Low Maintenance
To some degree, all homes require a level of maintenance in order for them to continue to look as good as the day they were built, but some houses require more than others. From design features that reduce the effect of our unpredictable British climate to materials that are developed specifically to be maintenance free, ensuring your new home will stand the test of time is key to your overall enjoyment of the building.
Design ConsiDerations
For your home to be truly low maintenance, there are certain features that need to be planned in from the outset.
“Maintenance is always an interesting subject matter for clients building their own homes — it’s always on their brief,” says architect Darren Bray of PAD Studio. “However, it does require some more time, thought and ultimately budget.”
For your new home to hold on to its ‘just built’ look over time, it is crucial that its design takes location into account. Houses built on sites that are in cold, wet areas of the country or are
Cladding not only plays a sizable role in forming the overall aesthetics of your home, but also acts as a protective covering for what lies beneath.
Those materials which weather beautifully themselves, without human intervention, are likely to be those that require the least maintenance — certain timbers, metals such as copper, and handmade clay tiles are all examples of materials which can actually improve when left well alone.
Timber cladding is hugely popular, but species vary in their longevity and upkeep requirements. While resistance to rot is important, so too is dimensional stability — some timbers are more likely to move, twist, warp or curl than others. Good choices include western red cedar, Siberian larch and hardwoods such as sweet chestnut. All of these timbers are suitable for use externally without the need for a preservative treatment and have service lives of between around 40-60 years. Oak is another option but tends to be more prone to movement than some other hardwoods. This can be overcome by having the oak kiln-dried to achieve a moisture content of 15-20%.
Any timber cladding that is painted or stained will require regular upkeep in order to maintain a smart appearance. Be prepared for untreated timber to change in appearance over time — for many people this only adds to its appeal, but if you are hoping for a look that remains unchanged over the years then untreated timber will not be for you. The rate at which weathering occurs will depend on the amount of sunshine and moisture the cladding is exposed to, meaning that certain areas of a new house can look a different colour from others — even years on.
For houses where only a small area has been clad, this might not be an issue, but on homes that are fully clad in timber or that feature architectural details such as roof overhangs, using a weathering accelerator treatment, such as Sioo, is a good way to avoid this patchy look and ensure even weathering. These treatments replicate the natural aging process, giving an almost instant silver/grey look, and provide protection in the form of an invisible barrier from algae, mould and rot. They also produce an easy-towipe surface and only need to be applied once.
“We generally don’t add any kind of paint or finish to external timber, as this just becomes an ongoing maintenance issue,” explains architect Darren Bray. “We either leave the timber to weather and go silver/grey over time or perhaps use a burnt timber, such as Japanese Shou Sugi Ban — for a really lovely dark burnished finish.”