Ryman Healthcare
The longevity, quality and long-term warranty of Sto’s render facade systems has given Ryman Healthcare the confidence to work with Sto time and time again over the past 18 years.
Ryman Healthcare is New Zealand’s largest retirement home provider with 48 active villages in New Zealand and Australia. To ensure the success of their villages, it’s critical for Ryman to specify sustainable, reliable, long-lasting products backed by long-term warranties — which is exactly why they use Sto Render Facade Systems for their projects.
Ryman started specifying Sto systems over 18 years ago when Craig Buist, Independent Commercial Consultant and previously Group Quantity Surveying Manager, Ryman Healthcare, first started with the company. “I’d used Sto in the UK, and one of our Regional Construction Managers had also used Sto,” he explains. “Other render systems Ryman had used in the past weren’t up to the same high specification. Ryman chose the Sto system because it features exceptional reinforcing, and it was way better than anything else on the market at the time.”
That first project was the Edmund Hillary Village in Mt Wellington Auckland, (as pictured), where over 70,000m² of Sto render was used. This is rumoured to be the largest render project in New Zealand and it is also Ryman’s largest site to date. “Sto was used across the whole village including townhouses, apartment blocks and the main building,” says Craig. “Ryman liked that the Sto render was adaptable. Ryman could use it over a range of substrates including brick and fibre cement panels while maintaining consistency throughout. Ryman use a number of their facade systems on other villages, such as their light-weight concrete, StoArmour Panel Façade System.”
Sto render facade systems offer a range of benefits for residential and multi-storey projects. Tested and BRANZ appraised, the systems provide protection against moisture-ingress, weathering and fire, to ensure all the building performance requirements are satisfied. In the case of the Edmund Hillary project, the longevity of the Sto product is evident. “The Sto render has held up very well over time,” says Craig. “Other systems mean more repair and maintenance, which also leads to health concerns when working in close proximity. Putting the right product in the right place counts.”
The quality of Sto’s systems is also backed by excellent service. Sto provides technical expertise, detailing and consultation to support projects such as Ryman’s retirement villages, and installation is completed by Sto’s registered LBP Contractors.
“We value the knowledge of the staff at Sto. They’re very consistent and provide back-up on the design side. They offer different ideas for different situations,” says Craig. “The pool of approved subcontractors is also of particular benefit to Ryman. Ryman use a lot of render and we move very quickly so having that backup is really good. Ryman have about nine villages underway in New Zealand and Australia with render. Sto have been very good at establishing applicators as Ryman expand.”
All Sto render facade systems come with a StoWarranty with the support of a StoService maintenance programme. This gives Ryman peace of mind and has enabled them to confidently specify Sto render systems over the last 18 years.
“Ryman maintain and own their buildings, so having a product that is reliable with a back-to-back warranty with the distributor is good in the long run. Ryman want the assurance that if anything goes wrong they’re covered for that 15 or 20 years,” says Craig. “With Sto, Ryman get the benefit of quality and a reliable long-term warranty, with backup from applicator and Sto.”
While the designs for Ryman’s retirement villages are constantly evolving, the use of Sto as their exclusive render supplier remains constant. Ryman plans to continue using Sto systems in the retirement villages as they grow in both New Zealand and Australia. “Sto have been a very good partner with Ryman over the last 18 years,” says Craig. “They’re growing with Ryman which is great.”