James Hardie cladding in Edgware, North London

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 it’s hard to tell the difference.

Our clients Deidre and Eamon have lived in their pretty weatherboarded cottage in Edgware, north London, for more than 30 years and had seen the timber cladding gradually deteriorate. The wood was getting chipped, it was starting to warp and bare wood was beginning to show under the old stain.

The constant maintenance was getting them down, but they wanted to keep that unique weatherboarded look. And that’s when Summit Cladding came on the scene.

Matching colour

We began by removing all the old timber from the walls. Next came a breathable vapour barrier, held in place with treated timber battens. And with all the preparations complete, we fitted Hardieplank cladding in Midnight Black, to replicate what had been there before.

Along with the trimming fitted around the windows, the installation took three days and completely transformed the cottage.

Deidre and Eamon now have a home with traditional-looking cladding that will not warp, rot or need any maintenance, so they can enjoy their garden without always looking over their shoulders at the house and wondering how long the cladding would last!

Categorised in: James Hardie Cladding

This post was written by Summit Cladding