Freefoam: The ultimate facelift with instant kerb appeal

According to Colin St John, Commercial Director of Freefoam Building Products, conservatories were ‘it’ back in their day. Then composite doors became almost synonymous with front doors. His money is on PVC cladding becoming the next big super-trend…

The ultimate facelift with instant kerb appeal

“Looking back, from 1990-2005 all eyes were on conservatories. Then, 2005 – 2020, it was the era of the composite door. Now, cladding has exploded on to the scene. My money’s on cladding being the next big trend 2020 – 2035. Our cladding sales have rocketed, and according to Rated People, it’s way out in front at No. 1 of jobs being planned by homeowners. From an analysis of over one million jobs on their site last year, cladding grew by a remarkable +743%.

That shouldn’t surprise. There are few home improvements that can transform a property so dramatically and immediately. It’s a facelift with a massive added value payoff: the ultimate in instant kerb appeal.

PVC cladding delivers all the benefits associated with PVC building products. PVC cladding systems are light, transportable, easy to handle and install without being prone to cracking or breaking if mishandled. They are long lasting with excellent weathering performance due to our acrylic finished surface. And fully recyclable.

From replacing tile-hung infill panels, shiplap timber, or rendered gable ends, to full blown façade installations, creating garden rooms from scratch, or converting unused, unloved sheds or garages, there’s a versatile PVC cladding system with the range, scope and colour to enhance or personalise any project.

Over the last 20 years, Freefoam developed professional and DIY cladding systems for our partners, the large sheds in France. More recently we developed X-wood, our high-end composite cladding system in partnership with a Dutch cladding specialist.

How versatile is versatile? What’s on offer?

Our current range includes Shiplap Cladding which earned its name from the way ships were built in the past. The board has a rebate at the bottom of the plank and a scalloped profile at the top. The scalloped top of one plank fits snugly into the rebate of the next plank. The indented channel between each board creates a natural shadow line giving an attractive, neat and consistent look. Shiplap Cladding is normally fixed horizontally and available in single or double shiplap boards.

Next there is Weatherboard Cladding, sometimes referred to as featheredge cladding, an attractive style that features overlapping boards to create a traditional ‘New England’ look. Historically a timber product, the weatherboard style works very well in PVC, with boards designed and manufactured to fit together simply and easily. At 170mm wide it’s perfect for any home improvement project and available in twelve contemporary colours. 

Influenced by our partners in France we developed our Clic Cladding featuring an ingenious Click and Fit tongue and groove detail to join lengths of boards seamlessly, quickly and easily. Simply push each board together and click – no need for joint covers or jointing strips to create a clean, consistent appearance, ideal for wide facades or longer buildings. Clic Cladding can be installed Horizontally or Vertically, suitable for a wide variety of projects and situations.

Designed for the professional market in Holland with our Dutch cladding specialist partners, X-wood Cladding has a more traditional look while benefiting from the use of modern materials. A highly durable 16mm thick board X-Wood is a composite of three different layers of PVC, each with its own high-performance credentials. Available in an attractive range of smooth, subtle woodgrain finishes, ranging from traditional oak to contemporary greyed cedar, the X-Wood system features a comprehensive range of high quality, long lasting aluminium trims for a neat crisp finish to edges and corners.

The latest addition is Shadow Gap Cladding featuring a subtle ‘pine-embossed’ textured surface finish. This 180mm board is designed with a deep groove between boards, creating a ‘shadow’ when fitted, particularly effective when fitted vertically. Shadow Gap Cladding is ideal for feature facades, external upgrades or refurbishment projects.

And due later this year, Fortex Natura features a real wood-appearance texture using advanced digital printing technologies.

Truly, there’s a cladding range for all reasons, solutions and projects.

But our cladding journey is doesn’t end there. Working with the passion and enthusiasm of our UK partner stockists and installers, we’re helping them grow by bringing the cladding expertise, experience, and knowledge we’ve acquired, and the product design, finish and colour choice to win business by providing their customers with the broadest range of options for their home improvement journey.”

Contact:

Freefoam Building Products,
77-83 St James Mill Road,
Northampton,
NN5 5JP
United Kingdom

Tel: 01604 591110

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