BETTER WALL CLADDING

Press, Volume CIX, Issue 32222, 14 February 1970, Page 5

BETTER WALL CLADDING

A virtually unbreakable material for covering outside walls; with a finish of natural stone, is now being massproduced in Britain. It is cheap, strong, durable, fireresistant—and elegant. Reporting in a 8.8. C. broadcast, George Short said this new wall covering is known by the trade name Stenni Cladding. It is being made in Britain for all the world except Scandinavia and Spain, which have their own manufacturing arrangements. Stenni Cladding is produced in panels Bft by 4ft. The panels are 3mm thick, quite light, and very strong indeed. At a demonstration in London, somebody kept hitting one with a hammer to show that it will not shatter like its rival, asbestos. The strength comes from glass fibre. The panels are, in fact, made by impregnating two

layers of glass fibre cloth with a mixture of powdered stone and synthetic resin. Before this sets, the surface is sprinkled with granulated stone, and, by choosing a crystalline kind, the panels are given a permanent sparkle.

At present, Stenni Cladding panels are made in three colours—brown, green and white: but more colours and textures will be available later. The panels are fixed by sticking them to the wall or by screwing them to wooden battens. The joints and edges can be trimmed with a variety of aluminium extrusions, which are also made by the manufacturers, Guest, Keen and' Nettlefold. The cost of Stenni Cladding panels, in quantity, is about 30 shillings a square yard. The panels have already been specified by architects for several public buildings.