Professional Builder’s Kieran Nee attends a training day at Marley Eternit’s centre in Meldreth to find out just how easy it is installing the company’s fibre cement cladding.
Since the New Year, Marley Eternit has been going up and down the country providing training on their cladding 
system to willing and eager tradesmen and DIYers alike. A sort of rock tour of the cladding world if you will.
Taking place at Marley Eternit sites and merchant stockists across the UK, the courses come in an introductory and an advanced format and are overseen by Marley Eternit’s dedicated Cedral Commercial Trainer, Rob Gould.
These training events are designed to provide practical, hands-on training to those wishing to install the company’s Cedral Lap and Cedral Click fibre cement cladding, whilst also explaining the theory behind the systems.
Usefully, the course also covers the process of pricing a Cedral job. The training events give an overview of the product benefits and provide the opportunity to explore the differences in the aesthetics and installation of both Cedral Lap and Cedral Click.
Rob Gould, Cedral Commercial Trainer, commented: “Fibre cement is growing increasingly popular for those who are looking for an easy to install product that is durable and sustainable, and one that also provides a visually striking aesthetic.
“The training events are the perfect opportunity to showcase Cedral’s ease of installation and allows those attending to feel confident when working with the product.”
Cedral is visually similar to natural timber, is low maintenance and can stand up to the harshest weather conditions. 
There is no need to continually repaint it as it is resistant to rot and immune to attack from pests and insects.
The company claims the product has a life expectancy of at least 50 years. The complete range has fire classification
A2-s1, d0 to EN13501-1 and can achieve an A+ rating for the lowest environmental impact in the BRE’s Green Guide
to Specification.
In addition to this, the system is relatively quick and easy to install, and on the training course everyone had a go at installing the product themselves.
Assembling a metre square, it became clear that once the basics had been established, and the project well planned, it was simply a matter of repetition.
With me on the course was gas engineer Ian Simmons-Hayden, who said of the course: “It was really informative. I’ve spoken to a few other joiners who had said it was easy, but I’m glad I came really. It was very helpful. I’m definitely going to use the system on my own house.”
Cedral Lap
Cedral Lap fibre cement weatherboard is a low maintenance, rot-free alternative to traditional timber weatherboarding. A
n easy-to-fix option for house builders, self-builders and home improvers, the planks can be installed in a clapper-board style onto both new and existing properties. Cedral Lap is available in 21 solid colours and two wood stain finishes with a complementary range of trims.
Cedral Click
Marley Eternit offers the UK’s first and only fibre cement, flush fitting tongue and groove weatherboard product, Cedral Click.
Offering the same 50-year life expectancy and rot-free properties as Cedral Lap, Cedral Click offers a flush, contemporary flat finish whilst still maintaining the traditional, wood effect aesthetic.
Supplied with a quick ‘Click Clip installation system’ the facade is ideal for new and refurbished developments that need to be completed quickly. Cedral Click is available in the 21 solid colours from the Cedral weatherboard range.
To find out more about the Cedral range visit www.cedral.co.uk
