Lynwood House

Due to the restrictions of building within a conservation area, the architects had to work alongside a Conservation Officer who was very particular about the building having the right look and feel. Architect Russell Edwards of Edwards Architects, explained that this was one of the most challenging requirements of the build.

He said: “The cladding was crucial to the overall look of the building and we knew we had to get it spot on. We thought that traditional stone was going to be our only option, but then a Taylor Maxwell representative came to see us with alternative stone cladding options. When we explained our requirements the Taylor Maxwell representative introduced us to the Stonepanel™ cladding system. We’d never used it before, but we quickly realised that it could offer the perfect solution to our problem. Taylor Maxwell were great at providing us with plenty of samples to choose from and advising us on the best approach to allow us to meet the demands of our brief.”

Before placing an order, the architects in charge of the build visited a nearby TM showroom in Newcastle to see a bigger installation of the Stonepanel™ cladding system. The individual panels which are made from natural stone, limestone, sandstone or slate, join together effortlessly thanks to the Z-shape design, and the installation process is simple.

Russell said: “Once I saw the bigger display of the cladding in the showroom I was sold; I knew it was the perfect option for the development. Details such as the invisible joints were really impressive and TM helped us ensure the detailing around the windows would be flawless.”

Speed of build is one of the major benefits of working with Stonepanel™. The contractor working on the Lynwood House build, Michael Burton of Edendene Construction said: “As a contractor, you want a material that is easy to work with and will look great - that’s exactly what we got with Stonepanel™.

Taylor Maxwell talked us through the installation system in detail before work began, and were on hand to help us with some of the trickier details such as the window reveals. The installation process was much quicker than working with natural stone, and achieved the same completed visual. We were delighted with the finish and we are really keen to use the Stonepanel™ cladding system on future projects.”

By utilising the versatility of Stonepanel™ for both internal feature walls and as an external facade, the architects managed to deliver on their brief and achieve an aesthetic that has delighted both the local community and their clients - Derwentside Homes and Lanchester Medical Centre.

Russell commented: “The support and overall service from Taylor Maxwell was excellent, and the finished result surpassed all my expectations. The cladding does a fantastic job of helping the building fit in perfectly with its surroundings which was always a top priority. There were a few local residents who were concerned about the build at the start and it was great to be able to win them over thanks to the facade.

The cladding offered a cost effective alternative to naturally laid stone and due to the speed of installation, facilitated the project to be completed on time to the required visual brief. In fact, we liked it so much that we’re already using it on another build.”