A home renovation in Leatherhead, Surrey, utilises the innovative Finish Line Cladding Collection, which is a result of collaboration between James Latham, Accoya timber, Dresser Mouldings and global wood coating manufacturer Sansin. Finish Line is an exclusive range to James Latham.

Finish Line features Accoya timber, which is specially profiled, surface finished and coated by James Latham’s in-house manufacturing division, Dresser Mouldings. The wood is prepared and then protected with Sansin’s premium, ultra-low VOC architectural coatings that offer waterproofing and colour retention.

This renovation project, which included the addition of a new gable end to create more symmetry on the structure and bold black Finish Line cladding along the front of the house, was spearheaded by designer Karl Harrison.

Mr Harrison, who helped introduce the shou sugi ban charring process in the UK, said he prefers to use Accoya for projects like this because of its inherent quality and durability, which is further ramped up by Finish Line’s machining and processing.

The designer has a long history of collaborating with Lathams and was keen to use the product on the right project as a more cost-effective alternative to the charred wood. This one was the perfect fit. The Brushed Charcoal colour (one of 12 unique options in the Lathams line) was selected for this home – a striking choice that counterbalances the property’s natural setting and offers a contrasting backdrop for the greenery that was added around the building.

“We created Finish Line with cutting-edge customers like Karl in mind,” said Richard Mosson, group cladding technical sales manager at Lathams. “He is a professional engineer and demands attention to detail that ensures impeccable results. This is just the first of many amazing projects that are resulting from this innovative product line.”

Mr Mosson said that while performance and longevity were key, they were also keen to develop a product that was environmentally considerate. “Whilst the sustainable credentials of Accoya are widely acknowledged, the addition of Sansin SDF to coat the final product meant that we were easily able to deliver upon that objective and provide a truly unique solution,” he said.

FACTORY FINISHING

The Sansin factory coating process for Finish Line is three-fold. First, the timber is profile cut. Then, the surface of the wood is prepared to open the cells. Next, Sansin’s water-borne Precision Coat SDF is applied, which penetrates the wood. The water evaporates as the coating bonds into the wood fibres, resulting in a finished surface that repels water and UV light while remaining breathable. The coating is applied to the front, back and ends of the Accoya boards, essentially encasing the cladding in a waterproof, breathable wrapping that safeguards the wood from any issues associated with on-site preparation and coating.

The unique process utilised to develop Finish Line results in a cladding product with exceptional dimensional stability and low shrinkage and swelling rates. The collection is available in 12 colours that were formulated exclusively for the range.

Customers can select the shades that work best for their projects – from traditional natural tones to contemporary blacks, greys and yellows – all of which allow the distinctive grain patterns to show through, unlike heavy finishes that sit on the surface and mask the texture. The specialist finishing process can even create a distinctive two-tone effect with some of the colour options.