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A 2021 renovation in Coalville, Leicestershire, shows how Freefoam Fortex Double Shiplap cladding in Sage Green was used to refresh a tired exterior while creating an opportunity for insulation. Tru Plastics removed discoloured timber Tudor-style boards, installed insulation where the house design allowed, and carried the new cladding around the sides. The homeowner reported a warmer-feeling front living room and expected less maintenance, but those results are one household’s experience—not an independent performance test or a guarantee for every property.
The documented project at a glance
The project featured in Buildingtalk’s case study was a home in Coalville, Leicestershire. The homeowners had lived there for more than 10 years and wanted three things from the renovation: a fresher appearance, better insulation, and an exterior that would demand less ongoing maintenance.
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| Element | What the case study records |
|---|---|
| Cladding | Freefoam Fortex Double Shiplap in Sage Green |
| Existing finish | Discoloured timber Tudor-style boards |
| Installer | Tru Plastics |
| Location | Coalville, Leicestershire |
| Reported insulation work | Insulation fitted behind the cladding where the shape and style of the house allowed |
| Published account | Buildingtalk case study dated 3 June 2021 |
The source describes a single completed installation. It does not provide measured U-values, energy bills, laboratory testing, a maintenance trial, current prices, or confirmation that the same colour and accessories remain available today.
Why the homeowners chose a cladding update
The original boards had become discoloured, making the Tudor-style exterior look dated. The front of the house faced northwest, and the front living room was often cooler than other rooms. That combination made the renovation about more than cosmetic change: the owners were also looking for a practical way to improve the feel of the room and reduce the work associated with maintaining painted or stained timber.
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Cladding can combine a visible façade change with work behind the outer skin, but the amount of insulation that can be added depends on the existing wall build-up, windows, eaves, corners and other details. In this house, the installer said its shape and style created enough opportunity to fit insulation behind the new boards. That is a site-specific observation, not evidence that every Fortex installation can accommodate the same thickness or arrangement.
How Sage Green was used on the façade
Tru Plastics’ managing director, Russell Skellett, said the team removed the existing boards and continued the new cladding around the sides of the property. Extending the boards beyond the front elevation avoided an abrupt change at the corners and produced a continuous façade rather than a front-only patch.
“We removed the existing boards and the style of the house enabled us to fit insulation behind the new cladding. We took the boards around the sides of the house to create a really smart façade. The green complements the colour of the brick and looks good with the Rosewood windows too.”
Russell Skellett, managing director of Tru Plastics, quoted in Buildingtalk’s case study, 3 June 2021
The colour decision therefore related to the materials already on the house. The case study specifically mentions the brick and Rosewood-coloured windows as elements that worked with Sage Green. That does not make the shade universally suitable: daylight, brick tone, window colour, roof materials and the amount of cladding visible can all change how a green reads.
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The homeowner’s route from research to installation
The homeowner began by using Freefoam’s consumer website, mycladding.com, to look through products and colours. After seeing that insulation could be fitted with the cladding, they submitted a quote request. The article says Freefoam managed the lead and introduced them to Tru Plastics. Because the account is from 2021, readers should verify whether that website and referral route still operate before relying on them.
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What to request before accepting a quote
- A physical sample of Sage Green, viewed beside the actual brick, window frames and roof in both direct and overcast light.
- A written description of what will be removed, what will remain and how corners, openings and the junction with the roof will be finished.
- The proposed insulation type and thickness, together with a drawing or explanation showing where it can be installed without obstructing windows, vents, damp-proof details or drainage.
- A separate list of trims, fixings, flashings and other accessories so that two quotations can be compared on the same basis.
- The installer’s programme, preparation requirements and any access equipment or waste-disposal charges.
What the installation account tells us—and what it does not
The documented work followed a straightforward sequence: the old boards were removed, insulation was fitted where the building form permitted, and Fortex Double Shiplap boards were installed in Sage Green across the front and sides. The installer’s comments explain the design intent, but the case study does not publish a construction drawing, fixing pattern, ventilation detail, moisture assessment or building-control documentation.
Those details matter on a real project. Before work starts, ask the installer to explain how the new façade will deal with moisture, movement, openings and transitions to other materials. Confirm how existing timber, masonry and any underlying defects will be assessed once the old boards are off. If insulation is part of the brief, ask for the proposed build-up in writing rather than treating the word “insulated” as a complete specification.
Checks to make during preparation
- Photograph the existing elevations before removal so concealed damage and the original position of details can be tracked.
- Check that the wall is sound and dry enough for the proposed system, and agree how rotten timber, cracks or water ingress will be dealt with.
- Confirm that window sills, reveals, vents, meter boxes, soil pipes and external lights will still be accessible after the new build-up is installed.
- Ask how the installer will maintain drainage and ventilation paths around the façade.
- Agree the colour and profile of trims before ordering materials; a board sample alone does not show every edge and corner component.
The reported comfort and maintenance outcome
After the work, the homeowner described the appearance as a transformation. They said the front of the house felt warmer and expected the new exterior to require less ongoing maintenance. Neighbours complimented the result, and the article says a nearby house later had Freefoam cladding installed.
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These are attributed comments from the homeowner and the case-study article. They should be read as an account of how this particular household experienced the renovation. No independent temperature readings, heating-use comparison, durability inspection or quantified maintenance saving is supplied. A warmer-feeling room can also be influenced by weather, heating controls, draughts, windows and other improvements, so another property may experience a different result.
How to evaluate Sage Green for your own house
Start with the whole elevation
Look at the amount of cladding that will be visible from the street, not just a small colour swatch. Sage Green can sit beside brick, render, stone, timber and painted joinery in different proportions. Photograph samples against the wall at morning, midday and late afternoon, and check them from the pavement as well as close up.
Decide whether the aim is appearance, insulation or both
A façade replacement can be primarily cosmetic, or it can be an opportunity to improve the wall build-up. State your priority in the first conversation with installers. If thermal comfort is the main reason, ask what part of the proposed improvement comes from insulation, what comes from sealing or repairing the existing envelope, and what limitations the building imposes.
Compare equivalent written scopes
Collect more than one quotation, but compare like with like. A cheaper figure may omit removal, waste, scaffolding, insulation, trims, making good or work to the sides of the house. Ask each installer to price the same elevations and list exclusions clearly. The Coalville homeowner’s decision to choose a more expensive quote after a visit and sample review illustrates why scope and confidence can matter as much as the lowest number.
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Questions to ask Freefoam, a stockist and an installer today
The case study was published in 2021, so current product information must be checked rather than assumed from the article. Before ordering, confirm:
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- Whether Fortex Double Shiplap in Sage Green is currently produced and available in your region.
- Which board lengths, trims and matching accessories are available for the elevations you need.
- How colour batches are managed and whether the installer recommends ordering all visible boards together.
- The current installation guidance, substrate requirements and any restrictions affecting insulation behind the cladding.
- Warranty terms, registration requirements and the party responsible for resolving installation or product issues.
- Lead times, delivery arrangements, storage requirements and the process for replacing damaged boards.
Use a current technical document or written confirmation from the manufacturer or stockist for these points. The 2021 article does not verify present stock, warranty wording, prices or the continued availability of the referral programme described in the homeowner’s account. An online marketplace listing should not be treated as proof of availability; no current official Amazon listing was published.
A practical decision checklist
- Define the elevations. Mark on a sketch which walls will be clad and whether the boards will continue around returns, as they did at the Coalville property.
- Inspect the existing façade. Ask what will happen to the old timber boards and what concealed conditions could alter the price.
- Set the insulation brief. Request a proposed wall build-up and identify areas where the building shape prevents or limits insulation.
- Order samples. View Sage Green beside your brick, windows and roof in changing light.
- Obtain comparable quotes. Make sure removal, preparation, insulation, trims, access and waste are itemised.
- Check the current specification. Confirm colour, profile, accessories, warranty and lead time with an up-to-date manufacturer or stockist document.
- Agree the finish details. Resolve corners, window openings, vents, lighting and junctions before materials arrive.
- Keep project records. Retain the quotation, product identification, delivery notes, photographs and any warranty registration.
Why this case study is useful
The Coalville project is valuable because it connects a recognisable design choice with the practical decisions behind it. The homeowners did not select a colour in isolation: they considered an ageing timber façade, a cooler northwest-facing room, the possibility of adding insulation, and how the green would sit with existing brick and Rosewood windows. They researched products, requested a quote, reviewed samples, met the installer and compared competing prices.
At the same time, the account has clear limits. It is a supplier-published case study, not a controlled test. The reported warmth, visual transformation, neighbour reaction and expectation of lower maintenance belong to this household’s experience. Treat those comments as useful context for planning questions, then obtain current technical information and a site-specific specification before committing to your own Sage Green cladding project.
The original case study is available from Buildingtalk, published 3 June 2021.
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