New Ideas for Sustainable Housing

Keim Mineral Paints have been specified for a ground breaking cost efficient, sustainable public sector housing development in Cornes Close, Ashford, Kent.

The twenty 2 and 3 bedroom homes and single bedroom flats, designed by Andrew Marston Associates for Moat Housing Group, are all eco-friendly and feature economical running costs. These new build homes are of timber frame construction and use the Karlson Hus system which has proven environmental credentials in respect of energy efficiency and sustainability. The homes are super insulated for energy efficiency and have been finished externally with Keim Universal Render because it is eco-friendly, easy to use and provides a quality rendered finish which therefore requires no additional treatment, saving costs both on construction and throughout the life of the finish. In particular it allows the rendered Blueboard substrate to breath ensuring that there will be no interstitial condensation, thereby reducing heating requirements. Being close to a protected historic windmill site on the Old Main Coast road used for taking crops from Kent to London, planning requirements demanded an eco-friendly approach to the building. The self-finish nature of the Keim Universal Render was very much in keeping with Moat Housing's requirements and the whole project was completed to a tight 19-week schedule. This involved considerable liaison skill and, according to Andrew Marston Associates, "good will and team effort from all parties."

Keim Universal Render is a ready to use, easily applied renovation and thin layer wall render for use on all mineral substrates both externally and internally. It comprises of a hydraulic lime and white cement binder with sand and mineral fibre fillers. This means that the render can accommodate a high degree of movement whilst at the same time preventing surface crazing and cracking. It is also ideal for carrying out complete reinstatement of existing facades as well as localised patch repairs.

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