CUSTOM HOME DESIGN FOR OUR COASTAL LIFESTYLE
by Dwell Building Services | August 2020 | Custom Home Design
The real estate market in the Tweed Shire doesn’t seem to slow down for anyone. Interestingly, there have been a lot of vacant land sales in the area in the past few years which brings me to my point - designing your custom home with coastal environmental factors in mind.
Here at Dwell Building Services, we love interesting yet functional buildings that make sense in their location – and one big thing that gets picked up on all seaside pest and building inspections, even on nearly new houses is RUST! In fact ocean spray carries further inland than you’d believe, with houses in Tweed South and Bilambil Heights affected by it!
It’s a built-in problem near salt water and there are a few things you can do in the design phase of building to minimise this on-going problem:
Use as many non-rusting materials as possible to the exterior – light fixtures, awnings, posts etc – try for alternatives like timber and plastic
Hex-head screw fixings on your roof exterior should be thoroughly treated to prolong their life
If you have chosen metal fixtures and fittings they should be washed down with fresh water regularly. If you have a particular look in mind and can’t get away from metal, be prepared to treat or replace as needed
Use the natural breezes of the coast to cool your property by way of window positioning to create cross drafts - air conditioning should be a last resort
For more information about building creative custom homes, call Jason Dodds, Master Builder at Dwell Building Services on 0424741618.
