Build September 2016

Build Magazine 64 Monolith is part of a group of companies owned by StephenWaring. Originally a construction company with the aim of utilising new and eco-friendly technologies to build modern, innovative and thermally efficient homes, whilst giving the outward appearance of more traditional buildings. Subsequent research in this market led to the use of Insulated Concrete Formwork construction as a platform, which culminated in the development of the company’s StonePlus and BrickPlus products, and since then Monolith has undergone a transformation from construction to solely manufacturing. anaging Director Keith Hepplewhite takes the lead on exploring Monolith’s breakout success. “Our products are unique within the construction industry, as we are able to offer much more flexibility than traditional materials. We can create bespoke brick and stone pieces tailored specifically to clients’ needs providing a lightweight, thermally efficient products perfect for most types of construction projects.” Keith is especially eager to demonstrate the advantages of his company’s new flagship lines. “StonePlus,” he describes, “is a lightweight natural stone alternative. The product is a high- grade expanded polystyrene core coated utilising limestone and GRC technologies that can be made to match the existing features of a building. “Meanwhile, our BrickPlus product provides for a brick finish that can match the majority of brick types and colours – including those that have been out of production for decades or even those that have been weathered by time – where even the original brick if still in supply would not match.” The flexibility in this product has given rise to a number of spin-off products that can likewise be utilised on a wide range of construction projects from new modern builds to listed building renovations. Transferability is evidently the name of the game when it comes to creating innovative solutions for Monolith’s clients. To back up their acumen, Monolith have a range of literature detailing their products, informing potential clients of their systems, how they may be used and also showing case studies of recent projects. They also work closely and engage with a number of architects providing details to support and contribute toward their ongoing Continuous Professional Development (CPD) programmes. Discussing the relationship that Monolith maintains with its customers, Keith further comments, “our client base is extremely important to the success of our business, our aim is to engage with our customers at every stage of the process. We make every effort to ensure that they are happy with all aspects of their project from the size, shape, colour and texture of the product, to their experience and engagement with our professional sales, technical and production teams. Keith ultimately aspires to make Monolith a market leader, providing bespoke and complete brick and stone cladding solutions and developing long term mutually beneficial partnerships with industry- leading companies. There is indeed a sizeable gap in the market for him to do so, which is widening under ongoing industry trends. “There appears to be an increase in construction projects at the moment but with skilled labour in short supply.” Keith sees a significant place in the market for Monolith’s systems, “which in response to these market pressures, require minimal training, saves money and time, particularly in relation to labour and scaffolding costs, whilst providing additional benefits such as thermal efficiency and reduced carbon footprint.” Monolith’s key strength lies in their ability to offer products specifically to each of their clients’ individual requirements, while the technical research and development team develops bespoke solutions to keep the company well ahead of its competitors. “We are extremely proud of our products and their capabilities within the industry. We do have however a number of standout projects which clearly demonstrate what we know can be achieved with our StonePlus and BrickPlus Systems.” Keith summarises a few of the most notable past instances where Monolith has surpassed customer expectations. Modern Materials, Straightforward Service M Manufacturing & Supply “One of our clients, who had been developing retirement living accommodation in Truro, was looking for a stone product which would eliminate the issue of cold bridging. They decided on Monolith’s StonePlus system to develop bespoke Window Headers, Cill’s, Stringers and Quoins. The overall effect looks fantastic and our client deemed the project a massive success. Another of his clients, developing student accommodation, had been looking for an effective way to finish the exterior of the building. This, as Keith reveals, was a large scale project resulting in the BrickPlus system providing a noticeable improvement aesthetically from traditional brick construction. “It’s easy to fit and cut and can certainly be installed by any competent tradesman. We certainly found it good to use in confined spaces, at height and anywhere conditions for fitting are particularly tough,” was the verdict of approved installers Anthony Jones and Malcom Rossington. “Everything is so straightforward, on the plain walls it’s embarrassingly quick,” commented Ara Ashdjian, from Stef & Philips. Monolith’s products have not only proven popular among its clients, but they have also caught the eye of the wider industry and its various regulating bodies. Monolith has recently earned the prestigious honour of receiving a European Agrément Certificate that is UCAS approved and in partnership with KIWA. In addition, the eco-friendly technologies within the products are approved by the Local Authority Building Control (LABC) for a number of systems; these are Insulated Concrete Form (ICF), Timber Frame, SIPS, Steel Frame, and Solid Wall.