Water damage on building projects

MITIGATING THE EFFECTS OF WATER ON BUILDING PROJECTS

Water may be the source of life, but many argue that it is also responsible for over 75% of water damage on building projects.[1] As the second most common claim (29.4%) from home insurance in the United States, water damage affects around 14 000 people daily with the average insurance payout being >£11,000[2]. And we’re not just talking about flooding.

The most common cause of water damage – aside from severe weather, wind and hail – is constant exposure to wet or damp conditions that cause rust, rot, warping and cracks, as well as mould and musty smells. Blocked drains or gutters dripping onto your patio, organic material and debris rotting on your deck, leaking taps or appliances such as air-conditioner extractors, and inappropriate material selection necessary for the environmental conditions can all lead to water damage; and therefore, constant maintenance, repair and worst case, replacement.

Water doesn’t only enter by rain or direct contact in its liquid form, but also by capillary action as a vapour or moisture from humidity acting like an insidious intruder with a direct bearing on the performance, and appearance, of your building materials.  It can cause materials to expand and contract, as well as react with other elements such as chemicals, pollutants or spores and fungi, causing physical, chemical or biological damage to your structure.

Consequently, it’s very important to understand the effects of water on the chosen substrates within the environmental context of your proposed project. Water damage on Building projects must be considered as an important factor when designing building projects.

DECKING MATERIAL PERFORMANCE ON BUILDING PROJECTS

The effect of water ingress on building materials is much more sinister and much less obvious than the destruction or subsidence caused by flooding. Lesser volumes of water have far greater potential to inflict significant structural damage to even the most durable

[1] https://www.thermosurvey.co.uk/faq/how-does-water-effect-building-materials/

[2] https://www.rubyhome.com/blog/water-damage-stats/#water-damage-common-causes

Building materials such as concrete, wood or steel.  Who hasn’t seen the cracking, buckling, mould or mildew growing on a wooden deck? Sagging ceiling or disintegrating rails?

Fortunately, modern building materials such as advanced bamboo composite from Eva-Last have been engineered to overcome these shortcomings to be impervious to the insidious effects of water given their advanced material composition.

Made from recycled plastic extruded with resilient bamboo cellulose, Eva-Last’s extensive range of bamboo composites are available in the advanced formulations of Pioneer, Apex, Infinity and Eva-Tech material technologies.

These hi-tech compounds are suited to specific product applications, providing an all-important moisture barrier with inherent anti-fungal and anti-bacterial properties. This naturally prevents the swelling and degradation typical of wooden decks, while the enhanced surface materials provide the sought-after timber tones and textures with added protection from scratches, slips or sun-damage. The correct design of decking projects can hep with the prevention of Water damage on Building projects.

WOODEN APPEAL WITHOUT THE WORRIES OF WATER DAMAGE

Available across their ranges of Pioneer, Apex Plus, Infinity  decking, VistaClad cladding and Lifespan architectural beams. Eva-Last composites offer the aesthetic appeal of wood without its water sensitivity or snack appeal to termites, mould or fungi.

All Eva-Last materials have been tested and proven to withstand water absorption or moisture content. This prevents the swelling, warping, cracking and rotting typical of wooden decks and cladding. In fact, after submersion in water for 28 days, Infinity measured a water absorption of just 0.6%. During the same test Eva-tech measured just 0.2% more – way below the required norm of below 7%. No matter the weather – how wet or dry – your deck, façade, or pergola will stay beautiful and low-maintenance. If you opt for the superior characteristics of Eva-Last bamboo composites you’ll be satisfied you made the right choice.

The cellulose-polymer composition does not provide nutrition for fungi or mould to grow. This means it has fungal and termite resistance for the lifetime of the board. No more disintegration of your deck, stairs, rail or pergolas from pests or biodegradation when you build with an Eva-Last .

“At Eva-Last, we understand the destructive impact water can have on building materials. That’s why we’ve engineered our bamboo composites to withstand the harshest environmental conditions. This ensures our products remain beautiful and resilient, no matter the weather,” asserts Marc Minne, Eva-Last CEO and Co-Founder. 

ENGINEERED FOR EASE

Each Eva-Last product is designed for flexibility in application whilst also allowing optimal drainage and ventilation.

While Eva-Last’s convenient cladding range VistaClad is available in popular textured timber tones. The design-detail of the interlocking tongue-and-groove board profiles coupled with the clip-strip fasteners, adaptors and trims, that allow for an advanced cladding system. It is that ensures water-tight installation while allowing for adequate ventilation.

Lifespan’s lightweight hollow-aluminium core with the triple-extruded composite coating are the ideal architectural beams to build weather-resistant pergolas. It is also used to build decorative soffits or shady screens.  Lifespan products are suitable for dramatic outdoor architectural features with a weatherproof, wood-look finish. These components are available in a variety of versatile profiles and sizes. Lifespan can be used as castellated wall mounts, slatted ceilings or screens or just to decorative effect at any height.

Eva-Last’s extensive product portfolio with innovative composite material technology ensure that water damage and failure are things of the past. You may safely specify the gorgeous good-looks of any Eva-Last bamboo composite building material for any exposed exterior.  You needn’t worry about water damage or worrisome weathering on your outdoor structure. Water damage on Building projects is written by Eva-last composite decking.

Eva-Last arctic birch composite decking
Eva-Last arctic birch composite decking
Eva Last composite decking
Eva Last composite decking
Copperleaf composite decking by Eva-Last
Copperleaf composite decking by Eva-Last

 

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