Elissa Turnbull, product marketing manager at Saint-Gobain Weber, tells Professional Builder more about its latest monocouche render – weberpral E
Using quality products is paramount for a good build and to maintain a great reputation. Steering away from a faithful product that has been used for years is something some are reluctant to try. However, Saint-Gobain Weber has risen to the challenge of introducing a new monocouche render that not only performs but is better for the planet.
Builders want a product that is easy to work with and performs well, but there’s no doubt that environmental impact should be an important consideration when choosing building materials. The built environment remains one of the biggest contributors to global warming. Around 39% of global carbon emissions come from buildings and 11% from materials and construction(1). This means it is important to consider alternative products that tick the box for both sustainability and performance.
This is why Saint-Gobain Weber has introduced weberpral E – a new monocouche render which has increased levels of recycled material. It boasts a 22%(2) reduction in carbon emissions from fossil fuels and by 10% overall compared to its existing product. Not only that, the monocouche render cuts non-renewable energy consumption by 19%, uses 28% less water in the raw material supply and saves 25% energy consumption in total over the lifecycle of the product.
Less is more
With the likes of Storm Bert and Storm Darragh recently affecting properties across the nation, building products also need to be able to perform to withstand the elements. As well as reducing environmental impact, they must be developed to protect against summer storms and wet winter months, and all year round in some UK locations where harsh weather conditions are the norm and are regularly classified as ‘severe exposure’.
With many renders requiring 20mm thickness in such locations to combat high levels of wind-driven rain and frost, weberpral E has reduced water absorption so can be applied at just 15mm thickness to achieve the same performance. This not only cuts the amount of material needed by around 25% – thus lowering costs – but also contributes to a faster, more efficient build. Through-coloured for a low-maintenance finish, the render is also resistant to algae growth and can be applied to create ashlar or quoin details.
Real-world performance
Unless a render offers a great finish and easy application, a builder is unlikely to choose the product, even with industry-beating sustainability credentials. To achieve this high level of performance, we worked with a panel of professional renderers across the UK to help develop and test weberpral E to make sure that it carries the same industry-leading standard of performance customers have become accustomed to.
In blind trials carried out with four other leading monocouche renders, weberpral E was rated number one across several key performance areas, including spraying, ruling, scraping and ease of application. The feedback from live projects has also been overwhelmingly positive, with contractors noting how much lighter, whiter and easier it is to apply. In trials, applicators reported that it was more comfortable to use and easier to spray and rule.
Following blind testing at Weber’s Technical Academy, Mark Pickthall from MP Plastering called it “The best product he had ever used,” while Bradley Halls from Complete Rendering Systems (CRS). added: “It provided a great, consistent finish and being sustainable is very important to us.”
Environmental aims
Ultimately, the new weberpral E render is just as good as the original monocouche products but is better for people and the planet. At Weber, our target is to reach net zero by 2050 with a 20% reduction in CO2 emissions by 2030. It’s a big task that requires effort and scrupulous research, testing and development, but it is one we are committed to.
To reduce the reliance on using traditional cement, many of Weber products use cement replacement technology. However, the new approach for weberpral E uses the next generation of cement replacement and introduces a more sustainable alternative resource.
An Environmental Product Declaration (EPD) is available for weberpral E, making it and weberpral M and D the only monocouche renders in the market to carry the Type III environmental label. All EPD data has been verified by a third party. Having an EPD in place for weberpral E was a vital step to offer the sector verified information on cradle-to-grave environmental performance, while giving customers information that helps them decarbonise and reduce their own environmental footprint.
Learn more about Weber’s sustainability mission and journey.
If you would like more information on Saint-Gobain Weber’s weberpral E you can click here.
To view details of the manufacturer’s original monocouche render visit The Original Monocouche | Weber UK.
1 World Green Building Council
2 All data has been verified by a third party and weberpral E Chalk and weberpral E Colours EPDs can be viewed and downloaded on the website.
