Oakdene Farm, Kent

Client: Oakdene Farm
Type of works: supply and installation of Cembrit's Cemwood product, a wood-effect cladding designed to replicate the look of traditional timber weatherboard.

220m² of Fir Green Cemwood fibre cement weatherboard from Cembrit has been used at Oakdene Farm in Kent for a farm building that has been extended with a spacious modern office building.

Cemwood was selected for the project as weatherboard is a traditional wall cladding solution for the Kent area but, being fibre cement, Cemwood has the advantages of being fire-resistant and rot proof. It was also available within a week of the order being placed and at a competitive price. The colour scheme of Green walls with a Black aluminium trim was stylish but in keeping with the agricultural environment. The Cemwood was supplied by leading building material supplier J Wareing & Son of Preston and installed by Arthur Davies Farm Services and Steel Framed Buildings of Canterbury.

Oakdene Farm has supplied supermarkets with soft fruits for a number of years. As the standards of food processing have changed, improvements needed to be made. The new farm offices have a reception, clean room, packing area, staff canteen. In addition, there is on site accommodation with recreation areas and a games room. The farm employ a number of Eastern European students who are at University and have taken time off to work and fund the next stage of study as well as learning English.

Cemwood is a wood-effect cladding designed to replicate the look of traditional timber weatherboard offering a hard wearing and fire resistant alternative to timber cladding with all the aesthetic appeal of real wood. Cemwood is a long-lasting replacement to worn out timber planks or artificial looking plastic cladding.

Cemwood has a textured appearance and can be supplied in grey for on-site painting or staining, or it can be supplied pre coloured to further save on site construction time. Pre-coloured boards are available in a wide choice (any RAL colour) with most shades guaranteed for colour stability. Cemwood is unaffected by heat or sunlight, is rot-resistant, insect-resistant and fire-resistant equalling low life cycle costs and maintenance.