Although the couple weren’t actively seeking a project, they were captivated by the stunning views from a brick built bungalow, and set about converting the property into a large two-storey home flanked by rolling gardens in 2008.
Eager to replicate the classic elegance of New England, the pair opted to render the bottom half of the house and add the clean lines of timber weatherboard to the top.
But they quickly ran into problems after the wooden cladding failed to stand up to the elements.
Anne explained: ‘As the back of the house is very exposed, the wood is subjected to driving rain, high winds and the heat of the sun. This caused the timber to expand and contract frequently, which resulted in blistering and peeling plus fading of the paint. The paint work was redone three times in our first four years and was costing us a small fortune.’
After researching more durable alternatives, Anne and Clive heard about HardieLinea® fibre cement cladding through a friend, and were impressed by the results seen on another property.
‘I saw the photographs on the website, investigated the product and we knew we wanted to go for it,’ said Anne. ‘So we started organising the project in October for the work to be done in the spring.’
Selecting the product in Boothbay Blue for its sturdy silhouette and sleek finish, Anne felt the advanced formulation fibre cement cladding would deliver the desired effect as well as provide long-term protection against the weather.
‘I love the New England look and knew instantly that the HardieLinea® cladding was what we wanted,’ she explains. ‘It’s such a deep, chunky board, and gives a really clean line and smooth finish that looks very substantial. We’re delighted with it and hope it’ll last a long time.’
‘I initially wanted a mid-grey but we ended up choosing the Boothbay Blue, which actually looks grey depending on the light and is a strong contrast against the render on the bottom half of the house.I think the shade we chose looks fantastic and is very reminiscent of New England.’
Having been let down by an earlier firm, Anne and Clive brought in a James Hardie preferred contractor to undertake the work. The job took two and a half weeks to complete, with an additional day required to finish the garage. Anne and Clive were very happy with the service.
With the house finished, Anne feels the HardieLinea® fibre cement cladding has finally achieved the vision she had for her home and its strength added peace of mind for the future.
She says: ‘I particularly like the view from the back of the house, and was sitting in the garden the other day looking at it and thought, “Wow my house looks really stunning!” I love it. The HardieLinea® cladding looks beautiful, and I wouldn’t hesitate to recommend the product to anyone.’
‘I know it will save us money. When I compare what we were spending on maintenance we will have our money back in three years. Only now, it will look freshly painted all the time!’
HardiePlank® fibre cement cladding
With pioneering ColorPlus™ Technology, the range of HardiePlank® fibre cement cladding is an extremely popular choice for both new build and home refurbishments, offering easy installation, available in 21 colours in both cedar and smooth finish, low maintenance and a weather, fire, and fade resistant finish.
Whether you require a high-performance alternative to traditional cladding or a contemporary finish on a refurbishment project, you can trust James Hardie to provide you with A Smarter Way To Build™.
For more inspiration check www.jameshardie.co.uk or request a sample here.
