Interview and Site visits
Browse Testimonials
Interview with Mr. Murray Hone
Architectural Rep from Adesson Building Solutions
By KMEW Japan
Q:
What is your impression of Ceraclad murals?
A:
“Very beautiful. Until now, murals have mostly been painted, but factory‑finished mural panels greatly expand the range of expression. I expect adoption to grow further."
Q:
What exterior designs are popular in Vancouver?
A:
“The construction industry across Canada is facing financial strain, so cost efficiency is key. Within fiber cement, designs that provide depth, a premium feel, and good cost performance—such as Zen Garden—are in demand.”
Q:
Considering Vancouver’s climate, what exterior performance is required?
A:
“Because Vancouver is very rainy and humid, ventilation and rain‑screen systems are essential. Self‑cleaning performance is also important, and CERACLAD is very well suited for this climate. Due to the constant moisture, algae and green organic stains tend to appear, but CERACLAD surfaces resist adhesion and naturally wash clean.”
Q:
Any improvement requests for Ceraclad?
A:
“Panel size—especially length. For mural applications, the current 10‑foot limit can be restrictive. If 12–14 feet were available, the product would be more attractive. Other than that, the product is excellent. New textures and styles are constantly being introduced, showing continuous innovation.”
Our Field Observation on CERACLAD projects around Vancouver area
During our stay in Vancouver, we visited three properties: a UBC student residence, a care home, and a multi-family housing project.
UBC Student Residence
Products Used: Modern Stripe (custom color), Concrete Gray
Modern Stripe creates dynamic shading that changes with the angle of sunlight, giving the façade a different expression throughout the day. The warm-toned custom color selected for this project blended well with the surrounding buildings and naturally enhanced the overall campus atmosphere.
Dogwood Care Home
Product Used: Cashmere Smooth (White)
The soft texture of Cashmere Smooth complemented the gentle atmosphere of the care home, creating a warm and inviting exterior. Its combination with green and blue metal materials added contrast, resulting in a bright and clean architectural impression.
Multi-Family Housing
Product Used: Cashmere Smooth (Silver Gray)
The combination of Cashmere Smooth with metal wood‑grain siding produced a simple yet highly refined façade. This project was a renovation; the previous exterior was stucco, which had suffered visible coating deterioration and required frequent maintenance. In contrast, CERACLAD was highly valued for its durability and self‑cleaning performance, allowing the façade to maintain its appearance over a long period.
Regional Exterior Design Trends that we noticed from Vancouver Research
Our research revealed clear regional characteristics in Vancouver’s exterior design preferences.
Urbans Areas
Glass
Flat Designs
Modern Brick
Suburban Areas
Antique Brick
Stucco
General Market Trends
Wood grain accents are almost essential and highly popular
Real brick is preferred, but due to high cost it is often only used in visible accent areas.
Flat and border designs are widely accepted across various building types.
Summary by Yoshi & Yuki (KMEW Japan)
Vancouver’s climate—characterized by year-round rainfall, high humidity, and winter snowfall—requires exterior materials with strong durability, including freeze-thaw resistance and self-cleaning performance. Our visit reaffirmed that CERACLAD’s rainscreen construction, ventilation performance, and self-cleaning properties are well suited to this region. The widespread use of flat and border designs also aligns closely with CERACLAD’s strengths. At the same time, enhancing the natural realism of wood-grain patterns will be important to improving future competitiveness in this market.