Recladding offers a wide range of potential benefits, including safety, health and comfort, energy efficiency, urban regeneration and extension of building life.
Safety
The Grenfell Tower tragedy highlighted the paramount importance of safety – in particular fire safety – in the design and installation of building façade systems. Primary fire risks for cladding usually stem from incompatible components, including insulation, sheathing boards, fixings or support frames and poor insulation. Since the Grenfell Tower fire in 2017, many mid-to-high rise buildings have been found to have unsafe cladding systems. In many instances the only viable remedy involves stripping off the existing cladding and replacing it with improved cladding systems complaint with more suitable safety standards.
Safety has consistently been our top priority. With our expertise in fire-protected cladding solutions and continuous investment in testing and certification, we offer one of the most comprehensive ranges of A1 (non-combustible) and A2 (limited combustibility) fire-rated systems, for all types of building.
Health & Comfort
Retrofitting using external wall insulation (EWI) or rainscreen façade systems can also have a positive impact on the health and comfort of residents, by helping to create a healthier indoor climate. A study published in The Lancet Planetary Health suggested that retrofitting homes with insulation drives the greatest contribution to health benefits compared to other net zero policies. A ventilated façade reduces the impact of direct solar rays on the building and air flow in a cavity combined with a high performance insulation layer means that the walls stay cooler in the summer.
Energy Efficiency
Reducing energy consumption has long been a primary consideration in the decision to refurbish a building’s façade. The focus on creating warmer, more sustainable living spaces – at an affordable cost – has been a priority for building owners and residents alike for many years. The annual UN Climate Change Conferences (COP meetings) have steadily upped the ante on governmental climate change commitments. The UK has a legally binding net zero target by 2050 and interim targets to reduce emissions by 78% by 2035. Furthermore the importance of the drive for energy efficiency was brought into sharp focus by Russia’s 2022 invasion of Ukraine, which highlighted the vulnerability of existing energy supply for most of Europe. Recladding a building with one of our thermally efficient systems can dramatically improve its carbon footprint while reducing energy bills.
We offer retrofit cladding solutions for every type of building, from mid-rise brick and block substrate housing to steel and timber framed buildings – all designed to deliver ‘best-in-class’ thermal efficiency.
Recladding can also make a significant contribution to the urban landscape. A carefully specified and well-designed new façade can fundamentally change a building’s relationship to its surroundings and can thereby have a profound impact on the locale. There is plenty of evidence, as well as anecdotal feedback, to support the link between façade refurbishment and positive community outcomes, including reduced crime rates, healthier living and a greater sense of wellbeing.
Life extension
Another important, but often overlooked, role of the façade system is to protect the underlying building fabric from the elements. A quality façade, properly maintained, can last for decades. However, if neglected, older systems can deteriorate due to mechanical damage or weather exposure, and, if not attended to, cracks can appear, resulting in water ingress. Repairs are sometimes possible, but even the best maintained systems have a finite life. A replacement modern cladding system will not only extend the useful economic life of a building by many years, but it can also increase rental yields and substantially reduce ongoing maintenance costs.
Perhaps more importantly, recladding offers sustainable alternatives to demolition and new construction. Recladding an existing building allows you to create a stunning, contemporary façade for a fraction of the environmental impact of replacement with a new building.