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  • Dura Cladding Project Transforms Kerb Appeal and Warmth of 4 Bed House

    Dura Cladding 150 Weatherboard has helped to transform a 4 bedroom residential property in rural Essex into a stunning and highly marketable home. The innovative alternative to natural timber has not only improved the overall warmth and energy efficiency of the property, it has also provided a futureproof solution to effects of the changeable UK weather.

    The initial idea for the project came in 2014 when the property’s owners decided that action was needed to update the exterior façade of their home following a harsh winter. The brief was to reduce the number and variety of materials used on the front and rear elevations and to harmonise the overall look, thus adding much needed kerb appeal. In addition, they were also looking to improve the warmth of their home in winter by uprating the insulation where the previous timber cladding had been faced onto single skin walls.

    The original timber cladding was badly in need of maintenance, as traditional materials such as wood do fade and rot over time unless they are regularly treated – often a costly and time consuming task. With this in mind, the owners decided to consider an alternative solution in the form of composite timber cladding from Dura Composites.

    Composite timber cladding is produced by combining natural wood flour and high density polyethylene with specially selected additives and a suitable binding agent to create a composite material that looks just like natural wood but doesn’t require painting or staining. It is ideal for battling the UK weather and offers a fantastic 25 year life cycle thanks to its durable nature and low maintenance requirements.

    Having selected Dura Cladding from the market leaders Dura Composites, the property’s owners Mr and Mrs Szajkowski trialled the on-line colour visualiser to perfect the look they wanted. Working with their builder and their Dura Composites representative to draw up a range of design scenarios, the couple decided on a practical and stylish mix of rendered and cladded walls which would harmonise the overall look of the property’s exterior.

    Dura Cladding 150 Weatherboard in barn black colour was selected to provide a full contrast with the new white render, and to minimise the risk of staining from the sap of nearby trees. The product’s eco-friendly credentials were a further factor in its selection as the cladding is made using up to 87% recycled content and can be supplied as FSC © 100% certified for excellent peace of mind.

    To achieve the superb result shown above, the original weak and rotten timber cladding and battens were completely removed and new battens were installed. 75mm insulation was added between each batten support, providing a hugely effective heat retention barrier across the front and rear of the property.

    Dura Cladding was then installed on top of the insulation in accordance with the simple guidelines provided within the accompanying Technical Manual. Various accessory solutions were supplied and used to great effect as part of the design, such as start/stop trims, window trims, internal/external trims and expansion trims.

    To complete the look, the property’s owners decided to use a composite timber decking known as Dura Deck to cover the aesthetically challenging concrete piled skirt that surrounded the building. A complementary barn black deck system was selected and installed to provide a great match for the new cladding solution. The entire project took just 4 weeks to complete, and the stunning results have drawn praise from far and wide.

    The property’s owner Professor Szajkowski commented; “We were astonished that such a visual transformation could take place so quickly and with such little effort. The house already feels warmer and cosier inside and we are delighted that the composite cladding and decking provide such a hassle free, low maintenance and futureproof solution”.

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    For more information about the Dura Composites range of breakthrough composite product solutions that offer scalable real-world alternatives to traditional materials, visit the website at http://www.duracomposites.com

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