Pro Installer September 2017 - Issue 54 | Page 39

Timber vs PVCu
SEPTEMBER 2017 | 39

Timber vs PVCu

ARCHITECTS FAVOUR NORWEGIAN TECH TIMBER

The patented Kebony technology- developed in Norway- permanently enhances the properties of sustainable softwood with a bio-based liquid derived from agricultural crop waste.
The environmentally friendly process polymerises the wood’ s cell walls so it gains greatly improved durability and dimensional stability- giving it characteristics similar to those of tropical hardwood. Over its prolonged lifecycle, Kebony gradually develops a beautiful silver-grey patina without affecting the wood’ s durability and dimensional stability.
It has recently been used in a number of projects. These include a ground floor flat in South London
owned by architects David Stanley and Romy Grabosch. They added a striking timber-clad extension to their dream home. Charred Kebony cladding by Shou Sugi Ban was chosen to provide a long-lasting and attractive timber
finish for both the rear and side extension.
This carefully planned extension caters for the needs of a growing family, when the continued rise of London house prices makes moving less appealing.
Kebony was also used recently in a roof terrace for an impressive Ibiza villa. The timber was installed
by Mario Rodriguez and his team at Yvyra using the innovative Exterpark Magnet patented decking system- 100 % accessible wood deck along with invisible profile for the terrace.
The invisible profile and natural aesthetic of Kebony timber created a smooth, contemporary finish without screws on the surface or gaps between the boards. The system also improves the practicality and safety of the terrace, preventing high heels, food and valuables from slipping through the gaps.
Exterpark Magnet decking was developed by Yvyra in 2014. It makes it possible to remove and put back any single board with a one-handed tool. Boards are clipped in and out with great ease and rapidity, decreasing installation time and improving product features such as accessibility, functionality and longevity.
The system features special grooves on the underside of the
decking boards that slot onto magnet clips mounted on aluminium joists. There are spacers between boards to allow for expansion and drainage, and blocking units prevent movement keeping the boards in the same place.
This pioneering system is a straightforward technique, which meant it took just three weeks to install the deck of this beautiful private villa and, thanks to low-maintenance Kebony wood, the deck will not require any additional treatment beyond normal cleaning. The sustainable timber is highly resistant to extreme climates, and therefore a fitting choice for the exposed location of the terrace beside the sea.
Projects in Norway using Kebony have included the façade of a family cabin on the island of Hvasser, a private terrace on Malmǿya island, close to Oslo, and an architect’ s self-build project on the outskirts of Bergen.

TREES IN THE SKY

The future of timber looks assured – if the latest worldwide architectural trend of‘ vertical foresting’ takes off.
The first‘ vertical forest’ was built by Boeri Studio in
Milan in 2014, when Italian architect Stefano Boeri came up with the idea of giving back to nature the space we are taking from it with continuous urban sprawl. He conceived‘ Bosco Verticale’ as a prototype of the skyscrapers of the future.
Now, a master plan by Stefano Boeri for a new green city that fights air pollution is under construction in China. The Liuzhou Forest City commissioned by Liuzhou Municipality Urban Planning is due to be completed by 2020.
The city- in the southern part of China in the mountain area of Guangxi- will be home to 30,000 people, absorb almost 10,000 tons of C02 and 57 tons of pollutants per year and produce approximately 900 tons of oxygen. It will have 40,000 trees and almost one million plants of over 100 species.

TIMBER YOU CAN TRUST

The Timber Trade Federation( TTF) has invited councils, business and other professionals who work with the timber industry to sign up to its‘ Timber you can Trust’ campaign, highlighting the need to source timber responsibly.
As councils across the UK commit to build new homes in increasing numbers, the need for sustainably sourced construction materials has also grown.
The TTF wants to partner with local authorities to ensure that high standards of responsible sourcing are maintained in local government and in procurement policies across the private sector.
Launching the campaign, David Hopkins, TTF’ s managing director, said:“ I’ m excited to be working with local government to increase awareness about the importance of responsible timber sourcing, the good management of forests, and the sustainability of the whole timber supply chain.
“ Timber is the world’ s leading renewable, low carbon construction material. Responsible procurement is at the heart of a low-carbon future.
“ We’ re now asking all those who share TTF’ s commitment to high standards and who value the benefits of timber to sign up to our Timber Procurement Pledge and buy only‘ Timber You Can Trust’.”
All TTF members are required to commit to the TTF’ s Responsible Purchasing Policy( RPP) – an audited due diligence system to ensure that only legal and sustainably sourced timber enters the UK market. Because of these strict rules, the UK has one of the best environmental records on timber procurement across the world.