Design choices for your home can sometimes be tricky!
We’re here to go through a couple of common decisions and the pros and cons of both to help you decide on the best choice for your particular building project.
Metal or Tile Roof
Choosing a roof material is important as it helps set the look of your house (and protects your home from the elements!). Common roofing materials include Colorbond metal or tiles which are made from clay or concrete.
Here are some pros and cons for both to help when deciding whether metal or tile roofing is more suitable for your home.
Appearance
A metal roof has limited textures but plenty of colours to choose from. The colour can be matched with gutters, windows and garage or shed. It has a simple, modern look and can be used for skillion and low-pitch roof designs, due to being lightweight. It also easily allows for the installation of solar panels.
There are a few textures in tile roofs, mostly in natural colours although clay tiles can be glazed for a larger colour range. Tiles give a classic, steady look for a home.
Insulation
Neither metal or tile roofs have great insulation properties; however, both can be maximised with under roof insulation. Choosing an appropriate colour for your climate can be beneficial also e.g. a light colour in hotter temperatures will reflect heat rather than absorb it. Tiles will tend to absorb this heat and release it slowly which can mean the house stays warmer overnight, increasing energy consumption.
As for sound insulation, tiles tend to be better sound insulators than metal: it is easy to hear the rain on a metal roof, or sometimes creaking when the temperature changes.
Both tile and metal roofs are fire resistant, with metal having an edge in this department.
Durability and Maintenance
Initially, the materials for a metal roof might be more expensive than tiles but the installation tends to be easier. Metal roofs have an approximately 50-year lifespan, subject to dents or cracks (that can be caused by hail or tree branches) that can allow rust to form. It is possible to replace a single sheet of the metal roof, and to gap fill or add flashings to areas of water insecurity. Fading is something that can occur to metal roofs over time.
Tile roofs are cheaper in materials but more expensive in labour and infrastructure as they require stronger framing due to being heavier. If looked after, a tile roof might last 100 years, subject to cracks or shifts that can reduce water security and introduce moss growth. Single or multiple tiles and ridge capping can be replaced for repairs.
Both roofs require cleaning over time but this can usually be done with a pressure cleaner. Tile roofs may require scrubbing to remove moss.
As for sustainability, tiles are made from natural materials that can be recycled if not coated. Their initial production is a more energy intensive process. Metal roofing is energy efficient to manufacture, lightweight for transportation and can be recycled without being reprocessed.
Interior Flooring – Tiles, Vinyl Planks or Carpet
The biggest factor when choosing flooring for your home is considering the room of the house where it is being installed. In kitchens, and primarily bathrooms, a flooring that is very water resistant is the most important factor to consider.
Appearance
Floor tiles have many different colours and textures available. This allows for a range of styles within the home whether it be stone, wood or marble look tiles. They can be matte or shiny and have the option for higher grit for safety in bathrooms or externally.
Most vinyl plank flooring is designed to look like wood-floor panelling. There are often a range of different colour wood-looks that can be matched to the décor within your home – whether it be a dark grey to a light oak.
Carpet comes in many neutral colourings. There are several textures available that add an extra element of interest to your room, such as plush, shag, loop, twist or patterned.
Insulation
The most insulated flooring variety is carpet – it is not prone to becoming, or staying, hot or cold and provides a softer texture underfoot for children or when standing for long periods of time. These features can be exaggerated with the thickness of the underlay to protect from temperature changes in the slab beneath and to increase plushness underfoot. Carpet is also an excellent sound insulator.
Vinyl planks may become hot or cold, especially if on a concrete slab but are overall reasonable insulators. They do provide some reduction in standing fatigue.
Tile flooring is not good for insulating properties but they can be used to benefit. Using tiles in a northern room in winter can allow for absorption of the sun allowing for a slow release of warmth even as night arrives. In the summer, they can provide a cool reprieve if used in an area that doesn’t receive sunlight. Tiles are not great sound insulators either but both their temperature and sound downfalls can be managed by room placement and use of mats, the same as vinyl flooring.
Durability and Maintenance
Because flooring is such a used part of the home, durability is a large consideration.
Tiles are highly durable – resistant to cracking and heat, are rarely worn due to large amounts of foot traffic and, tiles are waterproof. If a single tile does require replacement, it is a larger job to remove this tile without damaging other tiles, and it is worthwhile keeping some of the initial batch of tiles to match colours in case of replacement. Cleaning can be done with vacuuming and water- or steam-mopping and they are highly resistant to stains. Over time, the grout in floor tiles will need specific cleaning. Tiles can last for well over 30 years, especially if the colours are neutral enough to survive design trends.
Vinyl plank flooring can often last for 10+ years. If quality vinyl flooring is used, it shouldn’t warp or fade and there is no grout cleaning required. A single plank of vinyl can be replaced easily if required, as long as some of the same colouring is available. They cannot withstand large amounts of water so dry mopping and location-placement should be considered. Over time, there can be wear due to foot traffic or scratches but stains can usually be cleaned easily with a wipe or mop.
Carpet flooring can last for 10+ years if not used in high traffic areas, as it is prone to wear. Vacuuming carpet keeps it fresh but a proper deep clean often needs to be done with professional equipment. A lot of carpets are made to be water and stain resistant but they can be prone to discoloration and mould if not properly looked after. The factors that make carpet harder to clean also make it a less hypoallergenic product. Carpet is a cheaper product to buy with installation costs being slightly more than vinyl planks but not as much as tiling.
Solar Panels or No Solar Panels
To install solar panels or not is an ever-present question as we continue in a world that can benefit from sustainable choices.
The benefits of using solar power begins with it being a clean and renewable source of energy – it uses the sun, which is almost always available. It is calculated that by using solar power, it saves almost 7000L of fuel (even though some is still required for transport of panels) and saves 7500kg of coal as well as being equivalent to planting around 400 trees per year.
Solar can completely replace your energy bills if going off-grid is the plan but otherwise it can significantly reduce your power bills, especially with the use of a battery. A battery allows for use of stored energy at night or when it is cloudy. If there is no battery, more grid power would be used on cloudy days. Batteries can be beneficial but are an additional expense.
The Australian government often has grants available to reduce the cost of the panels or battery as they are an investment up front. The solar panel system might last up to 20 years but can often take 5-12 years to pay for itself which is more beneficial financially to you if you will be living in the same home for that time. If you do not live there the whole time, solar panels will still often increase the value of your home.
After their lifespan, it is possible to recycle components of the solar panel system but there are costs involved to ensure it is done properly, and that it is available in your area. At the moment, there are a lot not being recycled which means more is added to landfill.
In your own home, there are ways to conserve energy regardless if you have solar panels or not. Having a smaller/more compact home, using proper insulation (including glazing or thermal blinds on windows), being aware of passive home design choices and making smart every-day energy choices can make big differences in energy consumption.
If you plan to have solar panels, make sure there is a large expanse of roof that will be exposed to sun for most of the day, there are no large trees nearby to block light or create debris on the panels (which can be cleaned regularly), and make sure to use as much of your power when the sun is shining to maximise use of solar energy.
High Ceiling or Low Ceiling
Having a high ceiling can create a heightened “wow factor” when entering a home and give a sense of space and luxury to a home. So, is it something you should enjoy in your home or would a standard ceiling be just fine?
Apart from elevating the space, higher ceilings can allow for large feature walls, feature lights, large artwork and, high windows which create enhanced light and style.
High ceilings do make a room harder to heat and cool as well as harder to insulate the roof space depending on the design. These things lead to increased energy consumption. To minimise the energy use, a ceiling fan can assist with the airflow during hot or cold weather – in the summer it has been proven that a ceiling fan works well with a warmer temperature air conditioner to cool the space, and during the winter, a reverse fan can bring the warm air that rises back down. Even without a fan, a high ceiling in summer allows for the hot air to rise keeping the lower air a cooler temperature.
However, low ceilings are definitely more cost effective due to less materials and a standard roof line and ceiling space. They are more energy efficient and can create a cosy feeling to the room. They do not echo like a high ceiling can (although this can be managed with flooring choice) and they keep consistency throughout the home.
Maybe an intermediate decision would be to choose a ceiling that is higher than standard but not as high as some. You can enjoy the benefits of both!
Grass or Gardens
Landscaping a home is an underrated concept. It can be very beneficial to make thoughtful choices which can maximise both the aesthetic and practicality of the materials surrounding your home. Considerations for landscaping can include lawn, gardens, trees or, alternatively, rocks, paving or concrete. Each has its uses if considered carefully.
Lawn can be a great choice for the home. Once established, most lawns need watering once-twice a week dependent on rain and climate. It helps keep an area cool, easily fills a large expanse of yard, keeps the air clean, manages soil erosion and increases sound insulation. Mentally, green grass can increase moods and relaxation. It also allows for physical activity and play areas. Most lawns will need mowing weekly as well as regular weed management and fertilising to keep it at its best health.
The use of gardens or trees in the garden has many similar benefits, from keeping a space cool, cleaning the air, helping the soil and creating a space that is beneficial to the mind. Additionally, plants and trees can help with aesthetic appeal, privacy and by creating a certain presence for the home (e.g. a native garden matched with a passive home creates a very environmentally friendly and aware space). Another benefit of larger plants is that they can direct breezes into or around the home, and create shade especially if used deliberately – like using a large deciduous tree on the northern side of the home (provides shade in summer and allows sunlight into the home in winter). These things reduce energy consumption. Gardens will need regular watering, weeding and pruning and shouldn’t be placed directly against the home to help manage disruptive roots to foundations and water retention in the home’s exterior.
Rocks, paving or concrete can be the lowest maintenance choice near a home. They allow for ease of access, minimal regular upkeep (rocks might need replacing over the years, and pavers will need weed management), and provide useful outside areas for entertaining or vehicles. They can also be handy for high-shade areas where lawn and gardens might struggle to thrive. Hard surfaces do attract and hold heat which can increase the temperature around and within the home.
Each type of landscaping material has its place and a good garden might include a little of all to properly maximise the space.
Bricks or Cladding
The exterior material of your home is the biggest decider of your home’s outward design. Most commonly, either bricks or cladding are used. So, what are the benefits of each of these materials?
Similarly, both brick and cladding are breathable materials meaning they allow moisture to pass through rather than retaining it. They are both poor insulators requiring additional insulation to be installed between them and the internal frames/plasterboard of the home. It is important to note that bricks do have thermal lag which means they hold and slowly release heat which is beneficial in winter but not as much in summer. Both brick and cladding will require pest management to avoid termites and other pests between gaps.
Brick homes are often veneer meaning just one course of bricks. They are very durable against rain, sunlight, winds and fire and require almost no maintenance. They insulate from noise, come in many colour choices and can be rendered or painted if required. Being made from natural materials like clay, they use more energy to create but their long-term durability and ability to recycle (when not rendered or painted) means the initial energy use is outweighed over time. Comparably, their higher initial purchase and installation time and cost is outweighed by their durability.
Cladding is often made from wood, or more commonly, fibre cement (cement, sand, wood pulp, water). It is important they are installed close together for insulation and best protection from rain, fire and pests, as the material itself is resistant to all. Cladding has limited sound insulation but it can be painted in any colour, and comes in a few textures to choose from. Cladding is cheaper to buy and easier to install but does require maintenance for replacement if damaged and re-painting when faded. It is not recyclable once used.
Ultimately, each of these design choices is up to you and what you require for your home. By going through some of the considerations for each of these choices, we hope it makes designing your home an easier process!
