Nature-Proofing Your Home: Designing for the elements with Eva-Last
A similar sized timber deck, would cost between R35 000 – R70 000 depending on the type of timber and lengths of the timber selected. Most hardwoods have become as expensive as composite, and you can seldom find long lengths.
Air: When the Wind Gets Involved
It’s lovely when our home can catch the breeze. Unless that breeze arrives with driving rain, airborne dust or a healthy dose of coastal salt.
Earth: What’s Happening Underfoot?
We don’t often think about the earth beneath our homes until it starts moving. Different soil conditions, seasonal moisture changes, tree roots and vegetation can all influence the stability of outdoor structures. Then there are the less welcome residents of our gardens: termites and other insects that can cause significant damage to natural timber.
Water: Work With It, Not Against It
If there is one element that finds every weakness in a building, it’s water. Rainfall, humidity, swimming pools and coastal environments all place different demands on exterior materials. Good outdoor design therefore needs to consider where water goes, rather than simply hoping it goes somewhere else. That means incorporating appropriate falls and drainage, allowing for movement, avoiding areas where water can collect, and choosing materials suited to wet environments. Slip resistance is particularly important around pools and other areas where surfaces regularly become wet. Our decking ranges offer slip-resistance properties, although the specific performance varies between ranges and should be checked against the requirements of the intended application.
Designing for the South African Climate
Perhaps the biggest lesson is that nature-proofing isn’t about finding one magical material that can withstand everything.
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