"wall cladding tiles"

VitrA's Red Dot award-winning streak continues with three exceptional designs, including the Liquid bathroom collection by Tom Dixon, Resincrete, and ModePaper tiles.

Our client on this project specialise in vehicle conversions for all emergency services and government departments. They needed a reliable, reputable flooring company to assist them with their refurbishment.   The project requirements were:Surface area to cover 410m2 Must be able to handle vehiclesFire retardant - Bfl S1Fast installationImpact resistantNo adhesive or damp-proof membrane requiredColour optionsHardwearingReduce dust and noiseEasy to clean and maintainCE accredited R-Tile Textured Dovetail by R-Tek Manufacturing was the clear choice, we supplied and fitted a durable, hardwearing flooring suitable for their needs and requirements.(R-Tile Textured Blue -with some black tiles for a walkway had been selected by the client).

Our black anodised Premium CMS stair nosings can be found in the entrance lobby at Queen Street Place, London EC4. Installed by Harper and Edwards, these elegant black anodised stair edgings create an excellent surface contrast to the grey porcelain tiles and natural wood features.

Accoya cladding was selected by contractor Jephsons for the new KFC restaurant in Stourbridge. Along with a new Costa and McDonalds, the £5million development is the latest venture by Guernsey-based Jumbuk Ltd. After performing well with respect to stability and retained aesthetics on a KFC concept design store over the past 18 months, Accoya was chosen for the project. Finished in a Sansin coating this Accoya cladding also offers a stunning aesthetic appearance. For this project Accoya was distributed by James Latham and installed by Protec Roofing.

Accoya was chosen for this external application as it met all of the stability and durability requirements for the projects cladding. Accoya was also selected because it is ideal for coating. The colour was achieved using two coatings; Woca external tinted Primer and Woca external oil Anthracite. The cladding was achieved by using three different cover-width boards (119 mm cover, 69 mm cover and 49mm cover) which were all 19 mm thick, these were then attached using a secret fix application with stainless steel screws.

A refurbishment of a hospital restaurant, where the look and feel of ceramic tiles was required without the high level of ongoing maintenance that this material demands. The solution a 3D digital image depicting tiling was agreed giving the area a crisp clean hygienic finish with low level maintenance requirements.

Accoya was selected as the ideal material to clad this Burleigh Brewery project in Australia. Burleigh Brewing began on 1 July 2006 and immediately set about pioneering the craft beer movement on the Gold Coast. Distributed by Britton Timbers, Accoya was chosen because the project called for a low maintenance, sustainable external cladding with a high-end appearance. Accoya was also ideal due to its natural blonde aesthetic, which was carefully selected to ensure the Brewery logo was as prominent and distinctive as possible. Roughly 4 m3 of Accoya was used with an Integrain coating.

Accoya was selected for the black coated weatherboards on the front of the house, due to its durability & stability benefits. Because of Accoya’s modification technique it's the ideal wood for cladding. Generally, problems occur with darker coatings on cladding, due to shrink & swell being exasperated by the solar gain. But, Accoya wood’s superior dimensional stability negates this problem & there's very little maintenance. The cladding needed to be aesthetically pleasing as well as highly durable in order to withstand the extreme climates in NZ. Accoya was also chosen due to its rot resistant & insect deterring benefits.

Working on 100m2 per night, the entire floor of natural stone tiles had to be refurbished whilst the airport remained fully operational. The solution was a high strength ARDEX Ultra Rapid Drying Screed Cement in combination with ARDEX MICROTEC Natural Stone Adhesive, and Rapid Drying Tile Grout.

BH2 is a £30m development creating a newly-constructed leisure complex in Bournemouth  •  Originally a two acre NCP car park and bus station, main contractors Vinci has built a new 10 screen Odeon Multiplex cinema, café, casino, restaurant and retail complex.  •  Structura was appointed to design and supply Kalwall translucent facades to enclose the external fire escape routes around the perimeter of the building.  •  Structura installed multiple Kalwall translucent elevations, totalling over 1000m2, providing natural daylight to internal areas by day and a soft ethereal glow which brings the area to life at night.The SolutionPanter Hudspith Architects replaced the original curtain wall and specified Kalwall® for the front elevation. Unusually, this unique translucent cladding is fitted with a tight 150mm wide grid, known as Verti-Kal™, which not only serves to emphasise height but is the first of its type in the UK. On this scheme the Kalwall panels also insulate to 0.78 w/m2 making the building eye-catching and sustainable.Unlike conventional glazing, Kalwall eliminates shadows and glare and the stark contrasts of light and shade. The system also enhances simplicity by eliminating the need for blinds, curtains or solar control. Even on cloudy days, the interior is bathed with natural daylight, which means less artificial lighting and, because Kalwall is highly insulating, energy costs are reduced.Kalwall is increasingly being used in the UK for new buildings and also for the refurbishment of cladding or rooflights on aged buildings. One of the main attractions of specifying Kalwall is its unique effect on both the interior and exterior. Although translucent, it offers the big advantage of privacy while the elevations appear crisp and simple. When illuminated at night they emit an inviting ethereal glow.The CommentsArchitect James Jeremiah comments, “This is the first time we’ve specified Kalwall and it fulfils our vision of retaining the modernist characteristics of the building. One of our original concepts for the building was of a zoetrope (one of the earliest forms of moving image) and there’s a strong history of using transparency in films with people moving behind the shadows. We felt the Kalwall system was a very good fit for what we wanted to achieve”.Amanda Birch, Technical Editor Building Design writes, “To appreciate fully the building’s transformation, it is best viewed from the street. The concrete structure has been retained along with its striking line of concrete columns, which are now a strong feature of the front elevation. The original coloured insulated glass panelled system has been replaced at first and second floor levels with Kalwall’s 75mm thick insulated cladding system creating a dynamic façade that is particularly effective at night.

Project: Manufacture and installation of bespoke 3D GRC cladding panels in Tempest Grey colour and Silk finish Client: Morgan Lovell Materials used: Panels were produced using BTX GRC high performance concrete in 3 meter length and only 20mm thickness. Bespoke 3D BTX GRC high performance concrete cladding panels were installed by Living Concrete to the famous 10 Old Bailey entrance. The panels were 3 meters in length each but only 20mm thick. Panels were double fixed to a steel frame and sealed in a Silk finish.

8,000m2 of limestone tiling was fixed using ARDEX X 7001 W Tile Adhesive with Rapidry Formula  Technology. The luxury tiles were grouted in just two hours, providing the perfect finish to the £675m modernisation of the shopping centre.

The Rock is a 1.6million sq/ft mixed use development aimed at regenerating the town centre of Bury. The £350million project includes shops, restaurants, cinema, bowling alley, parking space and residential units. Lang+Fulton supplied 300 sq/m of custom-sized panels and 20 sets of doors to secure and ventilate the street-front elevations of the electricity sub-stations. These were made to fit the structural openings with concealed ancillary steelwork. Italia-100 steel louvred material was chosen for its vandal-resistant properties and was also impenetrable to any abuse from a foreign object.2.8m high Italia-80 was also used in the car park as an internal visual screen separating vehicle access from a service road. In addition 160m of 2.8m high Stereo grating panels were installed on the upper levels of the car park around plant areas and emergency exits.

The Crouch End Picturehouse in North London is an interesting example of how Kalwall® can be used to convert an ugly 1950’s concrete building into a state-of-the-art space suitable for the 21st Century.  •   This project by Panter Hudspith Architects forms part of a wider initiative within the London suburb of Haringey aiming to re-establish the area as one of London’s cultural and arts centres. The result is a remarkable transformation of a building, originally a factory then an office, into a £4.5 million cinema complete with café, bar, restaurant and community rooms.  •   The unique style of this four-screen cinema has attracted much interest, not only because of the dramatic transformation but also because of its new external elevation. •   The use of Kalwall, coupled with other sustainable measures including solar panels and a green wall, means the picturehouse has achieved a BREEAM rating of Very Good. The Solution Panter Hudspith Architects replaced the original curtain wall and specified Kalwall® for the front elevation. Unusually, this unique translucent cladding is fitted with a tight 150mm wide grid, known as Verti-Kal™, which not only serves to emphasise height but is the first of its type in the UK. On this scheme the Kalwall panels also insulate to 0.78 w/m2 making the building eye-catching and sustainable. Unlike conventional glazing, Kalwall eliminates shadows and glare and the stark contrasts of light and shade. The system also enhances simplicity by eliminating the need for blinds, curtains or solar control. Even on cloudy days, the interior is bathed with natural daylight, which means less artificial lighting and, because Kalwall is highly insulating, energy costs are reduced. Kalwall is increasingly being used in the UK for new buildings and also for the refurbishment of cladding or rooflights on aged buildings. One of the main attractions of specifying Kalwall is its unique effect on both the interior and exterior. Although translucent, it offers the big advantage of privacy while the elevations appear crisp and simple. When illuminated at night they emit an inviting ethereal glow.  The CommentsArchitect James Jeremiah comments, “This is the first time we’ve specified Kalwall and it fulfils our vision of retaining the modernist characteristics of the building. One of our original concepts for the building was of a zoetrope (one of the earliest forms of moving image) and there’s a strong history of using transparency in films with people moving behind the shadows. We felt the Kalwall system was a very good fit for what we wanted to achieve”. Amanda Birch, Technical Editor Building Design writes, “To appreciate fully the building’s transformation, it is best viewed from the street. The concrete structure has been retained along with its striking line of concrete columns, which are now a strong feature of the front elevation. The original coloured insulated glass panelled system has been replaced at first and second floor levels with Kalwall’s 75mm thick insulated cladding system creating a dynamic façade that is particularly effective at night.

Architect: Broadway MalyanContractor: BAM ConstructionStone: YorkstoneThe £28M new Broadway Malyan designed Bradford Royal Infirmary Children’s Ward has now been officially opened by HRH The Princess Royal.The new wing, part of Bradford Teaching Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust, was recognised with the top honour at the Local Authority Building Control awards for West Yorkshire at Wakefield Unity Works. The Children’s ward is clad in Aztec Rainscreen with a façade of our local Yorkstone.Aztec was chosen because of its similarity to other local buildings and for its speed of installation. Bam, having used the system before were confident of Stone Cladding Systems ability to deliver a quality system on time. 

Architect: Frank Shaw AssociatesMain Contractor:  John Turner Construction GroupInstaller: Cubic FacadesLancaster Community Fire and Ambulance station was the first purpose built integrated fire and ambulance station in Lancashire. Designed by Frank Shaw Associates the project involved the construction of a new appliance bay while the facility remained fully active. Accommodating 2 fire engines, 7 ambulances and the North West Blood Bikes team. The bays are clad in Aztec Rainscreen faced with Peakmoor Sandstone in keeping with the area.Completed in September 2018 the stations Aztec cladding was fixed by Cubic Facades and has had excellent reviews including a commendation at the Lancaster & District Design Awards 2019.

" We are thrilled that Accoya was specified for the exterior cladding for Birmingham’s new Starbucks drive thru. Working with Vincent Timber, specialists in cladding, and Accoya has enabled the project to be designed and supplied without problems. By specifying Accoya wood there is no compromise on performance and sustainability, which is key to the Starbucks’ 2030 commitment. This project represents one of many Starbucks projects clad with Accoya in the UK and overseas. As a sustainable company ourselves we are delighted Accoya is part of the future development of their stores and hope to see more stores clad with Accoya in the future.” - Laura Keily @ Accsys Technologies PLCFor full case study, please click on the view more link above.

Architect: Allan Murray AssociatesMain Contractor: Cruden Home (East) Ltd.Installer: MetalTech Roofing and Cladding limitedAllan Murray Architects were the master planners and principal architects for the £150 million transformation of the former Caltongate area in the Old Town in Edinburgh. The site links Waverley Station with the historic Royal Mile, Covering approximately 7 acres this new urban centre mixes open spaces with retailers, restaurants, hotels and new homes and offices in this important area of the Edinburgh. Peakmoor was the stone of choice as it has a long history in the City.The project presents a major new Aztec rainscreen facade in the Peakmoor sandstone with balconies and a fully glazed iconic feature tower. A truly wonderful building with flexibility; lightweight, A1 non-combustible Aztec Natural Stone Cladding.

Rawson’s Jazz Solution Dyed Nylon carpet tiles are most suited to education environments and These education carpet tiles are durable and provide choice with 24 colourways.

A residential home in Enfield, London, was extended out the back of the property and charred Accoya wood was the chosen material for the cladding. Innovative architects, Studio Hatcham, specified charred Accoya wood to make the extension distinguishable yet sensitive, enhancing the existing grey brickwork, rather than overshadowing it. The Accoya was treated using a charring technique, taking the wood from its originally light colour to a darker, burnt effect. The cladding was charred in three varying shades, creating depth to the extension; light brush “Shizen”, Graphite “Seizo” and Anthracite “Gen no”. For the posts, a deep black effect was chosen to define and accentuate, in particular, the large glass opening of the extension into the back garden. Despite charring the wood, Accoya remains durable and stable with a 50-year warranty against rot. This alongside its great sustainability credentials, made it the perfect choice for this extension.

This development includes large areas of external elevations & soffits cladded in Accoya. Accoya was also used for the Brise Soleil canopy detailing on the drive-through lane & the double height curtain walling pictured on the front elevations. For this natural aesthetic the pre-finished Accoya profiles were given one (natural plus-ctec) base coat & three top (sansin translucent) coats. As one of the most durable products on the market, Accoya is the ideal material for projects such as this. Accoya is 75% less likely to shrink & swell in variable weather, allowing it to retain its structural integrity.

Our White Stone Impervia® Marble Tile is 100% waterproof and is finished to a commercial grade. This tile also has an MGO core and is reinforced with tough fibreglass for stability and durability which also means it's fireproof.Some of the benefits of our White Stone Impervia® Marble Tile include:The rigid core helps to prevent warping when exposed to moisture.Great at resisting damage from impacts like high heels and heavy objects.

Located in Fort William in the Scottish Highlands, Blar Mor comprises 117 one-to-four-bedroom affordable homes, which have been built by TSL Contractors. The main contractor partnered with AFS (Scotland) to deliver a durable cladding system for timber frame homes, removing the requirement for traditional construction.

International Timber recently teamed up with Snowdrop Developments to supply Siberian Larch Cladding to a contemporary house, named the Rock Lobster.

The extensive use of wood cladding & decking were key elements of LSI architects’ design. However, given that ‘The Haven’ is in a flood zone, surrounded on three sides by water & constantly exposed to a high moisture content in the air, LSI needed to find a wood that they could be confident would deliver durability, dimensional stability & aesthetics. The glue laminated Accoya wood for the curved rear screen was manufactured by Newnham & Abel Ltd & hand finished with a protective merbau-coloured coating from WoodGuard by Guard Industrie. The same finish was factory applied to the cladding.

4,300m2 of screeding, tiling and grouting was installed in the new state-of-the-art ticket hall. Taking advantage of ARDEX’s unique RAPIDRY FORMULA Technology, ARDEX A 35 Screed Cement was laid to 85mm and was ready for tiling in just 24 hours.

Job: New Lidl Store, BlythSmet Supported Partner: Plunkett Tiling ContractorsSMET Product Used: Sopro RS 648 Vibration SlurryRelated DownloadsTDS Sopro RS 648 Vibration SlurrySmet Professional Tiling Systems BrochureDescriptionSopro RS 648 Vibration Slurry was selected for the LIDL tiling system method of vibro-compaction fixing of porcelain floor tiles, in the Blyth LIDL. Smet Supported Partner, Plunkett Tiling Contractors, selected the superior quality German-made, RS 648 Vibration Slurry, for its flexibility as a bonding slurry for the installation of stone and ceramic coverings, making it ideal for use in vibrated floor systems (or indeed conventional methods).In preparing the floor to LIDL spec, the floor screed is placed, struck off to required levels, and pre-compacted using a straight edge. The bonding layer, namely Sopro RS 648 vibration slurry is applied to prepared and pre-compacted floor screed and ceramic tiles are immediately placed with tightly butted joints to LIDL spec.After installation of a vibratable area (10 – 20 m², depending on situation/ambient conditions and resultant setting behaviour of floor screed), a surface vibrator is passed over floor covering and tiles vibrated into adhesive bed. When sufficiently set, hardened and bonded joints are grouted*.Sopro RS 648 Vibration Slurry is a one-component, fibre-reinforced, polymer-modified, trass-bearing, cementitious bonding and contact slurry. Applied as flexible bonding slurry for installation of stone and ceramic coverings using vibrated floor system or conventional methods. It’s ideal for slurry application technique. Sopro RS 648 is particularly suitable for laying tiles with low water absorption (fully vitrified stoneware). For laying large-format units (30 cm × 60 cm) using vibrated floor system. Also, it can be used as slurry-applied bonding layer on substrates and on bedding adhesive.The product's special properties and SMETs superior technical backup, are key factors in choosing Sopro RS 648 Vibration Slurry. Smet Building Products Ltd is committed to delivering high-quality products to the construction of LIDL stores.For more info on our range of SMET Professional Tiling Products.*We always recommend grouting with Sopro FL 526 Flexible Tile grout in the required colour.

Deeside Leisure Centre is the National Centre for Ice Sports in Wales, and during a major building envelope refurbishment utilised TATA Steel Transpired Solar Collectors as part of its renewable energy transformation to improve buildign performance and reduce operational costs in order to reduce the centre's carbon footprint.The south-facing elevation of the leisure centre was over-clad with a Trisobuild® C32 profile as part of the Colorcoat Renew SC® solar air heating system. Using 216m2 of Colorcoat Prisma® in Slate Grey, the micro-perforated Trisobuild® C32 fascia was installed easily over the existing insulated wall cladding. Trisobuild® R32 profile manufactured from Colorcoat Prisma® in Oyster was additionally installed over the leisure centre’s existing roof cladding.In its first full year of operation at Deeside Leisure Centre, Colorcoat Renew® delivered 47 MWh of heat. This equates to 218kWh per square metre of the installed solar collector area. By gaining fuller experience of system control and operation, Deeside Leisure Centre personnel in conjunction with Tata Steel were able to extend the Colorcoat Renew SC® system operating hours to optimise use of the available solar radiation.In its second full year of operation the system delivered approximately 53 MWh of renewable heat energy at an average yield of 244kWh per square metre per year. This means that over a two-year period the Colorcoat Renew SC® system delivered an average of 50MWh of energy per year at conversion efficiencies (solar energy to useable heat energy) averaging in excess of 70%.

The ChallengePark View is a residential development of 175 units, including one and two-bedroomed apartments and three, four and five-bedroomed homes. The site sits alongside Saltwell Park, one of Britain’s finest Victorian parks. A conservation area, the design of the site sought to blend tradition with a modern urban feel.The local council required a premium finish for which the choice of brick would play an important part in achieving.The SolutionAfter reviewing several options, Forterra’s Southdown Multi from its Butterley brand range was chosen. It is a high-quality facing brick with a tumbled texture.For some plots on the site, the bricks were laid in an English Garden Wall bond, closely reflecting the brickwork of some of Saltwell Park’s buildings.Alongside modern features, such as rainscreen cladding projections and timber finishes, the development also includes a number of bespoke elements appropriate to the conservation area: reduced window reveals, timber doors and windows coloured in a modern dark grey, natural slate roof tiles, exaggerated roof pitches to accentuate prominent plots and full height feature windows.The BenefitsThe use of Southdown Multi brick has proven to be an effective choice in the successful blending of traditional and modern, ensuring the new development quickly settled within its surrounding environment.

Project: Manufacture and installation of external GAP cladding panels using hidden fixings and chemical anchoring. Client: Stuart Forbes Associates Materials used: Bespoke size external GRC cladding panels in Rough Mist finish, treated with hydrophobic agent and clear sealant. This exciting new refurbishment project of a private house in Wimbledon, London brought with it plenty of manufacturing and installation challenges! The designers’ vision called for 2m x 1.2m large format GAP panels with mitred edges to be seamlessly wrapped around the building. The panels had to be millimetre perfect to avoid any cutting on site.

CUPA PIZARRAS has been heavily involved in the development of a new self-build residential property in North West London. The manufacturer was initially approached due to its range of natural slate façade designs, with its CUPACLAD 201 Vanguard system eventually specified to create an impressive and striking façade. Located in Dollis Hill, the property is situated next to a housing estate and opposite an existing slate clad facade, while views to the rear give the illusion of a peaceful woodland setting. The designers sought to create a family home with a high-end exterior finish that felt like an escape from London, while also working well with the surrounding structures. Early on, natural slate was identified as a material that could help to create an attractive contemporary façade around the rear, sides and the upper elevation of the front of the property. It was also crucial that the façade would act as a rainscreen cladding system so the project team approached CUPA PIZARRAS about its CUPACLAD natural slate rainscreen cladding. The project team visited Taylor Maxwell’s London Bridge showroom – the exclusive distributor of CUPACLAD in the UK - to discuss options with the Taylor Maxwell and CUPA PIZARRAS teams as well as view a CUPACLAD sample wall. This session helped to establish that the CUPACLAD 201 Vanguard system was the ideal solution. A fully BBA approved system, CUPACLAD 201 Vanguard is 100% non-combustible and offers a lifespan of over 100 years. Following the initial consultation, CUPA PIZARRAS worked closely with the project team, including carrying out a number of site visits. The use of CUPACLAD 201 Vanguard was kept in mind throughout the design process, with the dimensions of the slate determining the placement of windows, vents and corners. This meant that when it came to construction, it was a simple installation process with minimal wastage and resulting in a clean finish. The CUPACLAD 201 Vanguard system is constructed from horizontal aluminium profiles, mechanically fastened to an aluminium sub frame support. Once fixed in place, the rows of natural slate are clipped on, and in the case of the Dollis Hill property, using visible fixings to create an attractive pinstripe effect. “The product looks fantastic in-situ on this project,” commented Tom Ward, Cladding Product Advisor at Taylor Maxwell. “The dark grey slate rainscreen cladding provides a striking colour contrast with the refurbished light brown timber fencing and complements the property’s black aluminium windows and glazing.” “Natural slate is a great cladding product. Not only is it easy to install, but, as it’s natural, you don’t have to handle cost sheets for working with a dangerous material,” commented Ronan Glynn, developer at Talina Builders. “We carry out a lot of demolition and see a lot of old building products go to waste; so it’s also reassuring that slate offers such longevity and when it might eventually be sent to landfill, you know it will not harm the environment.” David Cooke, Business Development Manager at CUPA PIZARRAS concluded: “On a project like this we can be involved as much, or as little, as the project team demands. We can offer support from conception to completion and we always encourage architects and contractors to get in touch as early as possible, so like in the case of Dollis Hill, we can work closely to ensure a meticulous finish.” For more information about CUPA PIZARRAS range of products, including its CUPACLAD rainscreen cladding systems, please visit: https://www.cupapizarras.com/uk/rainscreen-cladding/

Gradus wall protection was chosen to future-proof the facilities of Nexperia, a global leader in Discretes, Logic and MOSFET devices for the Automotive industry. The majority of Nexperia’s manufacturing takes place in laboratories. As a result, a durable wall protection system was required that would be resistant to a variety of cleaning chemicals and that can withstand the rigorous maintenance cleaning regimes which will take place at the facility.

Architect: WCP ArchitectsMain Contractor: AcreoInstaller: MetalTech Roofing and Cladding LimitedThe 42,000 (3,900 m2) six-storey Rusacks Hotel extension has created 44 more bedrooms to the west of the existing hotel including a roof-top bar and restaurant, all overlooking the 18th green at The Old Course in St Andrews.The £7m extension was built with some 1200 sqm of Aztec Rainscreen façade finished in Peakmoor Natural Stone. The 128-year-old MacDonald hotel in the home of golf was designed by Scottish firm WCP Architects and raises the bar for luxury in St Andrews. Installation was by MetalTech Roofing and Cladding Limited.

Location: Port Street, Northern Quarter Manchester M1 2EGProject Type: Housing (Private Rental Sector) Development Cost: £27m Products: Aluminium Soffit Cladding to Recessed Balconies, Weatherstruck Aluminium Wall Copings Finish: Interpon D1036 RAL 1036 Matt Pearl Gold Fire rating: A2 s1, d0 (Classification Reaction to Fire EN BS 13501-1:2018). Client: Mulbury City Architect: Tim Groome Architects Main Contractor: Bardsley Construction Ltd Facades Contractor: Longworth Building Services Ltd Sub Contractor: Stafford Rainwater Systems Ltd

The stunning state-of-the-art, multi-level, Better New Addington Leisure & Community Centre, designed by GT3 Architects for the London Borough of Croydon features buff brick cladding with 3D- textured detailing thanks to external cladding supplier Aquarian Cladding Systems.The project was part of the Southern Construction Framework and followed a string of work carried out by Willmott Dixon for the Borough. It was also home to the building contractor’s first Building Lives Academy, aimed at upskilling young people in the area and providing them with an opportunity to join the construction industry.Originally, another brick cladding system was specified for use, however due to the complexity of the stepped window frame detailing, the additional cladding support rail cost, the time it would take to install, and a lack of product warranty from the supplier, an alternative cladding system was sought to meet the programme and budget.To resolve the challenge, Aquarian and specialist cladding contractor Express Dry Lining, part of Aquarian’s Approved Installer Network, worked closely together to achieve an acceptable finish to match the specified material, which suited the local vernacular thus meeting the aesthetic, programme, and commercial requirements.Peter Head, Director of Express Dry Lining said: “The design and installation support of Aquarian helped us ensure that all stakeholders were supported throughout the process of material selection, buildability, component production and assembly to achieve a photogenic building free of defects which will last. This is one of those projects to be proud of for a very long time.” In addition, the solution had to be a cladding system that used brick slips which could also be produced as standard bricks to build landscaping planters and achieve a seamless ‘hit-and-miss’ brick feature in the façade. As an innovative, panelised, insulating brick cladding system, which has been successfully tested to BS8414 on five separate occasions and has an EN13501 fire rating of B, s1, d0, Gebrik was perfect, with Aquarian supplying 1126m2 to the project.To achieve the 3D features in accordance with the architect’s design brief, eighteen different panel and corner components were produced, 25% of which were bespoke and therefore project-specific.The expertise of Express Dry Lining in the setting out of the substrate ensured the 60mm thick ‘brick wallpaper’ is consistent across the entire façade with perp joint alignment across both the stretcher and stack bond panels. And their attention to detail in ensuring the system was cleaned down after pointing ensured the façade was completed on time and to everyone’s satisfaction. The finished project was completed six weeks ahead of the revised programme with Gebrik significantly contributing to the speed of construction and reduction in programme, leading to significant cost benefits elsewhere. The London Borough of Croydon is delighted with the quality of the completed building, with Councillor Oliver Lewis, cabinet member for culture, leisure, and sport, quoted as saying, “This is a stunning new centre with first-class facilities for everyone in New Addington to enjoy and be proud of.” Peter Head concluded by saying, “It is unlikely any other brick cladding solution could have been used as cost-effectively and efficiently as Gebrik to create a façade of such high quality.”

ABODO Laminated Timber Cladding coated with ABODO Ebony Oil was chosen on this project. Being Thermally modified the Abodo product was supplied in much wider 180mm boards – the thermal modification process not only offers great stability, but also a great species to coat. The FSC Certified ABODO Cladding range offers a renewable alternative to some of the more traditional Larch or Cedar cladding that the construction market are used to.