When RH Partnership Architects of Cambridge was working on a project of low cost and affordable housing in Newmarket, Suffolk, one of the products specified was maibec timber cladding.<br> <br> maibec from A Proctor Group, is a natural softwood timber with a 50-year warranty against rot and decay and an 18-year warranty against peeling and blistering of the stained finish. This low maintenance and long guarantee was the key attraction to the client, Hastoe Housing Association, A Proctor says.<br> <br> Another appeal was that it allowed the architect to choose a non-standard colour to match the brick and windows. maibec is available in six standard colours, however maibec cladding factory-stained with Cabot stain can reproduce any "colour imaginable".<br> <br> Various profiles are available, including Channel, Cove, V-Joint, Bevel and Board &amp; Batten. AutoCAD and PDF drawings of all maibec profiles can be downloaded from A Proctor's website.<br> <br> Ease of installation using traditional installation methods mean that contractors also benefit from the product, the company says.