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| American Homes |
| Will this imported style of construction mean the end of brick veneer? |
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Two young Americans are showing Australians a new way to cut building costs by as much as half. Lifestyle Homes, recently established in Australia, are encouraging home owners to build homes with OSB, a type of ply made from strands of wood, similar to laminated plywood.
Plywood is used creatively in many ways; such as exterior cladding, decorative flooring, interior wall and ceiling linings, and as a lightweight roofing material. Brick is not used as an essential building product in the United States. There, many homes are sheathed with plywood for strength and insulation. Any exterior cladding can then be chosen, from rock veneer to stucco.
The rendered home look is increasingly becoming more popular and according to Josh Colledge, director of Lifestyle Homes, the stucco wall system cuts the cost by about 40% by eliminating the use of bricks. Their houses are quite different, in that they are fully sheathed with OSB, which strengthens the entire house, eliminating sagging and cracking.
About OSB
OSB stands for Oriented Strand Board. It is used in American home I-Joists and is manufactured out of high density structural composite materials with excellent moisture resistant properties. These include Aspen, poplar and other northern hardwoods harvested from naturally regenerated self-sustaining forests.
OSB is not particleboard, flakeboard, chipboard or any number of products that it is sometimes mistaken for. It is an engineered structural wood panel composed of timber strands arranged in layers at right angles to one another. As a result, OSB possesses the strength and stiffness properties that result from cross-laminated layers.
OSB is also used extensively in the USA for subfloor under-layment and roof and wall sheathing. It is an excellent substitute for plywood and currently has significant market share in the USA construction market.
Lifestyle Homes' Exterior Products
Harristone:
Lifestyle Homes' rock veneer product, Harristone, is manufactured in Utah, USA and is extremely lightweight. It is made from cement, light-weight aggregate and mineral oxide. It can be applied directly over masonry, ply, or OSB and unlike natural stone it doesn't need to be wire tied to the wall because it is so light in weight. It only has to be cemented into place and is less expensive and much easier to work with than natural stone. Some reasons why the manufacturers recommend you use Harristone as opposed to real rock:
1
The look of heavy rock in a veneer can be obtained, along with colours and textures for any décor.
2
It does not require a brick ledge or reinforcing walls or floors.
3
The exact amount required can be ordered.
4
It can be installed faster and cheaper, and you can even do it yourself.
5
It is guaranteed not to fade for 25 years.
Stucco:
Stucco wall systems tend to be expensive. In the States, it has been popular for a long time, and as a result of this, costs are lower and product quality is higher. The three wall systems that are widely used are:
1
Three-coat stucco:
Three-coat Portland cement stucco is the traditional system. It is a proven building material that is very versatile. The system consists of two base coats, covered with a coloured finish coat. The finish coat can be a cement or acrylic-based product. A three-coat stucco system is best when fire resistance and durability are required.
2
FRS-thin coat:
Thincoat or fibre reinforced stucco systems are a recent development. They are used in many types of construction over a wide variety of sheathings and substrates. They consist of a grey base coat with coloured cement stucco or acrylic-based finish coat. The thincoat system is less labour intensive since only one layer of base coat is required.
3
IFS-exterior insulation and finish systems:
EIFS can be highly detailed and is crack resistant. These systems are now available with modifications that allow them to drain in case water penetrates the system. It consists of foam sheathing covered by a base coat embedded with fibreglass mesh and an acrylic finish coat. Crown Seal, a breathable water repellent, can be applied over the stucco finish to help keep the surface clean, minimise staining and reduce water damage.
Lifestyle Homes Interior Products include:
Double-glazed windows:
All of the windows in the display homes are PVC cased and double-glazed. The PVC resists scratches, fading, peeling, chipping and denting. The double-glazing acts as insulation and reduces noise. The installation costs are also lower.
Rounded corners:
Rounded plasterboard corners are used, which gives a softer look, while reducing the chipping of paint when vacuum cords are pulled around the house. Rounded corners are ideal for children as a safety feature.
Flat pack kitchen cupboards:
The kitchen cupboards and cabinets come flat packed and are easy to assemble. They are about half the cost of cabinets in Australia and according to Lifestyle Homes, they are extremely high quality.
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More Info
Lifestyle Homes are based at Englorie Park, Sydney. For more information about their homes, contact Josh Colledge, Ph: (02) 4620 4477 or Fax: (02) 4628 9252.
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Disclaimer
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