Categories for James Hardie Cladding
January 5, 2021 11:13 am
Published by Summit Cladding
Summit Cladding is always prepared to take on a major renovation project, but sometimes it’s the smaller jobs that can make all the difference to the look of a property. We were contacted by a client who lives in a lovely period house in Bush Hill Park, just outside Enfield, north London. It’s a beautifully restored property complete with period features. But there was one thing letting it down. At the back of the garage was a single storey extension which had clearly seen better days. It was coated in rough, poor quality white render, with a door and window that needed a lick of paint. The whole thing contrasted badly with the lovely old brickwork at the back of... View Article
November 23, 2020 9:34 am
Published by Summit Cladding
A marvellous example of how James Hardie cladding can transform the exterior of a property in Royston, Hertfordshire. During the Tudor period 500 years ago, house builders had a plentiful supply of materials to work with — mainly, of course, timber. Britain was a much more heavily-wooded country in those far off days and many of the timber-framed houses which were built then still survive today. They look solid and attractive, which is why there was a recent design fashion for “Mock Tudor” — homes built with modern materials but clad in strips of timber to give the appearance of structural beams. Damp problems This design might look nice, but it can give rise to big problems with damp penetration.... View Article
October 26, 2020 2:51 pm
Published by Summit Cladding
We have written several times on this blog about the problems caused by cracked render, and how Summit Cladding is called in to help homeowners find a solution, particularly using James Hardie cladding. When rendering works properly it can extend the life of a wall by stopping damp penetration and adding a layer of insulation. But when it cracks, bulges or flakes you know you’ve got trouble. Our clients in the leafy Kent town of Westerham called us in before things got that bad, although hairline cracks were starting to appear in their external render. It was a case of “just in time.” Famous location As you may know, Westerham is near Sir Winston Churchill’s country home, Chartwell, which is... View Article
September 8, 2020 4:42 pm
Published by Summit Cladding
Summit Cladding is often called to the rescue by homeowners when things go wrong with their walls. And number One on that list of problems is cracked render. Now, render can be a good thing. It can extend the life of a brick or breezeblock wall, it can add a layer of insulation and stop damp penetration. But the problems start when the render cracks and lets in moisture. Cracking, bulging and flaking are all telltale signs that water has got in and frost damage has done the rest. Summit recommended This is what faced our clients at their home in Theydon Bois, Essex when they came to Summit Cladding for a solution, after being recommended by a friend we... View Article
August 21, 2020 10:21 am
Published by Summit Cladding
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... View Article
August 14, 2020 9:34 am
Published by Summit Cladding
What do you do when you have to cancel your dream holiday because of the pandemic? The answer: fulfil another dream and give your house a makeover instead! That was the choice facing our clients in Cheshunt, Hertfordshire when Covid-19 put paid to their plans for a holiday in San Francisco. They had also wanted to update their property, after living there for over 20 years, so this seemed the right time to do it. The 1970s bungalow was looking a bit dated, as any house would after 50 years. In those days replacement aluminium windows were just being introduced to the market and Formica kitchen worktops were thought to be cutting edge. New Cladding Colour Things have moved on... View Article
May 17, 2020 2:02 pm
Published by Summit Cladding
Some of our older readers might remember the Danny Kaye song from many years ago: “There once was an ugly duckling…” Well that was how our client, Chrissy, saw her own house when compared with her neighbours’ homes in a leafy part of Kingston-upon-Thames, south London. Chrissy’s “ugly duckling” house had fallen into disrepair due to personal circumstances, but she had watched as all the neighbouring properties were refurbished and she wanted to make her mark as well. Cracks to fill When I visited for the first time I noted that much of the cement and brickwork had minor cracks. Although the building was structurally sound, this would have to be remedied before Summit could fit the cladding. There were... View Article
March 14, 2020 10:03 am
Published by Summit Cladding
Summit Cladding recently completed an installation for a client who knows quality when he sees it. Steve’s profession was fitting interior furnishings for luxury superyachts, so we knew he would have an eye for detail and craftsmanship. He contacted Summit Cladding after he watched us working on an identical property to his and decided that he wanted the same makeover. As you can see from the photographs, Steve’s house was tile-hung, which can be a very dated look, so we started by removing all the tiles to the centre of the apex. Next, we fitted Kingspan insulation for thermal efficiency, followed by a breathable vapour barrier. James Hardie Cladding comes in a range of colours and as Steve is a... View Article
January 29, 2020 3:07 pm
Published by Summit Cladding
Here’s a story about cowboy builders and how to avoid them. Summit Cladding are contacted at least once a month by clients who’ve lost confidence in their general builders. Our latest victim was Joe from Uxbridge, whose builder had promised to build an extension to his bungalow, complete with uPVC fascias and soffits. But it wasn’t long before Joe could see there was a problem and called in the experts. Summit specialises in supplying the very best cladding on the market, installed by skilled craftsmen with years of experience. One look at Joe’s house told us there was a job to be put right. His general builder had left the old timber in place but covered it with uPVC, resulting... View Article
January 10, 2020 2:38 pm
Published by Summit Cladding
The start of a new year can prompt many of us to think of renewal and improvement, or just doing something different — which is when Summit Cladding can offer some real choices. We were contacted by prospective clients, in Harpenden, Hertfordshire, who’d had a good hard look at the outside of their house and decided it was time for a makeover. The house was structurally sound, but the owners wanted our advice on how to improve its appearance and drainage efficiency using deep flow guttering. Building styles are just like all other passing trends that come in and out of fashion, and so it was with this property. The photographs taken before we undertook the work shows hanging tiles... View Article
