Chris
It’s not hard to understand why Alfresco living is going through the roof at the moment in Melbourne and far beyond. The word Alfresco originates from Italian, and means ‘in the cool air’ – specifically when dining or entertaining. Melbournians are spending much more time at home these days, inspiring so many among them to take that Alfresco experience home with them – permanently. One of the easiest ways to achieve that Alfresco-at-home experience is by building a verandah or patio, and finishing it off by lining the ceiling to make it an attractive space that you want to spend time in.
In a nutshell, the difference between a verandah or patio and the Alfresco entertainment space of your dreams is often all down to the outdoor ceiling material. These range from fibre sheeting to timber, plaster and other specialised materials designed just for outdoor patio/Alfresco living. But in today’s piece, we’re going to be taking a closer look at some of the considerations you’ll be factoring in for your big decision:
1. The weather
Which way is your Alfresco space facing? That will determine which part of the day will expose it to the most sun and light – a north-facing Alfresco space, for instance, will get bright sun for most of the day. In the West, the brunt of the sun is felt in the afternoon, and south or east will mean the least amount of daytime light.
2. A lot of sun?
If your Alfresco space will cop a lot of daytime light, white might not be the best choice. So how about timber? The darker colour will work a treat for not reflecting so much of that bright Melbourne light and keeping your space nice and cool. For spaces not getting so much light, the lighter coloured options are best for a bright, happy feel. It might be a good idea to factor in some alfresco ceiling fans for a nice breeze in warmer weather.
3. The roof design
When it comes to those colour choices, the roof design and style will also be important to consider. For instance, flat roofs come to a lovely, bright life in combination with a lighter, natural Alfresco timber ceiling, while darker will be best for pitched or gabled roof designs.
4. Too much timber?
Ok, we’ll admit it – we just love an Alfresco timber ceiling! In fact, we think it’s perhaps the premium outdoor ceiling material, for a range of reasons including weather resistance, heat conduction, electrical safety, acoustic benefits – and it simply looks great.
But wait … there’s more! Timber is:
- The perfect insulator for storing both hot and colder temperatures
- Almost no maintenance whatsoever after timber Alfresco ceiling panels or slatts are installed
- Natural resistance to moisture, decay and even termites
- The natural grain, colour and ambience of timber are, quite simply, beautiful
- Timber is quite possibly the most ecologically raw material known to man
- Perfect not just for the look and the insulating qualities, timber is also one of the best natural soundproofing materials – which is ideal for creating the perfect acoustic experience for your open, outdoor space or entertainment area.
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