INCA EWI Case Study: Arden Gate, Birmingham

This residential project in Birmingham features a Sto external wall insulation and brick slip finish. The Arden Gate development, from specialist residential developer Court Collaboration, highlights Sto’s ability to deliver integrated façade solutions for high-profile developments.

This project combined excellent design with high-quality materials. The StoTherm Mineral M insulation ensured good thermal performance, while the Sto Resin Brick Slips allowed the architects to combine modern and traditional elements and achieve the required appearance.

“We had recently specified the StoTherm Mineral system and Sto’s Resin Brick Slips for an adjacent building and been extremely pleased with the result,” explains Doug Brown of project architects Corstorphine + Wright. “They had allowed us to create a very attractive finish for the building’s facades, providing a very convincing brick appearance but without some of the problems which conventional bricks bring, such as mortar stains and uneven surfaces. We were more than happy to specify them again for the Arden Gate development, and once again, we were very impressed with the end result.”

The BBA-certified StoTherm Mineral EWI system uses durable mineral fibre boards with outstanding fire protection and thermal performance. Its single-leaf construction does not reduce space inside the building, and it can be installed without the need for additional expansion joints.

Installation was completed using Sto’s unique Sto-Rotofix Plus spiral fixings. These allow the insulation to be installed and then adjusted to accommodate any substrate unevenness, thus creating a smooth external surface. This strong, flexible installation solution gives superior resistance to wind loadings compared to a typical rail system. It also allows the creation of a cavity to satisfy NHBC requirements.

The BBA-certified Sto resin brick slips are manufactured from acrylic render. Compatible with all Sto façade systems they create an accurate simulated brick appearance, with excellent resistance to impact damage, weathering and mechanical stress.

“The lightweight nature of the slips appeals to architects as they extend the range of design options and allow them to recreate the appearance of traditional brickwork very convincingly”, comments Graham Chadwick of Craft Interior who installed the Sto external wall insulation system.

“Sto’s extensive range of brick slips allowed us to specify contrasting brick slips, and by combining a buff, a purple multi and a Staffordshire blue colour we were able to give individual appearances to different sections of the Arden Gate elevations, and yet still achieve a unified look for the development as a whole,” adds Doug Brown.