As for your home, here's the bad news: there isn't a material that doesn't require maintenance.
The good news is that there are sufficient low-maintenance materials available that can improve both the appearance and value of your home and prevent a variety of trivial odd jobs from consuming all your spare time.
For many, a face-brick house with aluminium-frame windows is the ideal solution to the maintenance problem. However, be warned: building materials react differently under different circumstances. Your face-brick house may be the answer on the Highveld but a lot of moisture and a high acidic content in the air – for example along the coast – can carve the cement away within a couple of seasons.
Another important factor is the nature of each material, as well as the way in which the different materials are combined to create a whole, says Johande Morkel, lecturer in architecture at the Cape Peninsula University of Technology.
The beauty and value of some materials lies in the very fact that they change over time. A good example of this is copper: it naturally becomes tarnished and turns a distinctive colour – whether used at the front door or as a roof covering. Steel is also often left untreated so that it can rust and wear over time. It can look especially striking in combination with concrete – the latter can have either a smooth finish, or the patterns of the casing can still be clearly visible.
Natural products are gradually increasing their market share. This alternative is usually just as good as the chemical option and much more eco-friendly. Moreover, many of these products have been designed in such a way that a bit of wear adds to their aesthetic qualities rather than appearing to be bad workmanship.
If you are going to start building a house from scratch, it is advisable to limit the number of materials you use, since each one requires its own particular type of care.
Outside
1 The colour of concrete roof tiles is mixed into the product, while asbestos tiles are painted. The latter will therefore fade and might possibly peel, leading to a maintenance headache.
2 As far as the walls of your house are concerned – inside as well as outside – face brick or stone is definitely the material that requires the least maintenance, is very strong and does not wear significantly in one lifetime.
3 Consider painting the bottom half of your walls with a darker shade of paint so that mud splashes (outside) and marks from small hands (inside) will be less noticeable. A finish with a rougher texture is another option to consider for outside.
4 Paint in natural colours fades less noticeably than paint in bright tints.
5 A chore you cannot avoid is to clean the gutters regularly. Blocked gutters can eventually result in many other problems, such as a leak in the roof, which can lead to a ceiling that needs to be replaced. Purpose-made mesh panels that fit into gutters also help to keep out unnecessary mess...
6 ...but why put your patience to the test at all? In some municipal areas you may omit gutters completely – just ensure that the design of the roof makes allowance for this and that the eaves are wide enough. Gutters can also be built cleverly into walls and pillars, which means that, if used in combination with the mesh panels, gutter maintenance will be a thing of the past.
7 Wooden window frames and sashes need not be a potential maintenance nightmare. Take proper care of them from the beginning and the chances are significantly reduced that you will ever need to replace them.
8 Specially prepared wooden planks or – for an even longer life – fibre-cement panels – can be used as exterior finishes. These look like wooden planks and are simply attached to the wall (there are various methods: the manufacturer can assist with specifications). You need only paint them every once in a while. They are durable and have been used for a long time in America where wooden houses are common.
9 Aluminium is second to none as far as shutters are concerned. Shutters not only offer privacy and require little maintenance but are also a clever and efficient way to keep burglars out.
Outside
10 Indoor shutters make curtains completely superfluous. The different materials and styles in which they are currently available create a chic appearance and, instead of washing and ironing, you can quickly wipe them down with a wet cloth when necessary.
11 Be careful when you choose a material or finish purely for its appearance. Ceramic tiles often have a glaze finish that makes them resistant to a variety of spills and accidents. However, this layer can wear away, which means that your floor will then become damaged more easily. The composition of porcelain tiles, on the other hand, is consistent throughout and they will therefore remain beautiful and cause hardly any trouble at all for much longer.
12 Consider incorporating built-in furniture on your verandah, in the living area or even as a breakfast nook in the kitchen. Loose cushions require less maintenance than furniture made of wood, leather and cane, which has to be treated regularly.
13 Cupboards into which you can pack loose items are also an easy way to make a space look neat very quickly. An office or needlework corner with doors that you can close saves you the trouble of having to keep it neat – as long as you are always able to find what you need.
14 Water-resistant paint or wallpaper can be used on the bathroom and kitchen walls. Limit the use of tiles to around the bath and washbasin, as the grouting can collect dirt or even fall out.
15 Ever noticed how bugs and insects choose lampshades as their last resting place? Downlights force them to find somewhere else to die. What's more, this is also a good way to avoid having to regularly clean dusty lampshades, or having to replace a shade when it becomes worn or damaged. Make clever use of floor lamps to create atmosphere.
16 Although nothing can beat an anthracite heater when it comes to creating atmosphere, it entails a lot of work, as opposed to a gas or electrical model.
Floors
17 When it comes to wooden floors, you have four options. Each presents its own pros and cons, so choose wisely:
Solid wood: This is the most expensive and most durable choice but you need to be aware that some types of wood are stronger than others and are therefore more suitable as a finish. Solid wood must be treated with either a special ultraviolet-resistant oil or a durable varnish. When a solid wooden floors starts to show its age it can be sanded.
Plywood:This is increasingly being used for floors. A plywood layer of about 4mm is installed and it can be sanded two to four times before it's time for a new floor.
Laminated wood: A thin layer (less than 1mm thick) of solid wood is installed on top of compressed wood. This is a cheaper option but cannot be sanded once it has been damaged.
Bamboo: Bamboo flooring consists of a solid bamboo composite that is extremely hardwearing. This material is also a renewable resource and therefore falls under the eco-friendly banner. These floors will wear naturally over time, adding to their character. They can be sanded as they are 22mm thick.
18 Consider finishing off your screed with a thin cement mixture to which latex has been added. The elasticity of the latex ensures a more durable product that is stronger and therefore has a longer lifespan.
19 Cape Town architect and architecture lecturer Hermie Voulgarelis advises homeowners to try materials that are traditionally associated with the exterior of a house. For example, good-quality paving stones can be used very successfully as a floor finish in your passage, kitchen or living area – and you will never have to replace them. Seal the floor annually with turpentine or raw linseed oil to prevent it from staining.
20 Another interesting material to consider, which was previously restricted to laboratories, is studded rubber. It is a durable, slip-free option that is perfect for the kitchen.
21 Kill two birds with one stone and add a colour pigment to your paint mixture so that the colour of the floor will not fade over time, which is often the case with paint. You can also draw lines in the wet cement layer to give the floor the appearance of being covered in tiles.
22 A mixture of wood stain and a urethane sealant can be applied as a finish to a rough cement floor for better adhesion. Ask your local hardware store for advice on the ratios. This gives the floor a slight shine and it can simply be cleaned with a mop.
23 Most floor coverings – from sandstone and slate to cork and concrete – need a special sealant to prevent permanent stains. The wear and tear of daily use and the combination of cleaning agents that are used can, however, wear this coating away, which will make it necessary to reseal it now and then.
24 Carpets are often used in bedrooms to create extra warmth and atmosphere. Rather consider durable tiles and throw loose rugs on top if you think the tiles look too cold and bare. (Under-floor heating is also extremely cost-effective.)
25 If you do decide on a wall- to-wall carpeting, it is safer to choose something with a pattern that helps to camouflage dirty spots.
26 Beautiful, modern carpet-tile designs are fast gaining ground in America and Europe (visit this website for more information) and are now available in South Africa. If you invest in carpet tiles instead of carpets, this will make it easier to replace only the damaged tiles rather than having to lift or clean an entire carpet.
27 There are alternatives to installing traditional skirting boards that have been varnished or painted and, in time, will peel or show noticeable damage. Consider installing tiles as your skirtings if your floor is tiled. Alternatively, make cement skirtings if you have a cement floor. This reduces maintenance hassles.
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