanted to update their property, after living there for over 20 years, so this seemed the right time to do it. The 1970s bungalow was looking a bit dated, as any house would after 50 years. In those days replacement aluminium windows were just being introduced to the market and Formica kitchen worktops were thought to be cutting edge. New Cladding Colour Things have moved on... View Article
July 21, 2020 11:44 am
Published by Summit Cladding
Who would imagine going shopping for garden plants, but ending up getting a house renovation? That’s what happened for our clients, Mark and Roz, after they visited Springtime Nurseries in Crews Hill, Enfield, where Summit Cladding have their showroom. They had been thinking for some time about getting work done on their house, but they didn’t know who to approach. Seeing our showroom at the nurseries was a “lightbulb moment” and after talking to us they knew they’d found the right place. New soffits and fascias Summit Cladding are proud to have a showroom where prospective clients can see actual examples of our work and discuss their needs with a professional company. Mark and Roz wanted to replace the wooden... View Article
July 6, 2020 2:24 pm
Published by Summit Cladding
Estate agents love to talk about “kerb appeal” when describing a house for sale. Does it look good from the front – like a perfect smile with a good set of teeth? Well, one way to be sure that your property has kerb appeal is to fit a brand new front door canopy. Summit Cladding was contacted by Kevin, from Aylesbury in Buckinghamshire, just before the pandemic lockdown. He and his wife had lived in their home for five years and were getting fed up with the existing flat canopy that was fitted when the house was built. Every time it rained, water would flow over the front of it, soaking anyone trying to get in or out of the... View Article
May 17, 2020 2:02 pm
Published by Summit Cladding
Some of our older readers might remember the Danny Kaye song from many years ago: “There once was an ugly duckling…” Well that was how our client, Chrissy, saw her own house when compared with her neighbours’ homes in a leafy part of Kingston-upon-Thames, south London. Chrissy’s “ugly duckling” house had fallen into disrepair due to personal circumstances, but she had watched as all the neighbouring properties were refurbished and she wanted to make her mark as well. Cracks to fill When I visited for the first time I noted that much of the cement and brickwork had minor cracks. Although the building was structurally sound, this would have to be remedied before Summit could fit the cladding. There were... View Article
