Appearance is very much a matter of taste with different people liking different styles, there no right solution.
If I put up a picture of something as the way to go than more people would think I was wrong, than would think I was right.
But here are a couple of thoughts:
Avoid being a fashion victim, by going for the latest builders style, which was designed with the aim of grabbing your attention…………… The ‘WOW’ factor……………. In a year or two the ‘WOW’ gimmick and fashion will have moved on. For example about 30 years ago in Australia there was a trend for white bricks, which looks really dated now.
Going for the Victorian look, which seems popular, but can be risky. . . One mistake I have seen is this big two storey Victorian mansion on a small block surrounded by single story modern houses. It looks more like a pub than a home.
I try and go for what you could call a timeless appearance but what’s that look like?
The best suggestion I can make is to walk round an estate near where you live that is around 20-30 years old.
Some of the houses you see will look very dated.
Other will look as though they could have been built a couple of years ago.
They won’t all look the same……………….. just timeless.
Take some photos of the ones you like to help you compare with other designs you come across.
Here are some things you should consider avoiding:
Too many different materials. Brick, render, stone, painted wood, stained wood, all on the same façade can look very messy.
Different sized windows. The human brain likes to see order and a range of different window heights and widths on the same wall looks confusing.
Anything with a structural appearance that looks obviously stuck on.
Roof out of proportion with house. Could be either too large or too small.
A front façade that doesn’t link in with rest of the house. Some really look as though they have been stuck on the front face, particularly when they stop at the corner rather that continuing to a natural break point.
What trend do you think will mark a house as a Fashion Victim?
This addendum was added to an original Post from 2014 as there has been a lot of publicity recently (late February 2019) about foam panels and certification has been removed from certain types of panels.
A particular issue for apartment blocks has been related to high speed spread across the surface of the panels to other flats.
On a standard house the render should protect the insulation from external flames. (If flames penetrate the plasterboard, from the inside, it is likely that the occupants will either have already evacuated, or be dead before the insulation ignites) n
Nevertheless you should review whether the potential risks from foam panels are acceptable to you.
Original Article
Rendered Foam walls are becoming much more common, particularly in the upper floor of 2 storey homes. They offer a real advantage in situations where it would be difficult to provide adequate suppport for a heavy brick wall (For example when the upper floor needs to be set back from the ground floor)
If you are worried about strength you need to be aware that the real strength of the house is in the frame. (see: House Construction – The Frame)
Construction
The Foam boards, which are manufactured with an external mesh face, are fixed to the frame with special galvanised screws that incorporate spreader washers.
Joints are sealed with a polyurethane foam and have mesh jointing tape.
External corners are reinforced with metal strips.
A minimum of 5mm of acrylic render is applied, normally in a three layer system.
Polystyrene Foam
There are 2 different types of foam used in this construction method:
Expanded polystyrene( EPS) – Good thermal performance but limited impact resistance/structural strength.
Extruded polystyrene (XPS) – Similar thermal performance and looks similar but the production method is different which results in increased impact resistance and structural strength. Higher cost
Insulation values for the various board thicknesses are:
50mm – R 1.2
75mm – R 1.8
100mm – R 2.4
Final Thoughts
Although there are some advantages in this system it does require careful detailing and construction otherwise leakage can occur damaging your house.
The advantage of masonry on the lower part of the house is that it is less likely to be damaged by the bumps and bangs of daily life. Once the wall is above head height damage becomes less of an issue and the rendered foam board should be fine.
I’d prefer XPS to EPS.
Although the insulation values are good the builder will most likely want to save the cost of the insulation batts in the frame. If you ask for the wall to include insulation batts you will have an exceptionally well insulated wall at very little extra cost.
I am sure you have seen many different photographs of these houses if you have seen any publicity about San Francisco.
They are known as the Painted Ladies. . . but why are they always photographed?
I think the houses in the next block in the same street are more interesting.
Well the reason relates to the way our brain reacts to what it sees.
Experts say that the brain likes to see patterns so we find the repeated pattern of the Painted Ladies pleasing.
The more interesting different houses along the street are a bit more jarring.
So what does this mean for your new house?
Well I am not suggesting that you build an identical house to next door, . . but you could think about making sure your house does have some recurring pattern.
For example:
Aim to have the windows the same size and shape rather than a mix of sizes and shapes.
Use a similar colour and style for the house and garage doors.
Avoid too many different materials across the front facade.
I am spending some of my time, while I am travelling in the USA, looking at Architecture.One of my favourite architects is Frank Lloyd Wright (FLW) and this is me in front of the Martin House in Buffalo.
I often talk about timeless design rather than following the latest fashion and this house is a great example.
It looks as though it could have been built last year although it is over 100 years old!
This is the Robie House in Chicago, which FLW considered the best example of his ‘Praire House’ style.
Below is just one of many FLW houses in Oak Park a Chicago suburb where Frank Lloyd Wright also lived.
If you happen to live in Western Australia, you get to experience more sunshine hours than almost anywhere in the world,
With the outdoor lifestyle firmly embedded into the culture, you really should spend some time thinking about your outside area.
With a little creativity and a suitable budget, you could transform the most important area of the home, and make it a special area for you, your family, and your friends to enjoy.
A Comprehensive Solution
There are online companies that are dedicated to transforming outdoor areas, and for those who live in Western Australia, Perth Better Homes provide patios in Perth, and their in-house design team will help you to explore the possibilities, and whatever the outcome, they have the resources and the know how to make it happen.
They are experts at designing and creating unique outdoor areas that blend in perfectly with the home, and they can work to the client’s budget, which is ideal.
This type of company would be able to arrange landscaping, awnings, lighting and garden furniture, and if you wanted to start from scratch, they would have the resources to complete the project.
Maximise your Summer Enjoyment
Having a nice terraced area with adequate shading and nice furniture is by far the best way to experience the long summer days and evenings, and with an outdoor kitchen, the patio is complete.
Entertaining will take on a whole new dimension, and your party dates will soon be etched on everyone’s calendar, and with some professional help at the design stage, you really can’t go wrong.
Add Living Space
If you have a very comfortable terraced area, you have effectively increased your living space, and with the right screening, the area can be turned into a room and can be used all year round.
If the patio is adjoined to the rear or the side of the property, you can install some sliding or bi-folding aluminium doors, which gives you easy access to the outdoor area.
Al Fresco Dining
There is definitely something special about enjoying a nice meal in a quiet, shaded area of the garden, and if al fresco is up your street, the perfect ambience can be achieved with the right awning and some suitable garden furniture.
This Mediterranean style is very popular in Australia, as the climate is ideal, and with the right lighting, the evenings will give you and your family a warm, inviting glow.
Complement the Property
You probably have your home just as you want it, but imagine what you could do if you added a stylish patio?
It would certainly add value to the property and with the right design,and would complement the residence, and you and your family will always have a special reason for looking forward to the arrival of summer.
With the right help, there is no limit to what you can achieve in the garden, and the unlimited design options means your garden will have a truly unique look that will be the envy of all.
I think it can look well if its used with restraint and understanding.
Unfortunately I don’t think this example that I recently saw qualifies.
Those triple block features at the window are supposed to represent Quoins (stone blocks to reinforce corners) . . . .that and the over complex single pattern on the building corners are the opposite of what you would see on a genuine old patterned brick house.
A much better option would be to have the ‘Quoins’ on the corners and a plain brick window edge.
Do you agree? . . or do you think I’m just being picky?
There are certain types of wall surface that are more susceptible to damage from the Australian weather than others.
This mostly applies to timber.
You want to make sure that you protect the timber walls of your home and save on repair and maintenance costs.
The best way to do this is to use cladding on the exterior of your home.
Cladding is also often used on the upper floors of new houses as a different surface and or where the upper floor is inset from the lower walls.
It can protect the house against extremes of weather and it can also insulate your home against noise pollution.
We are going to take a look at why cladding is such a good idea, if you have a timber property, and what type of cladding you should consider using for your home.
Why is it a good idea to use cladding on the exterior walls of your home?
The fact is that timber homes tend to suffer from problems such as peeling, rotting and termite infestation over time.
All of these problems cost money to put right; in some cases large amounts of money.
Ideally, you want to try and prevent these problems from occurring and save money.
This is why it’s a good idea to protect your home by applying cladding to the exterior walls.
If you use the right wall cladding you can maintain the appearance of timber but avoid all the problems that can occur with non timber clad walls.
Cladded walls:
Maintain their original colour.
Are not susceptible to damage from extreme temperatures.
Are protected against extreme weather conditions.
Are insulated against loud noises from outside the property.
You can see that not only can you save money on potential repair bills, but you also have less interference from the everyday noise disruption that life can bring.
You get all of this giving a timber clad appearance to the exterior of your home.
What is the best type of cladding to have on your home?
You can choose to use timber cladding or vinyl cladding.
If you want to get a high level of protection for your property then Pallside cladding is a good choice.
It’s a highly durable product with a built in UV protection layer.
Pallside cladding provides improved acoustic protection and also protects against hail.
It’s suitable for use in bushfire zones which also makes it a popular choice with many homeowners.
From an appearance point of view, Pallside cladding maintains its colour, so the exterior of your home does not have a faded Appearance.
This type of cladding also does not warp which again helps to maintain the physical integrity of the exterior of your property.
As you can see, applying cladding to the exterior walls of your home helps to protect them against the elements. It also helps to protect the interior of your home from excessive noise disturbance.
After the initial outlay of paying for the cladding you may find yourself saving money on ongoing repair and maintenance costs.
