The finishing touch

Building a home is simultaneously one of the most exciting and stressful things you can do, especially if you choose to project manage the build. Ensuring all the materials are onsite when they need to be, along with organising the sub-trades to work in and around each other can be a logistical nightmare.

That’s why any products or processes that can ease the progress of construction are eagerly anticipated and widely adopted. The more specialised products and services become, the more efficient and better quality they deliver.

“At Ribon, we manufacture, supply and install pre-painted soffit systems for a range of residential and commercial applications,” says Director, Keith Russell. “One of the greatest benefits of this system is that it greatly reduces the number of sub-trades and installation time over traditional soffit installation.”

Keith, who started in the industry as a builder and has been installing metal fascia, roofing and spouting for a number of years, says the lightbulb moment to integrate an over-resourced, time-consuming process into a single system came after witnessing problems around traditional soffit installations.

“What this product does is it eliminates the builder and painter steps of the traditional process, facilitating sub-trade coordination. Essentially, as soon as the roof framing is completed we come in and take over, with installation on an average-sized house taking around four days to complete fascia, soffit and spouting. Also, we can carry out installation consecutively to other trades.”

Keith established Ribon in 2010 and then spent the next few years in an intensive research and development stage before launching the system in 2017.

“The Ribon system is designed and manufactured in New Zealand, in Hamilton, and is responsive to the New Zealand construction industry—replacing the traditional soffit framework with a simplified system of metal brackets, set to 600 or 900 centres, that contain a clip-on soffit or fascia panel and are fixed to the rafter ends.

“This system increases productivity onsite by allowing the builder to concentrate on other aspects of the build and, because it’s roll-formed, we can produce lengths of up to 8m, meaning less joins. Also, because the panels interlock into brackets there are no fixings, which means no corrosion points. When required, such as in design wind loads, fixings are concealed.”

Keith says the BRANZ appraised system is constructed from Colorcote MagnaFlow, a zinc/aluminium/magnesium-coated steel substrate with a painted finish.

“Because of the ZAM layer, the resulting material is highly corrosion resistant—three times that of traditional galvanised products. We are also able to produce the system in the entire Colorcote palette of forty-plus colours, making it aesthetically very versatile, as well.”

Ribon soffit systems: practicality meets luxury

Keith says the Ribon team works closely with architects and designers and that use of the product would ideally be factored into the design at an early stage.

“Although we do cater for last-minute design changes, obviously, it is best if the product is specified early on. That way we can provide our expertise around design specifications and the like to ensure as smooth an installation process as possible when the time comes.

“Likewise, we supply the product direct, with a two-week turnaround on orders—although this can be as quick as one week—so knowing in plenty of time prior to manufacture allows us to control the delivery pipeline.”

Ribon has a nationwide network of installers, but Keith says, they’re always actively seeking more supplier installers.

“It’s such a simple system to use once you have the installation down and can be installed under any construction element. We also have products specifically designed for a range of applications such as entryways, under balconies and even interior ceiling systems.

“It’s versatility, ease of use and low-maintenance properties make it a hit with our installers and with homeowners alike, who are also attracted to the fact that it is non-combustible and fully recyclable, so it doesn't contribute to landfill. All systems also carry 10-year product and 10-year installation warranties, for added peace of mind.”

Learn more about the range of pre-finished, continuous interlocking soffit systems available for your next residential or commercial project.