A timeless choice for exteriors that will last and last.
Natural wood accents are key design trends for 2025. And with the latest premium timber cladding products, it’s never been easier to give customers homes that are in vogue on the outside as well as the inside, according to Freefoam Building Products.
According to Aviva’s How We Live report[1], almost seven million homeowners in the UK hope to improve their homes in 2025, and intend to spend over £14,000 over the next two years. In fact, IMARC Group recently forecast that the UK home improvement market is would hit USD 21.6billion (£15.96bn) by 2033. To secure a slice of the pie, offering the latest in-demand products can give installers and their stockist suppliers a unique selling point over competitors, while offering homeowners unforgettable, fashionable homes with real kerb appeal.
So which products are in? In recent years, exterior cladding – described as a ‘huge trend’ by Ideal Home earlier this year - has been on the wish list for many homeowners. A quick and durable way of adding aesthetic value to a property, it can also be paired with insulation to help homeowners lower their energy bills.
PVC-UE cellular foam cladding has been popular for some time, with a range of colours and designs available. In recent years darker cladding – particularly Anthracite Grey - has dominated in terms of sales. Now a more natural palette is dominating interior design trends, and the beauty of wood is making a comeback. And as with all interior design trends, it will be quickly reflected in changing tastes for exteriors and gardens.
To help installers and stockists convert homeowners’ love of a fine detailed woodgrain into cladding sales, there’s an exciting new addition to the market: PVC-UE cladding which looks identical to high-grade planed timber. It adds more value and impact, and looks even more timber-like than the rougher surface of traditional timber cladding, without the drawbacks.
Introducing Fortex® Naturale
Freefoam developed Fortex® Naturale to meet demand for low-maintenance cladding that looks like quality planed timber – but doesn’t fade or weather like wood.
Here are the big selling points for homeowners and installers:
Real wood effect
Fortex® Naturale cladding is co-extruded with a matt white skin and then taken through a secondary process, where the timber pattern is printed on using a cutting-edge digital printing machine. The prints are actually carefully edited photographs of different natural woods, and the printer is able to replicate different parts of the timber so the patterns are non-repeating.
Variety of wood finishes
Whether customers are looking for a warm, grey or darker wood finish, Naturale has it covered. There are six authentic wood finishes with something for both traditional and contemporary tastes. For a seamless finish with other building elements, colour-matched aluminium finishing trims are also available with RAL number referencing.
Ease of installation
Fortex Naturale cladding is lighter and easier to store, fit and handle than real timber cladding and the boards slot easily together using tongue-and-groove fixing. The cladding can be installed horizontally, vertically or even diagonally, making Naturale an incredibly versatile solution.
Ultra low-maintenance
Real timber cladding can be costly and time consuming to maintain, but with Naturale, this isn’t an issue. It’s printed using a special ink designed for external use, plus we use a lacquer top coat to stop any fading. We are so confident our cladding will look good as new for years to come, we offer a market leading 10-year guarantee.There’s no regular upkeep required either so it can be fit and forget.
Better for the environment
Fortex Naturale is 100% recyclable when it reaches the end of its cycle. Plus, as it can be fitted with an insualtion layer to keep more of a home's heat in, so it can help reduce emergy consumption.
“We’ve had a lot of positive feedback already from Freefoam stockists and Registered Installers, who describe Fortex® Naturale as a ‘market disrupting’ product,” comments Aidan Harte, CEO of Freefoam. “It took significant time and investment to bring it to market, but we know it has longevity as it appeals to those customers who want transforming, value-adding products in the here and now, as well as those looking for traditional timber cladding but without the hassle. It’s a classic addition to any cladding offer with a thoroughly modern and innovative twist.”
Featured in Windows Active July/August 2025 edition
Go to Fortex Naturale Range