Architects know that the home is what matters most and not just how a house looks on day one but forever. Architects are always thinking about the long term: how do the materials interact with your environment, will they age well and stay looking good or need a lot of upkeep in ten years time?
But perhaps the biggest one has to do with real-world durability. Here in the UK, that generally means wind driven rain, freeze-thaw cycles and moisture. When they design buildings, architects consider how brick, render, timber cladding, stone or metal will perform on the wind-driven elevations of a building and whether those details effectively keep water out (and let moisture get back out). For Residential Architects Chelsea, visit www.rbddesign.com/architects-design/residential-architecture-london/architects-chelsea/
They also cover maintenance and accessibility. A pretty finish doesn’t do much good if it needs to be painted again in a few years, or requires getting up on hard-to-reach places. Timber stays good for years but needs the right species, finish and treatment, that also you can realistically keep up.
Compatibility matters too. People often mix materials that will expand, move or breathe individually; and this can not only cause cracking but also staining from ferrous deposits (iron rust) or blobs of mortar fallout due to trapping moisture.
Architects are interested in junctions: between roof and wall, new extensions and old houses; how insulation/membranes overlap. But there is also cycle value over one-off cost. Even a low-cost model can end up being costly if it breaks down or requires frequent repairs. For architects, the consideration is a balance among cost versus warranties/anticipated useful life/how likely replacement parts are available.
Then they take appearance into the account over time. While certain materials patina into gorgeous surfaces, others become quickly worn. What you want is to make certain the house still looks good 10, 20 or even 50 years from now … and that with minimal maintenance for your lifestyle and wallet.
