Experienced house developer Vic Drake in Sevenoaks Kent used the Fortex Weatherboard range on a stunning five bedroom self-build property. One of the main aims of the project was to construct a highly energy efficient home and the need to include substantial insulation as part of the design was paramount. With other older properties in the area featuring external weatherboard cladding Vic looked at different cladding systems in order to create a sealed envelope to enhance the 200mm insulation of the SIP construction building. Following a detailed investigation into a variety of systems including wood, cement composite and PVC comparing insulation properties, manufacturing processes, cost, long term maintenance issues and finishes Vic chose the Freefoam Fortex product.
Vic explained
Although we like the finish of wood and most is now sustainably sourced we found it was heavy to transport, needs on-going maintenance and can lose its insulation properties over time. Cement composite cladding was another option and although it is very durable, and holds its colour well, again it is very heavy, isn’t eco-friendly to manufacture, cannot easily be recycled, and is not as easy to fit as Fortex weatherboard which, advantageously, comes in 5m lengths. We found that the Freefoam Fortex range was the best option for us. We liked the commitment Freefoam has shown to Environmental Management with the ISO14001 certification, the long term durability of the product, the fact that it is very easy, fast and light to fix and there is no on-going maintenance. Our planning department were also very happy with the embossed wood effect finish that is aesthetically pleasing and in keeping with other local traditional properties.
Fortex range
Fortex is a range of innovative cladding products that couple the benefits of low maintenance PVC with an attractive textured look and feel. Fortex cladding products are available in a textured woodgrain effect and a textured render finish, in a wide range of attractive subtle colours. Manufactured to stand the test of time. The white products are eligible for our ground breaking 20 year guarantee backed by Freefoam’s environmentally friendly lead free formulation. The colour range qualifies for a 10 year guarantee backed by Freefoam’s unique Colormax technology.
A Durable Solution
White Fortex products qualify for a 20 year guarantee,* and coloured qualify for a 10 year guarantee.*
Reduce energy bills
Insulate the exterior of your home with Fortex cladding. Designed for all types of exteriors – brick, concrete or block.
Light to handle, easy to fit
Designed to make storing, handling and fitting quick and easy. Weighing on average just 3.5kg per 5 board and available with easy to fit multi-function trims the range allows you to quickly create a professional finish.