COLORBOND® steel - The Builders Choice

Location:	Blairgowrie, Mornington Peninsula, Victoria
Country:	Australia
Client:	Paul Mangan
Architect:	Building Designer: Ray Watts RL Watts Design Pty Ltd
Builder:	Paul Mangan Mangan Builders 0409 798 866
Products Used:	COLORBOND® steel

Dynamic Victorian duo, building designer Ray Watts of RL Watts Design Pty Ltd and home builder Paul Mangan of Mangan Builders have teamed together to design and build the Mangan's family home in Blairgowrie on the Mornington Peninsula with extensive use of COLORBOND® steel in its contemporary design.

The Mangan's were seeking a residence that was modern in design, yet still complementary to the surrounding environment in line with the building style of the area. COLORBOND® steel is featured prominently in architecture around sections of the Victorian Mornington Peninsula region due to the risk of termites, bushfires and extreme weather conditions.

"We recognised the fire and termite risk associated with the bushland environment and as such were determined to reduce the risk as much as possible by including COLORBOND® steel into the design," says Mangan.

According to building designer, Ray Watts, COLORBOND® steel was the obvious choice.

"In times of fire steel does not ignite or burn. It is also 100% termite proof and allergy free and stands up very well in harsher weather."

Watts goes on to say that "in complying with the builders design requests, as well as meeting the planning controls set out because of the location of the home, the walls, roofing, plinths and guttering were made from COLORBOND® steel."

Approximately 50% of the external walls and the majority of the plinth were clad in the COLORBOND® steel secondary colour of Stone complete with matching guttering. Watts comments that "COLORBOND® steel was selected to provide colour, texture and pattern while highlighting the blend of external cladding materials."

COLORBOND® steel in Windspray® was also used as the roofing material because of its design flexibility and appearance. "We were able to design the roof in a 'butterfly' style using corrugated COLORBOND® steel for the skillion sections and decking made from COLORBOND® steel in the flat sections" says Watts.

With a focus on sustainability, the house has been designed using many passive solar design principles. The orientation of the building was taken into consideration and it was located to allow existing trees to be retained, to provide shade and to allow it to fit comfortably within its unique environment.

The house was also built with north facing double glazed windows that allow the retention of warmth in winter with winter sun penetration. A verandah made from COLORBOND® steel was also built to protect the house from the summer sun, providing a year round entertaining space. Roofing and walling made from COLORBOND® steel also provides thermal efficiency and therefore ongoing comfort and cost savings.

Watts comments that "the client brief called for modern, lightweight materials and fast construction. As a designer, I find that products made from COLORBOND® steel promote flexible modern building design while providing efficiency and ease of construction on site."

COLORBOND® steel is also popular on building sites as it provides many efficiencies for builders. Mangan comments that "COLORBOND® steel is a lightweight product which is easy to handle and saves time and effort on site. This means construction runs smoothly and on time."

He goes on to comment that "the product gets delivered to the site in specific quantities, which helps us to eliminate wastage and any that we do have left over is 100% recyclable."

COLORBOND® steel is also available in long lengths to cover large areas quickly and easily and is simple to fix with fastenings supplied in matching colours.

Ray Watts is a member of the Building Designers Association of Victoria and both Ray and Paul Mangan are registered building practitioners and members of the Housing Industry of Australia.