Fibre-cement is a manmade cladding and roofing material. It’s durable, easy to work with and available in a wide range of colours and finishes to suit traditional and modern schemes. Its versatility means it can be used for a variety of projects – and it’s equally as suitable for new builds as it is for updating existing properties.
Originally developed as a low-maintenance alternative to timber cladding, it’s now also widely used as a budget-friendly substitute for slate – not to mention as an interesting modern material in its own right.
What is fibre-cement cladding?
Fibre-cement cladding is created by mixing cellulose, fillers and fibres with water – before cement is added to form wet sheets.
The sheets are rolled and pressed to extract excess moisture. The mixture remains pliable for a short time after it’s formed, so it can be shaped into anything from small tiles through to planks and large-format panels.
The finished product can be either through-coloured or painted to achieve a specific aesthetic.
The key advantage is that it can help to reduce the risk of visible scratches, scuffs and chips developing over time.
For this project, the homeowner’s were keen to create a contemporary home in keeping with the local vernacular of black wooden barns and houses that’s prevalent in this part of Essex. However, the annexe’s proximity to the boundary wall meant that fire regulations came into play – and a timber finish wasn’t permitted. Instead, they opted for smooth fibre-cement cladding. This is laid on battens and counter battens, creating a rain screen, with a breather membrane on the face of the timber frame to create a void for air circulation and for services to run. The aluminium gutters are also concealed within this cavity, helping to maintain a clean, uncluttered aesthetic. Black fibre-cement slate was used for the roof to complement the cladding, while the gables are trimmed with bright yellow-coated aluminium channels. These define the edges of the facades and are echoed in the frame colour for the glazed doors that lead out onto the deck. |
Maintenance is very low as it won’t need re-painting. The downside is that you’ll be relatively limited in terms of palettes and textures.
Alternatively, the standard grey sheets can be painted or stained (usually in the factory) with a variety of colours and effects – even down to incorporating realistic woodgrain patterns or riven finishes that mimic natural slate.
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