Whether we are aware of it or not, colour impacts constantly on our lives: from the clothes we wear to the cars we drive and the houses we live in, the colours that surround us affect our moods.
In the case of Eva-Last’s range of composite decking, interior flooring and cladding, as an alternative to timber, Eva-Last’s advanced colour ranges by and large follow the hues that one might find in natural timbers.
The overriding feeling evoked by a wood finish is one of comfort, warmth and an affinity with the environment. The enticing aspect of Eva-Last’s composite bamboo-polymer products is that these offer all the emotional benefits of a wood finish, while overriding all the negative aspects of maintenance and deterioration associated with genuine timber placement.
“Across our three ranges of decking, for example, we look for colours that match those of different timber species and, to a certain extent, other elements in our natural environment,” explains Shelley Galliver, Eva-Last Marketing Director.
“Likewise, we produce colours that are trending, and currently these include greys in darker and lighter shades. These colours also have their foundation in the natural environment. If you let natural timber weather, it slowly turns from brown to grey.
“From a décor and architectural perspective, with grey being popular now, we logically ensure that within our various ranges we have a grey etched colour that looks much more appealing than natural weathered wood. Other colours in the range follow the lines of natural wood, dark brown textures, tan textures, and the like.
“What’s interesting is that colours and textures differ from region to region. As an example, currently in Europe and America, the natural Cedar and Western Red Cedar looks are favourable, which is not necessarily the timber preferences noted in South Africa or Australia,” explains Galliver.
At the heart of this regionalisation of colour choices lies the fact that people are happy to be in an environment that is familiar to them. In recreating a product that is, for all intents and purposes, indistinguishable from wood, it is important that the wood colour replicates something that is familiar, so that it blends into its environment.
However, architects and designers are constantly exploring new avenues of expression. One of these is to be found in a technology that was discovered over 300 years ago: a process of wood charring, or creating carbonised wood, commonly referred to as Shou Sugi Ban or Yakisugi.
Today this “charred appearance” has become extremely sought-after as an architectural theme, denoting solidity and a powerful blend of hi-tech and ancient appeal. Of course, Eva-Last’s range of composite bamboo-polymer products overcomes many of the maintenance reasons for charring the timber. Nevertheless, as a cosmetic consideration, the “charred effect” has broad visual appeal in some regions.
Galliver adds, “We recently launched a colour called Carbonised Osage, or Carbonised Cedar, which mimics wood that has been charred.”
She adds, however, that, when investigating building materials, decisions around colour are more likely to be considered within the architectural design of the structure than seasonal trends.
“Composite building materials represent a long-term investment. Our Apex range, for example, has a 30-year warranty, and on Infinity there is a 25-year warranty,” notes Galliver.
When it comes to building materials, it’s clear that colour preference is very much a regional phenomenon, which is why Eva-Last tailors its colour ranges to suit local preferences. After all, the keynote behind all Eva-Last’s product ranges is to blend into the natural environment.
