Composite Cladding, a Cost-Effective Timber Cladding Solution

The versatility of Futurewood’s composite products, in particular architectural cladding, makes it an ideal choice for a range of properties, including apartments, houses and commercial projects, as demonstrated in the construction of Adelaide’s Ergo Apartments and recently completed property north of Sydney’s Parramatta River.

On-going maintenance and the practicality of upkeep is a headache for anyone, but especially for property owners responsible for their property’s maintenance beyond initial construction.

In October 2013, Adelaide’s Ergo Apartments were completed with timber, but for stage 2 of construction, both builders and property owners were looking for a cost effective alternative. The selected material needed to withstand harsh weather – dry heat and rain, and aesthetically have that much loved timber-look.

Futurewood’s EnviroSlat 156mm weatherproof, architectural cladding and 70mm EnviroSlat screening were chosen for stage 2 of construction, while 184mm wide, made to order EnviroSlat boards, provided a sophisticated finish to the project.

In Sydney, it was the low-maintenance feature of Futurewood’s composite weatherproof, architectural cladding that drove architect Greg Neilson to replace the red cedar that was originally selected for the job. Neilson credits the lack of cupping, warping, twisting, cracking and splitting of the weatherproof, architectural cladding as the reason to why he chose it to replace the timber.

Installed vertically, Greg Neilson stated that he was “so impressed with the product, to the extent that [he] is considering using it horizontally on another residential project.”

Overall, the project took 440 calendar days to complete, but the installation of Futurewood’s weatherproof, architectural cladding took only 4 weeks in total. Neilson cited the ease of fixing the weatherproof architectural cladding as another reason behind his selection of the material, acknowledging it as a contributing factor to why it took only 4 weeks to complete the project.

Ultimately, the use of Futurewood composite products in place of timber, demonstrated long-term value for builders, contractors, property owners and architect(s) involved in both projects. In the case of the Sydney property, Futurewood was an economical choice, as the client had requested the property be low-maintenance over the long-term. While in Adelaide, Futurewood’s low-maintenance and cost effective features made it the desirable choice over timber.

For more information about Futurewood’s full range of composite products, including architectural cladding, call 1300 484 308 or email info@futurewood.com.au