Article: Future-Proof Building
Outdoor Living
Spring has come and gone. Our gardens are thriving in the warmer weather. It’s time to get out of the house and enjoy time with friends and family in the great outdoors - or at least our own backyards!
One of the best things about New Zealand is our temperate climate. Indoor-outdoor flow has become a must-have for modern kiwi homes. Read on for ideas on how to improve or create the ideal outdoor living area for your home.
Thanks to our temperate climate and informal lifestyle, kiwi living spaces these days are expanding beyond the four walls of the home itself.
Most of us enjoy spending time outside, particularly at this time of year. Summer is the season for outdoor entertaining and to do it right, you need the right setting.
Of The Earth
One of the most natural building materials around, clay retains the natural colours of the earth. Strong, durable and attractive, clay pavers are a great choice for creating unique, enduring outdoor environments today – whether it’s a pool surround, a sweeping driveway, or a simple pathway to the clothesline.
Monier Pavers offer a wide variety of colours and subtleties of tone that are found only in nature. One small enhancement is added to the earth used for the pavers’ manufacture: an exclusive sealant called ‘Paveguard™’.
Food spills, wine or oil - Paveguard™ prevents all of it from penetrating the surface, ensuring every paver retains its true colour*. Paveguard™ is also impervious to water and substantially reduces moss and fungus growth.
* some pavers excluded
Rise Above It All
A good deck has become a bit of a kiwi icon over the years. Installing decking level with our interior floors can really create a sense of the home extending into the outdoors. It can define outdoor ‘rooms’ or separate areas. It can also eliminate divisions, bridging the gap between elevated living areas and lower backyards.
Hardwood decking is resilient, but hardwoods are slow growing and therefore expensive and difficult to farm sustainably. Although softer, pine is a sound and much more sustainable alternative for new timber decking, home grown in well-managed forests. Pinex has been designed to blend into any style of backyard or home and is available, along with a wealth of building know-how, from Carters.
Wood Alternatives
A new alternative to traditional hardwood timber is composite decking. PERMADECK™ Composite Decking is the most natural alternative decking product on the market. It looks and feels like timber and is unmatched in quality and durability by other composites.
PERMADECK™ is made from a mixture of recycled polymers and wood fibres, creating a composite that is truly sustainable and environmentally friendly with no compromise on quality or durability.
Just like wood, it can be sawn, drilled, sanded and planed using normal woodworking tools. It will not rot, warp, twist or splinter, and is colour fast and easy to install using a concealed clip system. PERMADECK™ is available in three profiles and a range of colours.
Deck Dress
Is your deck likely to embarrass you at your next barbeque? All is not lost. Tired, weathered timber decks can be quickly rejuvenated with new Resene Woodsman Decking Stain, a waterborne, modified oil-based stain developed especially for new and weathered decking. Decorators will enjoy the quick, easy water clean-up and absence of fumes associated with traditional solvent borne stains.
Before getting started on your refurbishment, make sure your deck is properly prepared with new Resene Timber and Deck Wash. Especially formulated for new and weathered timber, this product is recommended prior to all exterior painting and staining projects. Order it online or get it from Resene ColorShops, who can offer plenty of advice and information to get you started, including their “Decks, paths, driveways and recreational areas collection” brochure.
Get A Grip
With a short shower or errant splash, swimming pool surrounds, decked areas and steps can become dangerous. Keep your family safe with Resene Non-Skid Deck and Path.
Available from Resene ColorShops, Resene Non-Skid Deck and Path provides a comfortable walking surface for both interior and exterior use and can be tinted to suit your decor. The finish has a comfortable grit texture to give feet and shoes something to grip onto, reducing the risk of accident no matter what the weather.
Not Just Furniture, It’s A Feature
No room for a pool or spa but want to add a touch of luxury to your outdoor living area? Consider a freestanding bath this summer as a high end alternative to patio furniture.
Victoria & Albert’s limestone-rich QUARRYCAST® range of outdoor baths are proving popular for outdoor use as great sun deck feature. Available from Robertson, each comes with a 25-year manufacturer-backed warranty. Helped by the special insulation properties of QUARRYCAST®, a Victoria & Albert bath is a highly enjoyable sculptural feature in the garden, terrace or balcony.
