February 15, 2016 1:00 pm
Published by Summit Cladding
We’ve previously discussed the 7 steps to painting fascia and bargeboards. We also wanted to provide some best practice methods for applying the paint. Paint application is important in order to achieve a smooth, uninterrupted finish that shows off your finish in the best possible light. The following are painting techniques that have helped us professionally preserve our bargeboards and fascia for decades. Tip #1: Try to Paint the Entire Section at Once When painting, every time you stop and start mid section, you’ll end up with noticeable stop/start marks on the face of your bargeboards or fascia. Try to get the entire section painted evenly in order to achieve an even finish. Speed is important here, but try not... View Article
January 25, 2016 2:05 pm
Published by Summit Cladding
Why do we need to paint/repaint bargeboards and fascia? Painting bargeboards and fascia will protect the wood from deteriorating, which can lead to rotting roof trusses or water damage. Here are 7 simple steps on how to paint your fascia and bargeboards. Note: If possible, remove the guttering prior to painting bargeboards and fascia. This is also a great opportunity to clean your gutters. 1. Wipe & Sand Bargeboards and Fascia Using a warm wet cloth, wipe down your fascia and bargeboards. Sand lightly, if needed. (The wood may need light sanding if the present coat of paint is flaky.) 2. Treat With a Wood Preserver Use a clear wood preserver that is water soluble. After applying, let it dry... View Article
December 16, 2015 12:00 pm
Published by Summit Cladding
What Are Barge Boards? There has been a resurgence of decorative barge boards in the UK, with designs that range from minimalist and functional to decorative and ornate. Dating back to the 1400’s, barge boards are attached to the projecting edge of pitched roofs to protect the ends of the timber from weather damage. They have also historically served as an adornment, with a vast array of designs and shapes. Here are five historic and colourful examples of barge boards from around the world that just might inspire you. Golden Barge Boards in Thailand This Buddhist Temple in Thailand boasts some of the world’s most intricate barge boards. Crafted in gold, this is an example of ornate craftsmanship that can’t... View Article
October 26, 2015 9:00 am
Published by Summit Cladding
It’s autumn already and the weather has begun to remind us how passionately we love canopies. But not just any canopies. At Summit Cladding, we believe in making an entrance; and we have some design ideas to match this mantra. Here are some inspiring door canopy features that you will absolutely love. Canopy Installers Often Utilise Columns Columns can be decorative or structural in purpose. From an aesthetics perspective, few canopy features make as bold nor as impressive a statement. Imhotep originally introduced stone columns into Egyptian architecture as early as 2600BC. Since then, they have evolved into a range of materials including wood, fibreglass, metal and concrete. The effect is dramatic and popular in a variety of architectural styles.... View Article
September 28, 2015 9:00 am
Published by Summit Cladding
We have over three decades of experience working with cladding. That makes us quite particular when it comes to recommending cladding products to our customers. It has to be low maintenance, durable, cost effective and great looking. We wouldn’t expect our customers to use anything less, because we wouldn’t use anything less on our own homes. That’s why we are thrilled to discuss five reasons that we love James Hardie Cladding. James Hardie Cladding Strikingly Resembles Wood It’s startling how much James Hardie Cladding resembles wooden cladding- very few people can tell the difference! It’s actually made of fibre cement, a process that incorporates silica sand and wood pulp fused into board using pressurised steam. Its multi-dimensional appearance looks identical... View Article
April 21, 2015 11:46 am
Published by Summit Cladding
Rogue traders, also referred to as ‘cowboy builders’, have been in the news this month, and with good reason. The NFRC (National Federation of Roofing Contractors) estimates that England loses 1.5 billion from rogue traders every year. More disturbing still, victims are often vulnerable members of society, such as the elderly. The Real Price of Rogue Trading, and What You Can Do The cost of rogue trading amounts to more than just money paid for the work, but the cost of repairing the poor and faulty craftsmanship performed. The NFRC reports “Some tradesmen appear to be from legitimate firms, others will just knock at your door with tactics ranging from charging overinflated prices for shoddy work, to starting a job... View Article
February 6, 2015 3:56 pm
Published by Summit Cladding
Door canopies protect your entrances while adding style and charm to your home. Read on to find out more about their benefits and best attributes.
December 19, 2014 3:39 pm
Published by Summit Cladding
We receive a lot of questions about cladding and our professional opinion of over cladding. Read on to find out about our thoughts on over cladding. Why Does Cladding Need to be Replaced? Cladding that is made from timber will eventually rot over time, even with expert installation and diligent maintenance. PVC cladding lasts 10-20 years depending on the colour you choose. Eventually it will also need replacement. What is Over Cladding? Over cladding is the process of covering existing cladding with thin plastic. Potential Problems With Over Cladding Over cladding may seem like a clever solution when compared to replacing existing soffits and fascia completely. Home owners are sometimes persuaded to purchase over cladding because it costs less than... View Article
December 5, 2014 3:38 pm
Published by Summit Cladding
PVC- What is it? PVC is an acronym for Poly(vinyl chloride). It was created accidentally by French chemist Henri Victor Regnault, and later by German chemist Eugen Baumann. It was refined over the following decades to use for commercial applications. By 1926 it was more flexible and its use was prevalent. Today it is applied in a variety of fields such as construction, clothing and furniture, healthcare, signage, and roofing. It is a superior material in many of these fields because it does not erode or leak, the way in which metal and wood can. PVC: What To Know PVC cladding will never rot or need to be repainted. It requires little maintenance. It is available in a variety of... View Article
April 8, 2013 11:28 am
Published by Summit Cladding
Summer is coming and people are starting to make plans for their holidays and the general household chores that this relaxing time of the year brings. There is no better time to think about Door Canopy installation to protect and visibly improve your home. We have installed many different styles of Door Canopy over the years on various different types of properties to hundreds of satisfied customers. Below we have published just a few of these Door Canopy installations for you to enjoy. The before and after image above is a perfect example of how a home can look bland (almost naked) without a Door Canopy but once added it looks completely different. It is safe to say that once... View Article
