There are a wide range of methods and products available when it comes to rendering, which can result in difficult decision making for people who have zero experience and understanding of render systems UK. 

Traditional Render Systems 

Render refers to the outer layer of coating that is applied to a building’s external walls. Around for hundreds of years and popular across the world, traditional render systems consist of the basic combined ingredients of sand and cement. These have been commonly used for walls and brickwork to repair cracks, the materials are considerably low cost to source. However, there are some drawbacks, traditional render has been known to not allow gasses or liquids pass through, meaning the property will not be able to breathe which can result in problems arising further down the line such as internal damp. Traditional render systems include:

-Lime Rendering 

-Pebble-dash render 

-Sand & Cement Render 

Possible problems with traditional render systems: 

-Basic Finish 

-Cracking

-Not weather proof 

-Requires frequent maintenance 

Why Choose Modern Render Systems?

Modern rendering systems are a low maintenance product, which is why they come highly recommended by facades contractors in the UK. The offer the convenience of coming pre-coloured meaning that you don’t have to go through the trouble of painting over them and worrying about paint chipping. Modern render systems are easy to clean, only requiring 

pressure wash occasionally, which is a significant benefit. Many people have moved from traditional render systems to modern render systems as they are seeking a more efficient, faster result. Modern rendering systems last significantly longer due to the advanced equipment used meaning longevity of the appearance of your property. Modern render systems can include:

• Acrylic rendering
• Colour rendering
• Silicone rendering
• Monocouche render

When you require any rendering services, FCS Facades is a facade company UK that offers the perfect solutions for all residential and commercial projects. We offer a 360° process which includes aluminium accessories uk, SFS, rainscreen cladding services and everything in between. Using the best methods and equipment, our services are delivered to the highest possible standard with fantastic high-quality results. 

We approach all of our projects with teamwork and coordination from the initial meeting to post installation and our Aftercare Service. Working closely with you, FCS Facades Limited provides advise from the design stage through to installation of how our materials, elements, and solutions are guaranteed to meet low carbon design requirements and optimum functionality at all phases of the building’s lifespan.

Sustainable Solutions

At FCS Facades Limited, we are committed to promoting sustainability – not just within our own organisation but also with our supply chain, our on-site operations, and the local environment and communities. We ensure that all our render systems UK are carefully selected to have long term carbon benefit. Our aluminium accessories in the UK are fabricated and sourced from quality recycled materials wherever possible, as part of our commitment to delivering sustainable facades that do not compromise on performance.

As part of our sustainability code, our materials used for the installation of rainscreen cladding in the UK are thoroughly reviewed for environmental credibility, giving our clients the confidence that they are building ethically and responsibly alongside us.

When specifying our products you can be confident that the manufacturing and supply of our systems have been developed to have minimal environmental impacts, and we always provide an accurate post-project review of our sustainability performance.

Our aim is to provide a service based upon a corporate sustainability code and reduce the risk of any environmental impacts due to our activities, whilst also helping and assisting our clients and partners to do the same.

With the spotlight on the climate crisis, facade companies in the UK are challenged with improving the energy performance of older buildings. One might think that this would be an excellent opportunity to demolish and rebuild using modern materials, but with construction timescales tightening and the urgent net-zero targets, is this always the best option?

The answer always depends from project to project. When dealing with a building that is structurally unsound, paired with poor energy performance that isn’t functional for modern uses, your facade installation company might tell you that knocking it down and starting over is the cheaper and efficient option. However, choosing to refurbish the building envelope can offer some key advantages over rebuilding.

Planning Permission

Acquiring planning permission for refurbishment projects is often a simpler and quicker process when you are just looking to make alterations to an existing building. Rebuilds are also typically required to meet the same modern building requirements as a new build project, whilst there is a lot more flexibility with refurb projects. They can also be much less disruptive to the local area than demolishing – a key benefit in our increasingly busy urban areas.

Practicalities

Creating the structural elements of a building is typically the most expensive and time-consuming part of the build programme. If the core structure is sound, updating the facade is a quick and cost-effective way to transform the thermal, fire and acoustic performance and the overall look of the building, maximising the return on investment on the original structure and reducing the environmental impact of the project.

Environmental Impact

Environmental benefits are one of the most compelling arguments for refurbishment. It may not be possible to always bring older buildings up to match energy efficiency as those built today, it is not only the operational energy that occurs and needs to be taken into consideration. Embodied carbon is an overlooked value when calculating a building’s carbon footprint. It is mainly made up of the amount of carbon released whilst manufacturing, transporting and assembling the building materials, including extracting the raw material. This is staggering, particularly on commercial buildings.

Embracing Retrofit

Whilst it is not always possible, refurbishing an existing building’s facade is certainly worth exploring before plunging for demolishment. Continual advancements in material, aluminium accessories in the UK and system technology has helped to make this an even simpler option for architects looking to completely transform the way a building interacts with the wider world, from its energy and fire performance to its commercial value.

In the recent years we have seen a lot of technological advancements across all industries that were made for the sake of reducing our carbon footprint and the efforts to bypass the demand for scarce resources. The UK’s net zero targets for 2050 has created a much needed sense of urgency for companies to reconsider and adjust accordingly to meet these targets. 

Research indicates that the UK’s greenhouse gas emissions in 2020 were 51% below 1990 levels, according to new Carbon Brief analysis. This means the UK is now halfway to meeting its target of “net-zero” emissions by 2050.

The milestone was reached after a record-breaking 11% fall in greenhouse gas emissions in 2020, largely due to the coronavirus pandemic. Emissions are likely to rebound this year or next as the economy recovers. The nature of the decline in 2020 foreshadows how challenging it will be for the UK to eliminate its remaining emissions. 

Statistics show that as much as 30% of all building materials delivered to a construction site can end up in waste? As facade specialists, we fully realise the gravity of these figures and understand that we have a responsibility in reducing them. 

At FCS Facades, we are committed to promoting sustainability – not just within our own organisation but also with our supply chain, our on-site operations, and the local environment and communities. By operating based upon our corporate sustainability code, we are able to reduce the risk of any environmental impacts due to our activities, while assisting our clients and partners to do the same. 

FCS Facades 360° Process 

We are among the top facade companies in the UK that offer a full 360° process when it comes to building construction while properly executing our services with consideration towards our sustainability code that optimises the use of materials that have long term carbon benefit.

Our 360° Process Includes: 

• Steel Frame Systems 
• Rainscreen Cladding 
• Glazing 
• Render Systems UK
• Aluminium Accessories UK
• Specialist Services (Flowing Floor Screed & Automated Entrance Systems) 

Facade specialists are always on the lookout for building solutions that fit the trend of architectural sustainability, and this is why rainscreen cladding in UK buildings has become a very popular choice. A rainscreen cladding is the most efficient cladding system for construction envelope purposes nowadays. It has offered facade companies in the UK a multitude of benefits since its conception in the 1940’s.

The main function of rainscreen cladding is to protect a building’s exterior façade from rainwater damage and moisture retention. It serves as a second layer of exterior cladding that works to keep the structural façade dry, while allowing air to ventilate the building’s structure. How it works is, the cladding panels form a barrier to rainwater, preventing it from reaching the exterior wall of the building and the air circulated under the cladding panels helps to drive moisture away. Now that you have a basic understanding of how it functions, let’s go through a few more important advantages of rainscreen cladding in the UK, and why this technology comes highly recommended by facade specialists.

Improved thermal and acoustic insulation

Adding an insulation layer to the exterior of the building is optional, but when we combine it with the rainscreen cladding system, the thermal and acoustic insulation of the building improves significantly. This is an effective and cost-saving method of increasing thermal insulation without sacrificing floor space. The chances of cold bridging are significantly reduced as well as the likelihood of condensation and damp, saving money on energy bills. Acoustic performance through soundproofing is enhanced by the additional layer that rainscreen cladding provides. This is very important in urban areas that are surrounded by busy roads, airports, or train stations.

Improved Aesthetics and Design Flexibility

Modern rainscreen cladding systems are lightweight and strong, making it relatively easy to create engaging, striking designs that appear to defy gravity and give character to a building.

Whether it’s an overhanging canopy or parabolic curve in a façade, our lightweight and strong metal rainscreen cladding systems can turn your vision into reality.

They are also great for renovations, over cladding an existing building can greatly improve its appearance. Rainscreen cladding in the UK makes an old building look and perform like new. Facade specialists turn to rainscreen cladding as a way of modernising older properties, or ensuring that new builds have contemporary appeal.

Ease of installation

Being lightweight makes rainscreen cladding systems relatively easy to install. Here at FCS Facades, we pre-assemble cladding systems in our factory to make sure they fit right, first time, on site.

Sustainability

As well as helping to reduce energy levels, rainscreen cladding in the UK, in the hands of  experienced facade specialists, is an incredibly sustainable building product. Aluminium rainscreen cladding in particular is a highly sustainable material. Most aluminium is initially smelted using hydroelectric power and it can also be recycled at the end of a building’s life. Being that rainscreen cladding in the UK also lends itself to off-site construction, it can be pre-fitted or pre-built and can significantly reduce energy usage on-site.

At FCS Facades, we are always happy to share our years of knowledge and experience. Now that you have a better understanding of this amazing technology and its benefits, we can discuss rainscreen cladding as an option for your next building or refurbishment project.

A façade or facade is generally the front part of or exterior of a building. It is a loan word from the French facade , which means “frontage” or “face”. A structure’s facade is important because it is the part of a building’s structure that gives it a unique identity that people can associate it with, giving character and personality to a specific building. High quality workmanship and materials used in facades give more to a building than just aesthetic beauty. They can also contribute towards a building’s durability, thermal efficiency, acoustics and resistance through weathertight performance. Hiring the right  facade subcontractor for the job is a task that must not be overlooked. Find a facade subcontractor with a strong portfolio and a wealth of experience that can provide you with the solutions and services you need to get the job done right the first time around. 

The importance of building a facade and working with the right facade subcontractor?

Excellent facades designed and built to last through proper installation and thoughtful selection of appropriate materials. Long lasting buildings naturally become a part of a location’s history, and they become iconic for their facades. The goal is to stray away from the mundane, and this can be achieved through close collaboration with a reputable façade subcontractor. 

FCS Facades boasts over 50 years of collective experience in the construction industry, and have taken the decision in 2019 to rebrand the business and focus their efforts on the SouthEast region of the UK. If you are looking for top notch quality for services on facade fabrication in Kent or anywhere else within the SouthEast region, you can count on FCS Facades to do all the heavy lifting for you. In recent years their projects have ranged in values from £50,000 to £10m+.

FCS Facades Ltd focus on the design, Fabrication, installation and maintenance of safe weathertight, durable facades. Their services include carrying out removal and fire safe re-cladding. 

FCS Facades design and install punched hole windows and curtain walling, taking on responsibility for thermal, acoustic and weathertight performance. Their steel frame systems (SFS) activities include vast metres of infill as well as free standing roof top additions. 

FCS Facades offer a wide variety of services with unvarying quality in execution. They strive to “deliver good projects, on time, first time.”