DURABILITY WITH STYLE

Easy-care weatherproof cladding became the saving grace for this high-end commercial development in Adelaide.

Although timber has a reputation as a beautiful and reliable material, within 18 months of completing Stage One of Adelaide’s Ergo Apartment complex, timber once again revealed its major flaw – ongoing maintenance.

Developed by Hindmarsh Development for Adelaide City Council, Ergo Apartments is a high-quality residential tower situated around landscaped spaces, with a multi-purpose community building at its heart. Created to house a growing urban population in the inner city region of Adelaide, Ergo Apartments boats a 7-star NATHERS energy rating and a host of state-of-the-art features.

With such an important project threatened by inferior materials, the architects and builders got together to review the materials specified for Stage Two of the project. It soon became clear that Futurewood’s EnviroSlat weatherproof wood plastic composite cladding was the best choice to replace the timber used on the balconies completed in Stage One and complete Stage Two.

“On-going maintenance, expensive oiling or staining and the practicality of unending upkeep are factors often considered too late in the construction process, leaving unsatisfied owners to deal with the burden of maintaining property with high upkeep demands and costs,” says David Elms, Directorof Futurewood.

“With the first stage of construction complete, all parties involved in the Ergo Apartments project were looking for a more cost effective alternative to timber,” adds David. “They needed a material that fared well in harsh weather, was easy to maintain, and was as aesthetically pleasing as the timber it was replacing.”

Futurewood’s EnviroSlat 156mm weatherproof cladding and 70mm EnviroSlat screening were used the refit Stage One. In addition to the EnviroSlat 156mm weatherproof cladding, Stage Two of the project also utilised made-to order 184mm-wide EnviroSlat boards to complemented the cladding and provide a stunning finish along the balcony edges. EnviroSlat 70mm screening was also used extensively around the property, in conjunction with half-height masonry walls, offering a secure feature fence.

The completion of the second stage of construction on the Ergo Apartments with Futurewood EnvironSlat materials clearly demonstrated how reliable wood plastic composite alternatives can be. Not only did the finished project radiate warmth and style, but the use of these materials will save the owners tens of thousands of dollars over the life of the property.

CONTACT
Futurewood
P 1300 484 308
E info@futurewood.com.au
W www.futurewood.com.au

PROJECT PARTICULARS
Project Ergo Apartments
Client Hindmarsh Developers
Supply & Installation Futurewood