Cedral by Etex

Classic New England architecture provided the inspiration for Natalie and James Davies’ dream home in the Welsh countryside. Working closely with architect Gareth Davies, Natalie based their new home’s modern design on the clapboard style houses of America’s northeast coast.“I’ve spent lot of time in the US and had lots of photos of the look that I what I wanted to achieve,” Natalie explains.Flush-fitting Cedral Click in C01 White provided Natalie with the look she dreamed of. Plus, its hardwearing, low-maintenance finish made it perfect for use in Wales, where the climate can often be damp and wet.Ideal then that Cedral facades are manufactured from durable fibre cement to withstand the harshest weather conditions and have a minimum life expectancy of 50 years. They don’t need regular repainting and won’t rot, rust, warp or crack.“I love those New England clapboard houses, but they’re mainly built from wood,” says Natalie. “Using Cedral allowed us to get the look but without the need for high maintenance or regular repainting. We love the fact we can just wash it down when needed. We wanted the exterior to be easy to look after, have the wow factor and last a lifetime.”Finding the right location for their new-build project was also very important to the story’s success.“It’s an amazing plot that we fell in love with. It’s just on the outskirts of Cowbridge, so it’s walking distance to the town but with incredible views over the countryside – a dream location for a dream home.”With the aim of making their new house feel like a holiday home – “to have that feeling you’re always in a special place,” Natalie adds – the Davies created a space for seamless indoor-outdoor living, with light-filled interiors, large verandas, an external kitchen and a fire pit.“It’s more than just a house to us – it’s everything,” says Natalie. “For this I would recommend Cedral 100 per cent.”

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. Working in collaboration with the client and architect, Brooks & Pointon were the primary contractors on the site.Danny Pointon explains that the stakeholders required a high spec finish. Hence the decision to install Cedral slates, to match the high-end brief.“We used Cedral Rivendale in colour Blue-Black,” says Danny. “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.”Rivendale slates are beautifully designed to reflect the qualities of natural slate and come in a choice of two colours, chic Blue-Black as chosen for the Malvern project or sophisticated Cromleigh Graphite. With a textured surface and dressed edges, Rivendale combines the innovation of modern roofing technology with the look of a natural slate.With a high density of cement fibres and fixings per square meter, Cedral slates are among the strongest in the market, designed to perform in the toughest weather conditions. Fibre cement is a strong, versatile and sustainable material which is lightweight, easy to work with and ideal for both renovations and new builds.The Cedars is surrounded by trees, which gave it its name, and most of the apartments have views of the surrounding Malvern hills.“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,” explains Danny.In fact, the planning application took over a year to be approved but the end result was worth it - a stylish new building that fits into local environment in an attractive way.Buyers agree. Fifteen out of the 16 apartments were sold before the development was even finished, with the final one sold a short time later.

Built overlooking the harbour of Lower Fishguard in Pembrokeshire, this stunning property is clad in Cedral Click creating a contemporary finish to the exterior of the coastal home.

Lead developer A2 Dominion is running the initial phase of the North West Bicester Eco town project, which has the long-term vision of providing up to 6,000 sustainable new homes and is the first of four planned Eco towns in the UK. Announced in the Government’s Planning Policy Statement in 2009, the Eco towns are designed to achieve zero carbon development and more sustainable living using the best new design and construction. The initial phase of the North West Bicester project is called the Exemplar and main contractor Wilmott Dixon has already started to build the first 94 of the 393 planned highly efficient true zero carbon homes which will create the UK's first zero carbon community that is using Rivendale Fibre Cement Slates for its roofing. Bicester Eco town was designed to achieve zero carbon development and more sustainable living using the best new design and construction. Rivendale fibre cement slates were specified for the roofs on the Exemplar phase by main contractor Wilmott Dixon. The homes are highly efficient true zero carbon homes which helped to create the UK's first zero carbon community.

Birkdale fibre cement slates helped create this stunning weekend training centre for the Greater Manchester Army Cadet Force.The complex consists of four interlinked buildings to provide sleeping, living and training accommodation as well as a separate stores / office block.

Birkdale fibre cement slates was chosen as the perfect answer to fulfil part of a complex and challenging rainscreen design. The new single storey training centre, consists of a fully grassed roof with ‘basket weave’ Birkdale slates used as a form of a raked rainscreen cladding to elevate the building.

Situated beside a neighbouring Grade II church spire, the development achieves a stunning visual cohesion between the traditional aesthetics of the church spire, against the properties modern, angular design

Cedral facades and roofing provided the perfect finish for Kidlington Canalside, an exclusive development of 10 canal-side family homes adjacent to the Oxford Canal.A planning stipulation entailed moving the bike and bin storage sheds, commonly found at the back of buildings, to the front of the property so the view from the homes – backing onto the canal – would not be obstructed.“These type of storage areas would typically be found in wharf buildings,” explains David, “though they would normally be clad with timber. We decided to clad them in Cedral facades instead for longevity and ease of maintenance in the future.”Cedral Click facades with a woodgrain finish in striking Slate Grey were chosen to blend in with the development’s industrial feel and complement the roofing colour. They were installed vertically for an eye-catching finish at the front of the property.“The final result has totally met our expectations and is visually very striking,” says David. “Using Cedral takes away the need to do heavy maintenance and regular painting in the future. The products also gave us that easy-on-the-eye uniform look we were after.”One of the main advantages of Cedral, he says, is its durability and the fact it has an excellent fire performance classification – “a very big buzz word in the industry at the moment”.Cedral Click is a durable fibre cement cladding, manufactured to withstand the harshest weather conditions and supplied with an excellent fire performance classification of A2-s1, d0. It doesn’t need regular repainting and won’t rot, rust, warp or crack.“I would very much recommend all Cedral products,” says David. “I have used them now on several schemes and have never had any problems – they are all good quality products.”And the new homeowners agree! The development was completed in January 2022 and by the end of February, six out of the ten homes were occupied and three were reserved, with just one left to sell.

CEDRAL HELPS CREATE THE PERFECT EXTERIOR FOR COUNTRY CLUBWhen Brean Country Club began the construction of its new clubhouse on the Somerset Coast, following the successful opening of the updated Brean Golf Club Course in 2016, it chose Cedral fibre cement cladding to deliver a resilient and visually striking exterior that would create a lasting impression for visitors.Overlooking the picturesque 18th green of the golf course, the newly built clubhouse offers guests rolling views of Brent Knoll and the Mendips through the wide expanse of glass, which is complemented by Cedral Lap fibre cement cladding in colour Slate Grey. Designed by Arturus Architects, with installation completed by Wrencon Ltd, the construction took just 14 months to complete.Over 400sq.m of Cedral Lap fibre cement cladding was installed across the exterior of the clubhouse, creating a contemporary aesthetic that works in perfect harmony with the corresponding stone and glass elements. 200sq.m of Cedral Click fibre cement cladding was also specified in colour Grey for the soffits of the building to add a flush fitted, contemporary finish.Simon Stacey, Associate at Arturus Architects, said: “We chose Cedral Lap fibre cement cladding as part of the exterior’s construction as the client had previously used the material throughout the renovation of its Leisure Park buildings and was extremely pleased with the results. We originally looked to specify timber cladding on the exterior of the clubhouse, however, the coastal location of the site required an exterior solution that would withstand the harshest of weather conditions.“Cedral fibre cement cladding was the ideal choice, as the client was already well accustomed to the material’s longstanding resilience and low maintenance properties. We were confident the facade would ensure the Club House’s exterior would look just as good in years to come.”As part of the design process, Simon and his team wanted to create an aesthetic that was in keeping with the surrounding buildings, as the site is located on a former farm. Cedral Lap and Click fibre cement cladding not only fulfilled this brief with its timber effect but also enabled the architects to create a contemporary style to the exterior.Gary Thorne from Wrencon Ltd, said: “We have worked with Cedral Lap and Cedral Click fibre cement cladding on a range of residential and commercial projects across Somerset for many years, so we were confident in its ease of installation. The construction of the clubhouse is a steel frame, with a Metsec steel frame walling system. The insulation was fitted 30mm behind the Cedral cladding for improved thermal performance, whilst also maintaining ventilation.“As it is a very exposed site just off the Severn Estuary, we knew that Cedral would provide a resilient exterior that would still offer the same high quality finish in years to come, regardless of the weather conditions. We are extremely pleased with the final result.”Brean Country Club is one of Somerset’s leading wedding venues, offering a range of leisure and entertainment facilities to both the local and surrounding areas, with holiday lodges also available for purchase or hire.

When Alex and her family wanted to move to a quieter street that would be safe for both children and pets, they had definite ideas on what they wanted – a warm, modern family home with real kerb appeal. After spending a holiday in Cape Cod and New Hampshire a few years ago, they had been inspired by the attractive clapboard homes they saw there – “they just look so pretty and a bit different” says Alex.And while the house they found in Weybridge, Surrey, needed a lot of renovation – Alex describes it as “the worst house on the street” – they believed that its structure would work with a New England style face lift and set to work.The project was “an opportunity to design a house that our young family could grow into, so we wanted to future proof it as much as possible,” Alex explains.Cedral facades were chosen for the exterior because the family wanted a material that was low maintenance and durable but that looked like real wood. Working with a builder who was familiar with the installation of Cedral products, Alex describes the project as fairly stress free but emphasises that they did a lot of research and planning before work began.With smooth rendered walls on the lower part of the building, and a smart cladding finish on top, the home has been given a chic contemporary makeover that captures the essence of classic New England style.Now that the work is complete, she says that Cedral has really met their expectations – the house “looks great and we’re really pleased with the look”, confirming she would highly recommend Cedral to others.

When fitting a high spec product like Cedral facades, it pays to hire a professional experienced installer – as property developer Dominic Arnold, owner of Clover Design & Build Ltd in Brighton, found out.Six months ago, he hired a firm to fit Cedral Lap facades on a 4-bedroom house in Roedean, Brighton, a stylish New England renovation that doubled the home’s original size. But things didn’t go according to plan.“It was horrendous,” says Dominic. “After the fitters had been working on the job for a few weeks I noticed some very serious issues including poor installation of the boards, a lack of ventilation and profiles that were either missing or incorrectly used – the whole thing was an absolute disaster.”A Cedral surveyor visited the property and condemned the work, at which point a new contractor was appointed. He removed the facades and re-installed everything to Cedral's specifications.“He was very good and adhered to all Cedral specifications on air gaps and ventilation, and also used stainless steel screws, which was not done in the first installation. The Cedral surveyor then sanctioned the work and delivered the guarantees.”Cedral provides a 10-year product guarantee for all products installed to its recommendations, for homeowners’ peace of mind.“Correct installation is so important, not just for adhering to regulated building standards but also for aesthetic reasons,” says Dominic. “As a finishing product, Cedral cladding must be respected as a beautifully engineered piece of kit that needs to be installed with care, skill and professionalism. If it is not installed correctly, it will look wrong and cause potential problems in the future.Luckily, an earlier renovation job at Rottingdean in Brighton had a much better outcome for Dominic. Using Cedral Lap in stylish white to create New England villa style appeal, the final result achieved the desired effect.Dominic did a lot of the installation work himself and it went very well, though in hindsight, he says, it would have been a lot easier if he had made better use of Cedral’s online guides.He has no reservations highly recommending Cedral to other homeowners and construction firms. “It’s a good-looking product that’s very low maintenance, hardwearing and long-lasting. It’s good quality and incredibly versatile.”

Cedral Lap fibre cement cladding has been specified as the building material of choice by luxury developer Cedarmill Developments, adding real kerb appeal to its latest residential project in Hornchurch, Essex.Over 450sq.m of Cedral Lap in colour Pewter Grey has been installed across a selection of three storey family homes, creating a contemporary visual appeal that perfectly encompasses the developer’s commitment to providing the highest standard in premium housing.Cedarmill Developments is dedicated to constructing residential and commercial properties across the UK’s Southern regions, offering clients first class functionality and style. The latest site in Havering consists of a combination of luxury detached houses, which will be completed in autumn 2019.Seamus Tattan, Senior Contracts Manager at Cedarmill Developments, said: “This is the first time we have specified Cedral Lap fibre cement cladding and we are already looking to utilise the material on a further two upcoming residential developments as we are so impressed with it.“Initially, we were looking for an exterior solution that offered the highest standards in aesthetics and fire performance, whilst offering the greatest value for money. Cedral surpassed these requirements, enabling us to create a resilient and stylish exterior that we are confident will offer the same impressive kerb appeal in years to come.”The properties’ ground floor is constructed of brick, with Cedral Lap clad across the first and second floors. This creates a contemporary New England style aesthetic that works in perfect harmony with the sleek black windows and doors.Seamus continued: “I cannot fault the Cedral team for their expertise and guidance, from the initial specification process, right through to final installation of the product. We look forward to working with Cedral on our upcoming developments as we continue to create beautiful homes.”Cedral Lap fibre cement cladding is a low maintenance alternative to traditional cladding materials, offering a minimum life expectancy of 50 years. Resistant to rot, attack from insects and the external elements, the easy to install solution is available in a wide range of shades and finishes and has a Class A fire performance rating.

A 70-year-old bungalow was transformed into a new look home for an Essex family using Cedral LapRobert and his family have lived in their bungalow in Stanford-le-Hope for the last 18 years. In that time, they have extended the property to make it twice its original size but were getting tired of the constant upkeep on the exterior.“It’s an old bungalow and we had to paint it every other year to keep it looking fresh, but we wanted it to be much more low maintenance,” says Robert. “Because Cedral cladding is cement based, it lasts a long time and is pretty much zero maintenance – that’s one of the main reasons we chose it. What’s lovely about this is that you just wash it down, it’s a painted cement board that looks like timber. It also comes with a pot of paint so you can do touch ups in the future if you want to.”Robert looked at other products on the market before making his choice, but none offered the professional finish, high specifications, and wow factor of Cedral.“We could have gone for a plastic facade, but it didn’t give us the look we wanted and was pretty much the same price,” Robert says. “And the other benefit of having fibre cement cladding is that it has an excellent fire performance classification. That was another big consideration for us”.With the choice of product made, the next step was the installation. This, reveals Robert, “worked like a dream”, thanks to the professional installer recommended by Cedral for the job.“We used local Essex installers GRB Carpentry and Building Ltd and they were brilliant,” says Robert. “They quoted a fair price, said the job would take three weeks and completed it in the time. They worked diligently and were here promptly every morning, you could set your watch by them. This is an old bungalow, made from engineering bricks so it was a tough installation, but they didn’t bat an eyelid at it. I was amazed at how simply and quickly the cladding went up and how perfectly level it was.”The project also gave Robert a chance to upgrade windows and outdoor lights, again aided by the installers who organised an electrician to remove the old lights, then drilled holes in the cladding so the new fixtures could be fitted.“Nothing was a problem for them,” says Robert. “They also accommodated our outdoor taps in the revamp and fitted them inside the cladding, so now the taps are all nicely hidden.”In fact, the final result looks like a whole new house, according to Robert – “it’s like a new build now”.“The finished job is fantastic; we absolutely love it. Cedral cladding is an excellent product, and I would recommend it without a doubt.”

The site at Knock Rushen is located by the sea in an exposed area, Rivendale fibre cement slates were selected to withstand the force of the natural elements. The slates offered Hartford Homes a cost-effective solution that seamlessly blended in with the local environment. Houses in Castletown are predominantly finished with natural slate roofs but Hartford were confident that fibre cement would enable them to create a finish that would be sympathetic to the local surroundings.

The Garscube is described as an ‘urban barn’; with a low slung fibre cement slate pitched roof intended to be sympathetic to the character of neighbouring properties. The building sports a single homogenous fibre cement slate skin to form both walls and roof alongside generous window openings.

Cedral Thrutone Textured fibre cement slates was chosen as the perfect answer for a new build property in Grimsby.

Showcasing the finely detailed surface and dressed edges of the Cedral Rivendale slate, Bedfordshire Pilgrims Housing Association specified Rivendale to fulfil stringent specification guidelines that included using products that would be in keeping with the aesthetic surroundings of the local area.

When builder Gerry and his partner Kim bought a plot of land in Wales, they had very specific ideas about the type of house they wanted to construct.“We like modern properties,” says Gerry. “Today’s designs should reflect our requirements and how we live in the 21st century, especially with our concerns around conserving energy.”Cedral facades fitted the bill perfectly when it came to getting the contemporary look they wanted. They are crafted for a luxury finish to suit a premium buyer and while Gerry had investigated other cheaper cladding products on the market, he says “they looked tacky, they looked cheap”.Designed for contemporary living with clean lines and open plan spaces, large windows at the front and rear of the property overlook the nearby river and bridge and make the most of its beautiful countryside location.“The house is modern inside, flooded with light and very minimal, we don’t have ornaments or clutter, so outside we wanted a facade to match.”They chose Cedral Click Smooth in C18 Slate Grey for its clean lines and modern appeal. “One of the important things for us is that it doesn’t need frequent painting or cleaning. We wanted something we could just wipe down, particularly with all the seagulls around. And that’s what we got – it looks the same now as it did last year, and it’ll look the same next year too.”Fire safety was another concern that Cedral addressed. All Cedral products have an excellent fire performance classification of A2-s1,d0.And while Cedral’s high spec product features were very important for the couple, they were not the only consideration in making their choice – professional installation and quality service were essential too.“Cedral Select Professional installer Peter Henderson did a fantastic job for us and helped us all the way through,” says Gerry. “And while other brands just give you the planks, Cedral gave us solutions and guidance on all the tricky areas, like the external angles and window returns. This finished off the job perfectly - when you look at it, it’s neat, tidy and precise and from our point of view that was very important.”In fact, Gerry was so impressed with the outcome, he would use Cedral again on his own professional building projects to create a similar type of house.“Cedral has given us a modern product. There are no problem areas, it just works all the way through from top to bottom.”"

When Julia and her husband Peter moved into their stylish new home on the East Devon coast, they were delighted with its modern look and the fact it was just five minutes’ walk from the beach.The house was a contemporary new build, but it quickly became obvious to the couple that all was not well. The exterior cladding had been badly fitted with inadequate fixings for the job.“We get a lot of wind coming off the sea and because the Cedral Lap cladding was not properly fastened, the wind was getting underneath it and in places making it rattle,” explains Julia. “It was nothing to do with the cladding itself, it was way it had been put on.”She got in touch with the experts at Cedral who did a full inspection and agreed that a registered Cedral Select installer should take all the cladding down and fix the poor frame fixings. Nathan Thomas has been a Cedral installer for over four years and works almost exclusively on installations for the brand, so he spotted the problem straight away.“The boards had been installed with a nail gun, which should not have been used – the builders had also siliconed the boards together as a result of not using the correct overlap and using the incorrect fixings,” he says.Nathan removed all the original cladding and refitted Cedral Click facades. Julia and Peter were delighted with the final result.“It looks great, really amazing”, says Julia. “The quality of the cladding is excellent, and it is also noticeable that the new Cedral Click boards have improved the soundproofing and insulation on our property. I can’t imagine that you could get better.”Nathan is also impressed with the quality offered by Cedral products and adds: “Cedral Click is secured to timbers with a unique stainless-steel bracket and screw which I feel rises above any competitive weatherboard, I don’t use the others because Cedral has never let me down. The colour range they offer is another big plus.”“I like the colour, it’s brilliant,” says Julia. “I would absolutely recommend Cedral. We’ve seen houses with other types of cladding which don’t look anything as good as ours quality wise.”Installing its cladding correctly is so important to Cedral that it backs approved installations with a 10-year product guarantee. “They know that if its products are installed correctly, with the right ventilation, expansion and fixings, they will last,” says Nathan.Nathan is also very happy with the benefits that being a Cedral Select installer offers. This online platform puts homeowners in touch with certified installers across the UK, and over 45 cladding contractors are now signed up to the scheme.“I don't pay to be Cedral approved but it helps me find work; now customers come to me rather than the other way around. Working closely with Cedral has been our biggest achievement as a small company and kept us busy for several years now.”

Cedral Click creates the perfect home office solutionAs the global pandemic continues to shape new ways of living, the need for hard-working home office space becomes ever more important. Chosen for its stylish modern appearance and low maintenance benefits, Cedral Click is helping to create efficient home working solutions for the garden.Designed by Boon Brown architects and built by garden room specialists Eden Spaces, these innovative garden pods are wrapped in premium vertical batten Cedral Click cladding in a subtle shade of grey to blend beautifully with the landscape. They are designed to take up minimal space and can be fully constructed off site and lifted into position. Alternatively, they can be installed in situ in just 3 to 4 days.“Using the best materials on the market we are able to offer unrivalled performance, even in this space saving option,” explains the MD of Eden Spaces Matthew Farrington.Built for up to two people to work comfortably, natural light floods in through the contemporary glass door and side panel. Inside, the pod is fitted with smooth wall panels in a range of colours and a slim LED centre light fitting, offering office grade lighting.“There are many benefits to building a home office in your garden”, says Lisa Grosse, brand manager at Cedral. “It keeps noise and distractions out, helping you to concentrate and get things done. It also gives you the flexibility to create a comfortable working environment, designed specifically for your needs with the right furniture and storage and flooded with daylight to boost your energy.”Tough, durable and resilient, Cedral facades are manufactured to withstand nature’s harshest conditions. They won’t rot, rust, warp or crack, have an excellent fire performance classification of A2-s1, d0 and a minimum life expectancy of 50 years.

Thrutone Textured fibre cement slates were specified across a new housing development in Mount Wise. Mount Wise is an estate about one mile west of the historic city centre of Plymouth in Devon.

Cedral has been specified by Countryside Zest to create visually striking and inspirational new homes at its Beaulieu development, one of Essex’s largest new housing projects.As part of the specification process for the latest phase of homes, Countryside Zest wanted to ensure that they complemented the style of the existing homes at Beaulieu, whilst also creating the separation required to treat this as a new development.The contemporary interpretation of the ‘New England’ vernacular was chosen as the solution to this. This provided the opportunity Cedral to be used on the properties incorporated with traditional masonry and rendered dwellings. The development aspired to create a sense of place and character, setting the scene for future phases.

The site at Knock Rushen is located by the sea in an exposed area, Rivendale fibre cement slates were selected to withstand the force of the natural elements. The slates offered Hartford Homes a cost-effective solution that seamlessly blended in with the local environment. Houses in Castletown are predominantly finished with natural slate roofs but Hartford were confident that fibre cement would enable them to create a finish that would be sympathetic to the local surroundings

Cedral fibre cement cladding played an essential role in the completion of a stunning £250,000 rebuild of a 20-year-old bungalow into a two-storey holiday retreat.Located in the heart of Ambleside in the Lake District, the property is built within a Flood Zone 3, directly next to a river.The original bungalow had to be completely demolished due to damage caused by three separate floods over the last two decades.In its place, a stylish New England inspired property has been built in conjunction with the local Park Authority, who ruled that the new build’s construction had to offer up to 100 years of flood resistance.In order to meet this requirement, Cedral Lap fibre cement cladding was chosen due to its resilience against the external elements, whilst also offering a minimum life expectancy of 50 years.Cedral Lap in colour Chalk White was installed across the whole of the three-bedroom property, creating a traditional exterior that was perfectly in keeping with the picturesque Ambleside landscape.

The Covid-19 pandemic and its various lockdowns sparked the need for a new-build residential annex in Worksop, Nottinghamshire. The difficult of caring for elderly parents who lived across the county boundary in Sheffield led Mark Burley and his wife to create a self-contained separate residence on their property for the parents to move into.The new annex has a streamlined contemporary design and its architect suggested Cedral facades to give a natural feel and add extra insulation to the building. The project was a big success, and everyone was delighted with the finished result.“The overall look is stunning and everyone that visits comments on it, they can’t believe it isn’t real wood,” says Mark.Cedral facades are designed for quick and efficient installation – so much so that Mark installed the cladding himself, saying the process was very straightforward.“The material is really robust and looks amazing, but it can also be touched up in places if needed when additional work has taken place,” he explains.Strong, durable and manufactured to withstand the harshest weather conditions, Cedral facades have a minimum life expectancy of 50 years.Given the ease of installation and stylish finished effect, the family are more than happy with their choice of Cedral facades.“We have already recommended Cedral to several people who have asked about the product, including two building companies who saw the annex and were impressed. The in-laws have been in since September and love the place, everyone comments about the cladding.”

The circa 100-year-old Westerham farmhouse had been on the market for over four years when Amy Taylor and her family decided to take on the property as a renovation project and completely revamp it.The property was extremely run down when the family first viewed it - a cream rendered bungalow that had turned green and was harbouring a multitude of cracks inside and out, with wet and mouldy internal walls. The Taylors had originally dismissed the property as the renovation project they were seeking on the basis that “the price was bonkers”, says Amy. “To us, the price didn’t reflect the state of the property or the work that would need to be carried out to restore it, which meant we couldn’t really afford to knock it down and start again.”However, some negotiation on the price eventually made it a more viable prospect and Amy began researching her options in earnest.“The house sits in over 16 acres of wooded land and paddocks, so the black cladding option jumped out at me as a great option because I felt that the combination of a new brick plinth and the cladding would give it a barn-effect feel – in keeping with its surroundings, but also significantly improving the look and quality of the property.”After extensively researching the cladding market – “there are a lot of different cladding materials out there and big differences in quality and price” says Amy – she finally made her choice.“When I saw Cedral, I liked the grain, I liked the texture, I liked the fact it looks really realistic and I was very impressed with the minimum life expectancy of 50 years.”For Amy, a product that continues to look good through the years is key. “I don’t want something that looks good but in a year’s time becomes extremely high maintenance.”Cedral’s durable fibre cement cladding met the requirements perfectly, manufactured to withstand the harshest weather conditions and supplied with an excellent fire performance classification of A2-s1, d0. It doesn’t need regular repainting and won’t rot, rust, warp or crack.Amy was so impressed by Cedral that she decided on Cedral Lap in colour C50 Black, laid horizontally, for both the main house and the annex and Cedral Click in the same colour, laid vertically on one section to create an eye-catching feature wall.And the final result?“It is more than I ever could have dreamed of,” says Amy. “Cedral has helped us to transform the look of the main building and annex, allowing us to turn something so unappealing and run down into a beautiful home. We also hope it has added substantial value to the property, not only looks-wise but also in terms of adding extra insulation, which is also good for the EPC rating.” That’s because Cedral cladding acts like a second skin on a building’s exterior and is also frost, mould and water resistant.Cedral allowed Amy to get the stylish wood-look barn effect she wanted, without the hassle of caring for real wood with its high maintenance demands and associated costs. In fact, the family’s new home looks so good that the neighbours assumed they had knocked the property down and rebuilt it from scratch!Cedral facades are the perfect option for homeowners who can’t afford to - or don’t want to - move, advises Amy, as the cladding can be used to totally transform a home.This renovation has been an incredible achievement for Amy, who didn’t use a building company, architect or interior designer on the project. The revamp was completed in less than a year – all while coping with the restrictions of a global pandemic - aided by a group of highly trusted tradesmen that she has previously worked with.Amy pays special tribute to Cedral installer Derek Pout who completed all the brick work on the house as well as the perfectly fitted cladding. “Derek has single-handedly transformed our home on the outside and we can’t thank him enough,” she says.She was also extremely impressed with Cedral’s after care service and her local Area Sales Manager who visited the property several times during the installation. “Cedral’s communication was excellent,” says Amy. “They were easy to deal with and I felt they really cared about our wishes and the project.”“I would recommend Cedral 100 per cent. It’s not just about the longevity and insulation – though that’s important of course – it’s also about the end result and kerb appeal. We never looked at the property before we bought it and said, that’s our dream house. But now it really is.”

An architect-designed 1970s house in South Yorkshire was given a modern makeover using Cedral Click in Slate Grey.Roger Mills and his family moved into their 5-bedroom bungalow in 1988. “We were very happy with it, apart from its external appearance which was becoming very dated and dilapidated,” says Roger.They 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. Fortunately, their nephew had just replaced his cladding with Cedral facades and the Mills family, impressed with the results, realised this was just what they were looking for.The fact the building was in the Ranmoor Conservation area could have posed a problem and initially the Mills’ faced some challenges from the local authority planning office. Fortunately, as Cedral facades have been used successfully in other conservation areas, the project was passed.Smooth-finish Cedral Click in contemporary Slate Grey gave the tired looking house a new lease of life – “people now mistake it for a new build,” says Roger.He’s also made his neighbours very happy. “They’re delighted because it has considerably improved the appearance of the house and that helps to lift the class of the houses on the road.”The return on investment has been substantial. In fact, the renovation has actually increased the value of the house by more than the cost, reveals Roger. And installing insulation under the Cedral boards will reduce the family’s energy spend, he confirms.“The project was a big success and I would definitely recommend Cedral to anybody experiencing the same issues we did. The material is very high quality, and the house looks significantly more attractive and modern.” Roger also recommends using one of Cedral’s recognised installers for the job. “This is a product that benefits from having an expert who is familiar with the fitting requirements to fit it.”

Cedral fibre cement cladding has been at the forefront of a substantial renovation project in South Worcestershire, which has almost doubled the size of the original property.

When fitting a high spec product like Cedral facades, it pays to hire a professional experienced installer – as property developer Dominic Arnold, owner of Clover Design & Build Ltd in Brighton, found out.Six months ago, he hired a firm to fit Cedral Lap facades on a 4-bedroom house in Roedean, Brighton, a stylish New England renovation that doubled the home’s original size. But things didn’t go according to plan.“It was horrendous,” says Dominic. “After the fitters had been working on the job for a few weeks I noticed some very serious issues including poor installation of the boards, a lack of ventilation and profiles that were either missing or incorrectly used – the whole thing was an absolute disaster.”A Cedral surveyor visited the property and condemned the work, at which point a new contractor was appointed. He removed the facades and re-installed everything to Cedral's specifications.“He was very good and adhered to all Cedral specifications on air gaps and ventilation, and also used stainless steel screws, which was not done in the first installation. The Cedral surveyor then sanctioned the work and delivered the guarantees.”Cedral provides a 10-year product guarantee for all products installed to its recommendations, for homeowners’ peace of mind.“Correct installation is so important, not just for adhering to regulated building standards but also for aesthetic reasons,” says Dominic. “As a finishing product, Cedral cladding must be respected as a beautifully engineered piece of kit that needs to be installed with care, skill and professionalism. If it is not installed correctly, it will look wrong and cause potential problems in the future.” Luckily, an earlier renovation job at Rottingdean in Brighton had a much better outcome for Dominic. Using Cedral Lap in stylish white to create New England villa style appeal, the final result achieved the desired effect.Dominic did a lot of the installation work himself and it went very well, though in hindsight, he says, it would have been a lot easier if he had made better use of Cedral’s online guides.He has no reservations highly recommending Cedral to other homeowners and construction firms. “It’s a good-looking product that’s very low maintenance, hardwearing and long-lasting. It’s good quality and incredibly versatile.”

Oakland Village is a £20 million state of the art care community based in South Derbyshire, conceived to dispel the stereotypical notion of an ‘old people’s home’.The Rivendale fibre cement slate enabled the project to achieve the desired aesthetic, providing a crisp roof line where the slates could also be used on a curved plan form.

Cedral fibre cement cladding has transformed an innovation centre in the heart of Bridgwater that supports ambitious businesses moving into or already working in the low carbon market.The Somerset Energy Innovation Centre (SEIC) houses 30,000 square feet of dynamic office and meeting space, combined with expert support and advice for all businesses. It also offers a flexible range of high quality meeting spaces along with a café and networking area.The newly built workspace has a contemporary and sleek finish, created through the installation of Cedral Click across its entire exterior. Cedral Click was installed by Cedral Select Recognised Installers, Central Cladding Systems Limited.Alex Bowering, Contract Manager at Central Cladding Systems Limited, said: “When we received the project brief by the client we knew straight away we required a building material that would not only create a standout exterior but also have sustainable credentials. Having already worked with Cedral across a multitude of previous projects, we knew that this would be the perfect fit.“We specified Cedral Click in colour Grey as we wanted to create an industrial yet contemporary feel and with the wide range of colours available from Cedral, we were able to work with the client to suggest a number of different shades.” Cedral Click was installed in a vertical style, resulting in a contemporary visual style that was also low maintenance.Alex continued: “A factor that was important to the build was that we needed building materials that were not only sustainable, but also relatively easy to maintain. As the building is a busy office workspace, the client specified that the building needed to look in great condition at all times. Cedral has a minimum life expectancy of 50 years and is resistant to rot and the external elements, which was another great advantage of installing the product.“We are extremely pleased with the outcome of the project, we have been able to create a standout building that we know will stand the test of time and we look forward to installing Cedral on future builds.Cedral Click is the UK’s first and only fibre cement, flush fitting tongue and groove weatherboard material, adding a contemporary appearance to any property through its simple Click Clip System. With a Class A fire performance rating, Cedral is an attractive and durable alternative to traditional cladding materials.

When Jason and Nikki 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.“We wanted the same look as before, to restore the house to how it had looked originally,” says Jason. “We also wanted a property that was as maintenance free as possible.”Which is why Cedral facades fitted the bill perfectly. Crafted for durability and long life with no need for regular repainting or maintenance, it has a minimum life expectancy of 50 years.Using Cedral Lap in elegant C01 White, the finished look is a beautiful New England style home that sits at the top of the hill. Finding the right shade of white was important to the couple and here again, Cedral met the requirements perfectly.“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. We also preferred the fact that Cedral offered a thicker board, it had more substance than the others we considered.”The fact that their builder said he preferred working with Cedral because of its high quality sealed the deal. “He did an amazing job on the installation,” says Jason. “It was all quite painless and everyone who visits comments on the workmanship.”The renovation is still ongoing and next they plan to build a garden office also using Cedral facades.“We would definitely recommend Cedral,” the couple say. “So many people say to us they can’t believe it’s not real wood. Because we’ve cleared back a lot of the overgrowth on the property, the house is now very visible from the road and we didn’t want anything that looked fake. We wanted to have that original wood finish that suits the style of the house and its original design, and yet be as low maintenance as possible.”And with Cedral that’s what they got. “Unless we used wood itself, we couldn’t have got any closer to the original style,” says Nikki. “Now everyone says it’s the prettiest house on the road.”

A recommendation from a plastering firm led Abi and her husband to Cedral facades – “and when we saw it, we said we just have to use that”.The plasterers were working on the renovation of the couple’s 1980’s farmhouse, a property that needed a complete rehaul, as Abi explains.“It had nothing done to it since the 1980s so when we bought, we completely gutted it, knocking down walls and bricking up windows. Because of that we ended up with some blank spaces and, as the house is surrounded by woodland, we didn’t want to render the whole building, which might have discoloured from the trees over time.”The plasterers had used Cedral facades on previous projects, and it turned out to be the perfect solution. “We used it across parts of the house to add character and hide untidy brickwork,” says Abi.Opting for Cedral Click in C18 Slate Grey, it works perfectly with the existing brickwork and new render in complementary shades. “Cedral gave us that traditional farmhouse feel, that country look, we wanted.”The house sits in three acres in the Norfolk countryside surrounded by stunning gardens, which Abi regularly showcases to her 49,000 followers on Instagram.“I started my account on Instagram to document our garden journey but then I had quite a few people ask ‘What cladding have you got’, so I link to Cedral in posts now. And I only link to people I strongly recommend.”The couple are very happy with the finished look and delighted with the fact it’s low maintenance too – “this is a brilliant advantage,” says Abi. “Using Cedral has 100% turned out how we wanted it.”"

An example of how Cedral Click provided self builders with the materials to create a unique and contemporary property is a new build project in Newport-on-Tay. Located on the picturesque banks of the River Tay, BlackDog Architecture was commissioned by a retired couple to create a beautiful yet modern family home.

Situated just two miles from Heathrow and directly under the flight path, the school site poses some difficult energy efficiency, acoustic and thermal challenges. Pollard Thomas Edwards specified the Thrutone Smooth fibre cement slates for the main two storey section of the school, not only for the roof but also for vertical cladding, to help address these demands.