When properly and expertly install it is:
Only IF its installed correctly, on the right frame, which has to be on the right foundation. You see why you need the experts!
Nutec is a fibre cement board made by Everite, a South African company. It has many uses and applications in the building trade, such as Wendy house exteriors and weather boards. Basically, anywhere that water and sunshine will be a problem to the material used.
Its unique properties come from mixing Portland cement with man-made fibers. These are molded into various boards, from full size sheets to narrow planks, which can even have a wood grain embossed onto them.
In the Wendy house industry, Nutec has become the generic term used for any timber framed structure that is clad with fiber cement boards, even if it isn’t the product made by Everite. Every Nutec product is a fiber cement board, but not all fiber cement boards are Nutec!
There are now many different brands of fiber cement board on the market, something to suit every budget. Some are just that- budget, low quality imports, others are as good (maybe better?) than the original product, but only genuine Nutec has a manufacturers guarantee from Everite.
Nutec is a bit of a game changer for the the South African Wendy house market, especially in Cape Town and the Western Cape. Lashing winter storms followed by brutal summer sun is all very hard on building materials, especially the traditional timber used for Wendy houses and garden sheds. Modern treatments help, but ultimately the conditions win without constant maintenance.
Fiber cement boards are:
making it an ideal product for the harsh Cape climate.
The down side? Its more expensive than traditional wooden cladding. However, if you are building a home or something else that you want to last long term its well worth the investment to have a longer product life span and a lot less maintenance
Nutec is only the cladding used on the outside of the Wendy house to keep the wind and the rain out. It should provide little to no structural strength or rigidity. If you put Nutec onto a wobbly building it maybe won’t be as wobbly, but over time the Nutec boards will start to warp and buckle and the whole structure becomes unstable.
This is why it is essential that the underlying timber frame is of perfect quality, and complies to all building codes and regulations.
We use wood treated to SABS standards, and follow all guidelines and laws relating to sizes, spacings, and fastenings. This ensures that our timber frames are solid and durable, long before any Nutec is applied.
Some companies try to cheap out on frames, why not? The inside will probably be lined and the outside covered in fiber cement boards, who’s ever going to know? Well, the client will, very shortly! Piece of advice- whoever you end up employing to build your Nutec Wendy house, inspect the frame before the cladding and lining is done- it will save you in the long run! And if its wobbling, don’t believe them when they say the cladding will firm it up.
Flat
Not flat, flat, more ‘sloped’. The roof slopes usually from the front to the back of the structure. This form of roof is generally cheaper because it doesn’t need a special frame, it is formed just by making the front of the building slightly higher and laying beams onto the wall tops. Great if you want to keep the price down and or have a lower profile structure.
Pitched
An a-frame is put on top of the wall frames creating a roof that slopes from the center to either side. This type of roof is more expensive because of the specially constructed frames, however, it looks better, is better at water run off, and creates more space in the interior.
Wooden
Wooden window frames and doors are made from hard woods. They are sturdy and long lasting, but require maintenance. They are cheaper and fit with aesthetics of a wooden wendy house well, however, can look out of place on a Nutec building.
Aluminium
Aluminium window frames and doors are made using extruded aluminium. They are sealed units using thicker glass than wooden frames, making them better insulated from elements and noise. However, they are somewhat pricier, and don’t always fit with wooden wendy house aesthetics.
Wooden Pallet
A wooden sub-frame is created which is then laid over with plywood panels. This creates a sandwich construction that is fairly strong and rigid, but not permanent. This floor is then supported on bricks to lift it off the ground and level it out, and the timber frame is built on top. The resulting structure is not deemed permanent, lowering the requirements for planning permission, however, there is always some flex and bounce in the finished building. This is a low cost foundation.
Concrete Slab
An engineered, reinforced concrete slab is laid directly onto the ground. The thickness is as per SABS requirements, as well as topographic requirements. This slab can either be done in a wooden frame, which is then removed, or brick/block walls can form its perimeter. The resulting structure is solid and rigid, however this is deemed a permanent structure, requiring the same planning permissions as any other building of this type. The costs are higher than a pallet floor.
Simple taps, geysers, ground works, municipal connections, all the way up to fully installed bathrooms and kitchens. Our team of qualified professional plumbers can help turn your Nutec Wendy house into a home. All work complies with SABS and local building regulations.See more about our plumbing and bathroom work here
Plug points, lighting, distribution boards, cookers, showers, and all the other things that make a modern home work. All done by qualified professionals, to SABS requirements, with no fuss or complications.
We have a team of experts at internal construction, built-in cupboards, kitchens, board lining, internal walls, tiling, painting and decorating. They can turn your Wendy house into a cosy home, office, studio, pool room etc. See more about our built-in and kitchen work here.
