During the construction of a building in coastal or bushfire-prone area, it is important to choose building materials that can withstand the harsh conditions of its surrounding environment. The residential property in Lorne, Victoria offers extraordinary views of the Bass Strait but is positioned off the Lorne Coastline in a bush area and required a high-performing durable facade, while complementing its beautiful location.

The homeowners and builder Howley Construction opted for Deco’s durable, extreme exposure tested timber-look aluminium cladding for this project. The DecoClad ‘V-Groove’ cladding was applied in Weathered Timber around much of the exterior of the residence. The soft wood tones of this finish complemented the surrounding gum trees and ocean views, while giving the building its desired traditional timber-look external facade.

DecoClad is a low-maintenance attractive finish, fulfilling the specifications and offering suitable protection against the environmental elements. Due to the house’s position, it is impacted by salt spray and direct sunlight, and is located in a Bushfire Prone Area. The Super Durable powder-coated finish of DecoClad offered protection against both UV rays and salt spray, having been tested in extreme exposure sites for long periods. Being a solid aluminium cladding it also offered a BAL-40 fire zone rating, eliminating the risk of combustion that standard timber would have posed.

DecoClad’s durability and attractive sublimated timber grain finish meant it was the perfect fit for this project brief.