Nichiha Vintage Brick Fiber Cement Panels Accent Torrey Homes' Townhomes

Torrey Homes wanted the appearance and functionality of real brick on two of its townhome projects. As they say, timing is everything. Nichiha called on one of Torrey's distributors, Robert Bowden Inc. Working together, Nichiha and Bowden created the perfect brick panel for Torrey.

"The key was having the brick panels look exactly like the standard brick seen throughout Atlanta," said Howie Turner, sales representative for Robert Bowden Inc. "We worked with Nichiha USA to get the colors and look that Torrey Homes wanted on two of their townhome projects. It was an ever-changing process as they continually worked with us to make the changes we wanted and builders needed."

Turner began working with Nichiha USA when the company was first introduced in the Atlanta market in 1998. "When Torrey Homes first saw our product they wanted to see more!" said Dick Fitzgerald, Nichiha Sales and Marketing VP. "We worked with Torrey Homes and Robert Bowden Inc. to create the style and color of brick that Torrey wanted for these projects."

The result of this partnership can now be seen on Torrey's Westbury, a 73-unit townhome property in DeKalb County, and Terremont in Gwinnett County. Used for striking brick accents on the townhomes' front elevations, the addition of the Nichiha Vintage Brick panels added a touch of style to the projects' sophistication.

"The product offers the curb appeal of brick at a fraction of the cost," said Larry Furdge, Project Manager, for Torrey Homes. "It's a worthy alternative to real brick."

Nichiha fiber cement products use advanced fiber-cement technology to transform exterior and interior walls. Each panel is 1.5'H x 6'L and is available in either 3/4" or 1" thickness. The panels are attached with anodized aluminum clips -- eliminating any exposed fasteners -- to metal or wood framing. Nichiha's innovative construction method provides an air layer between the sheathing and the panel to minimize the possibility of moisture damage to the structural substrate. The base of the panel is composed of cement, sand, wood fiber, and bonding agents. After a combination of pressing, heating and autoclaving, the panels are finished using a three-part urethane coating.

Torrey Homes is one of the southeast region's largest homebuilders. In 1997, Torrey merged with D.R. Horton Custom Homes to become one of the Nation's leading residential homebuilders. Torrey Homes offers new home buyers extraordinary value in a home featuring traditional exterior designs and innovative floorplans. For more information, call 770-248-0092 or visit the website at www.torreyhomes.com.

Nichiha USA, based in Atlanta, GA, is a subsidiary of Nichiha and the Sumitomo Corporation, and markets the Nichiha line of fiber cement products in the US and Canada. Nichiha is a technologically advanced worldwide fiber cement company driven by innovation with over $700 million in annual revenue. Nichiha operates three production facilities, all ISO 9001 certified, with an annual production of over 500 million square feet of fiber cement products.

For more information on Nichiha Fiber Cement Products, visit our web site at www.NICHIHA.com or call or write:

Nichiha USA, Inc.
2625 Cumberland Parkway, Suite 450
Atlanta, GA 30339
Toll Free: 1-86 NICHIHA 1 [1-866-424-4421]
Phone: 770-805-9466
Fax: 770-805-9467