October 2022

Updates
For further info on all these updates and more, visit www.total-contractor.co.uk
THE COMPLETE PACKAGE FROM STO
Sto’s ability to provide a bespoke package of
external wall insulation, brick slips and
render has been highlighted by a new £115
million mixed-use development in Kent.
The company’s StoTherm Mineral M insulation
system, StoCleyer B brick slips and StoSilco
external render have been installed on five
buildings which make up the latest phases of the
Riverside development in Canterbury.
“This is an extremely high-profile development
which sits on an 8.4-acre site in the centre of the
historic city’s new leisure quarter,” explained Ivan
Kyurkchiyski of PRC Architecture & Planning. “This
exerted a considerable influence on every aspect of
the project, including the selection of the materials.
Sto worked very closely with us and the other
parties involved to provide a large number of
samples and help us select the most appropriate
façade finish and colours. Their input was also very
valuable when it came to designing the different
insulation detailing that was required around the
windows on the various buildings.”
The BBA-certified StoTherm Mineral external wall
insulation system uses durable mineral-fibre
insulation boards, classified A1 reaction to fire, to
provide outstanding thermal and fire performance.
Ideal for new-buiId developments such as
Riverside, the StoTherm system can also be used
on refurbishment projects due to its efficient,
single-leaf construction which means that interior
space is not reduced.
The insulation boards were installed to some areas
of the buildings using Sto’s innovative Sto-Rotofix
Plus mechanical fixings, which reduce installation
times and minimize thermal bridging compared to
conventional surface-mounted ETICS anchors.
Designed for use on masonry and cement particleboard
substrates, the fixings create a cavity behind
the insulation board allowing any excess moisture
to drain. They also allow the insulation boards to be
adjusted both during and after the installation to
ensure a perfectly level outer surface is created,
ready for the final façade finish. As the position of
all the fixings can be viewed during installation,
Sto-Rotofix makes it far easier to ensure that the
Sto’s ability to provide a bespoke package of external wall
insulation, brick slips and render has been highlighted on
the new £115 million Riverside development in Canterbury.
right number of fixings have been used so that
long-term security is guaranteed. StoLevell Uni
adhesive and dowel-fixings were used to secure
insulation on other areas of the building.
Some of the new buildings feature the BBAcertified
StoCleyer B mineral brick slips in a multiblend
red colour, chosen to create a striking
contrast with the various façade finishes used
elsewhere on the commercial units.
PRC Architecture & Planning were supported by
Bryden Wood to help finalize the façade engineering
and the main contractor for this project was
Bouygues UK. www.sto.com
FREEFOAM SUPPORTS STOCKISTS & INSTALLERS
Yorkshire-based stockist Building Plastics
Direct says Freefoam has helped the
company and its installer customers
grow.
With two branches in Barnsley and Castleford
and a thriving online business, Building
Plastics Direct supplies fascias, soffits,
cladding, guttering and other PVC products to
customers across Yorkshire and beyond. For
husband-and-wife team, Scott and Nikki
Whitelam, Freefoam is a brand they trust.
Scott explained: “We started off just stocking
Freefoam’s fascias, soffits and guttering. We
have since added different ranges, and we now
stock Geo-panel and Fortex cladding in five
different colours. As we’ve expanded the range,
we’ve increased our range of customers as
well.
“A lot of customers will buy off us just for
Freefoam. We have quite a few registered
installers that work with us and insist on
Freefoam products. It’s been nice we’ve been
able to support them. If we try and do the best
for our customers, they’re always going to
come to us.
“Freefoam want us to grow, and we see a
positive future. We’ve been with Freefoam for a
number of years now and I can’t see that
changing anytime soon.”
Nikki added: “In the building trade, Freefoam is
just one of those logos you know you can
trust.”
Above: Scott and Nikki Whitelam of Building Plastics Direct.
Colin St John, Commercial Director at
Freefoam, concluded: “We support all of our
customers and building strong and lasting
relationships with them is so important to us.
We want to help our customers grow and
flourish with Freefoam’s support.
“It’s great to see Building Plastics Direct doing
just that.”
www.freefoam.com
48 TC OCTOBER 2022