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MATERIALS WE USE:With so many different building materials on the market, selecting the right ones to incorporate within your outdoor project can be difficult. Below we have put together a detailed list of our preferred building products: |
Below is a range of our preferred outdoor materials:
Stone paving is a great way to add beautiful, low maintenance living space to your outdoor setting. A well paved area will bring long term value to any outdoor area, and require very little maintenance other than periodic cleaning and sweeping.
Our most popular paving products are sandstone and bluestone. Indian sandstone is among the finest and most beautiful stones available, and is our most popular sandstone. Here is some information on both sandstone and bluestone:
Sandstone:
Sandstone is formed as sand or quartz is compressed and cemented with minerals such as silica, clay or lime over thousands of years.
Colours vary greatly depending on the materials integrated within the cementing process: ferruginous sandstone is red to brown, argillaceous sandstone is earthy to buff and generally white.
The two finishes of sandstone we use are honed and natural split. Honed sandstone is stone machined to a smooth, fine finish, while natural split sandstone is stone split into layers giving it an uneven or rustic finish.
Bluestone:
Bluestone (Basalt) is the most common type of solidified lava: a dense, fine-grained grey igneous rock that is characteristically dark in colour. It contains 45 to 54 percent silica, and is generally rich in both iron and magnesium.
Bluestone is a hard stone which is highly resistant to erosion and therefore suitable for high traffic areas, however, it is difficult to cut and shape and is also quite porous and will transfer water through its surface
All stone should be professionally sealed 2–3 weeks after installation, this will greatly reduce the difficulty in removing stains caused by red wine and coffee spills, etc. This is especially important around salt water pools, as salt water can degrate stone over time.
What type of stone should I use?
When selecting a paving stone, it is important to consider the colour characteristics of each product, light stone tends to stay cooler in warmer months, but can be glary on bright days. Dark stone does not deflect light as effectively, but can become very hot under foot on summer days, and has more of a tendency to expand and contract when compared to lighter stone.
What are the fundamentals when installing pavers?
Installing stone pavers involves a great degree of care and preparation in order to achieve great results. Elements such as drainage, expansion and levelling must be thoroughly assessed and incorporated in every paving project. Poorly laid stone can puddle, causing unsightly algae or mould patches; and pavers laid using incorrect quantities of sand and cement can lift away from the concrete base on which they are laid. This can also occur with incorrectly mixed grout which can degrade over time.
Is it acceptable to lay stone on sand?
We choose not to lay stone on sand or compressed road base in any circumstance. Instead, we only lay pavers on a reinforced concrete slab for the following reasons:
- Tree roots can move, crack and unsettle pavers laid on sand/road base
- Over time, moss and weeds can grow in between pavers laid on sand/road base, spoiling their appearance, requiring constant, (otherwise unnecessary) maintenance
Do different lots of stone vary in colour?
As stone is a natural product, each batch varies in colour, so it is important to ensure stone from the same batch is used for each project.
Does my paved area need to be sealed?
According to the Australian standards and tolerances (AS3727), all concrete should have expansion joins at 6 metre squared intervals. This allows controlled cracking due to movement and expansion/contraction of concrete and pavers. These expansion joints are not aesthetically pleasing, but they are necessary to avoid random cracking along grout lines. Should expansion joints be excluded from your paving project, there is a risk of cracking, which will depend on a number of factors, including earth movement and paver colour.
All stone should be professionally sealed 2–3 weeks after installation, this will greatly reduce the difficulty in removing stains caused by red wine and coffee spills ***************etc*************. This is especially important around salt water pools, as salt water can degrade stone over time.
Professional sealing involves pressure washing finished paving using specialised equipment designed to evenly remove cement and dirt residue left on pavers during the laying process. Once thoroughly cleaned, the stone is coated with 2 applications of transparent penetrating sealant, which lasts for up to 4 years, depending on weather conditions.
Caution is advised when using high pressure domestic pressure washers, as they can have a concentrated sand blasting effect, leaving channels within the stone, promoting mould and algae growth, especially in areas with minimal drainage. This is why we only use professional contractors to seal all of our finished projects.
Spotted Gum (Coryumbia citrodra):
Spotted gum is a native Australian hardwood which is noted as being one of the hardest timbers in the world. It has a durability class 2 and is resistant to termites and decay. Its colour ranges from light brown to dark red brown with some reds and greys in between. It is currently sourced from state regrowth forests on state and private land and in the coming years will be available from plantation forests. Decking boards come in three sizes 65 by 19mm, 89 by 19mm and 136 by 19mm. Other applications for spotted gum are beams and rafters, handrails and other structural members.
Fijian Mahogany (Swietenia macrophylla)
Renewable plantation timber:
Fijian Mahogany is a renewable plantation hardwood, and is a durability class 2 timber. It is a lovely pinkish salmon colour and its texture can be fine to course. Fijian mahogany is one of the most environmentally friendly timbers available but is susceptible to termite and borer attack if not properly treated. Decking boards are available in 140mm by 32mm.
Blackbutt (Eucalyptus PILULARIS) Renewable plantation timber:
Blackbutt is one of the most common species of hardwood commercially available from the coastal forests of New South Wales. It grows in the coastal forests of NSW from Bega on the south coast up to Maryborough in Queensland. It is a tall tree, up to 75 metres in height.
Plantation blackbutt is a light brown to yellow colour and is even-grained, the colour being very consistent in comparison to other Australian hardwoods. Blackbutt is a medium durability timber.
Cypress Pine - White Cypress (Callistris columellaris or callitris glauca) Renewable plantation timber:
White cypress pine is a indigenous Australian softwood which has a very low shrinkage rate and is naturally resistant to termites and borer. It is a honey yellow colour,incorporating brownish wavy patterns and knots. It is is a high density timber which possesses a hardness exceeding that of most Oak species and has a durability class 1 which is greater than most hardwoods. Cypress pine is obtained from managed native Australian forests and can be used for applications such as decking, veranda beams, posts and rafters. Cypress pine Decking is available in 90 by 22mm boards.
Silvertop Ash (Eucalyptus SIEBERI):
Silvertop Ash Is a very hard, moderately durable timber which is found mainly in eastern Victoria between the Great Dividing Range and the sea, and on the south coast of NSW.
Its appearance is pale brown, sometimes pinkish with interlocking Grain. Some sections of Silvertop Ash have small amounts of visible gum veins and “pin-hole borer” marks.
Kwila (Merbau):
Merbau is a resinous tropical hardwood specifically forested in Malaysia, Indonesia and the Solomon islands of the south pacific . Merbau harvesting is poorly regulated in these areas, and therefore it is not deemed a "sustainable" timber. Merbau is a deep red colour and is rated at durability class 2: it is termite and borer resistant and quite stable in terms of shrinkage. It comes in 3 decking board sizes 70mm, 90mm and 140mm. While Merbau has a tendency to bleed or “weep” when first in contact with water, this does subside over time.
Yellow StringybarK (Eucalyptus muellerana)
Yellow Stringybark is a stable, highly durable (class 2) Australian native which grows on coastal plains in South Eastern Australia (New South Wales), and in Eastern Victoria.
It takes well to being stained, which can change its appearance from a light pink colour to a dark brown colour with many shades in between. Its finished appearance incorporates some visible gum veins and “pin-hole borer” marks.
PRE PRIMED PINE (PINUS RADIATA) Renewable plantation timber:
Pre-primed pine is made by finger joining small pieces of Radiata pine to make long uniform lengths which are then treated and primed. The finished product is smooth and aesthetically appealing with the convenience of being pre primed thereby requiring less painting. Design pine can be used in many above ground applications such as rafters, posts, fences and balustrades.
River Red Gum (Eucalyptus camaldulensis dehnh):
Red river gum is the most widespread Eucalypt in Australia, it is a reddish orange colour and has a an interlocking grain. It is termite and decay resistant and is rated at class 2 durability. Red river gum is available in 70mm by 19mm and 90mm by 19mm decking boards.
Treated Pine (Pinus radiata) Renewable plantation timber:
Treated pine is a renewable plantation softwood which is used in a variety of applications throughout the Australian construction industry. Its applications range from house framing to deckings, pergolas fences and many other outdoor structures. Treated pine is suitable for in ground applications (when rated at H4 and above) and is resistant to termites, borer and decay. Due to the use of chemicals used in the treating process (namely Copper Chrome Arsenate) we recommend that all treated pine which can be accessed by young children be painted or sealed as a precautionary measure.
POLYCARBONATE ROOFING: A high durability roofing material which comes in a range of styles and colours and is ideal for structures where where the goal to block out rain and glare while retaining natural light.
ColoUrbond Roofing Products:
Colourbond products are a range of steel pre-painted roofing products whose applications range from guttering and down pipes, to sheet roofing and wall cladding.