Composite cladding products from Futurewood were specified for two recent projects in Adelaide and Sydney.
Known for their application versatility, Futurewood's composite products, particularly architectural cladding, are ideal for a range of properties, including apartments, houses and commercial projects, as demonstrated in the construction of Adelaide's Ergo Apartments and a recently completed property north of Sydney's Parramatta River.
Among the many reasons for specifying various building materials, ongoing maintenance and practicality of upkeep are two major factors that influence decision-making, especially for property owners responsible for their property’s maintenance beyond the initial construction.
Adelaide’s Ergo Apartments project was completed in October 2013 with timber. For stage 2 of construction, both builders and property owners were looking for a cost-effective alternative for the cladding. The selected material also needed to be able to withstand harsh weather conditions including dry heat and rain, and aesthetically have that much loved timber-look.
Futurewood’s EnviroSlat 156mm weatherproof architectural cladding and 70mm EnviroSlat screening were specified for stage 2 of construction, while 184mm wide, made-to-order EnviroSlat boards provided a sophisticated finish to the project.
In Sydney, architect Greg Neilson preferred using Futurewood’s composite weatherproof architectural cladding for its low maintenance characteristics instead of the original red cedar chosen for the job. Neilson also cites the absence of cupping, warping, twisting, cracking and splitting of the weatherproof architectural cladding as key reasons for replacing the original timber choice.
Greg Neilson is so impressed with the vertically installed cladding product that he is considering using it horizontally on another residential project.
While the Sydney project took 440 calendar days to complete, Futurewood’s weatherproof architectural cladding was installed in only four weeks. Neilson cited the ease of fixing the weatherproof architectural cladding as another reason behind his selection of the material.
The use of Futurewood composite products in place of timber, demonstrates long-term value for builders, contractors, property owners and architects involved in both projects.
In the case of the Sydney property, Futurewood was an economical choice, as the client had requested the property to be low-maintenance over the long-term. In Adelaide, Futurewood’s low-maintenance and cost-effective features made it the desirable choice over timber.
