My terrace, my design, my style!
The advantage of being an architect is that you can build your own perfect home, based on all the experiences you had building other people’s dreams. So when architect Sarah Beulque was planning to add a terrace to her home in Waregem, Belgium, she only wanted the best of the best. She tells us why she chose Cedral Terrace.
Standing the test of time
When building a terrace, many criteria steer the decision process.** Durability** is one of them. The terrace should stand the test of time so that you can enjoy it for years on end. The decking preferable keeps its gorgeous looks, despite being exposed to the elements.
“Indeed, that is exactly the reason why I chose Cedral Terrace. Wood maybe looks natural and warm, but the disadvantage is that wooden planks tend to bend over time, creating annoying uneven surfaces. Wood also loses its looks, unless you treat it regularly. I opted for a more durable and low-maintenance solution with the fibre-cement planks of Cedral Terrace. They weather well and keep their stylish colour over time. And fibre-cement does not splinter, a quite important feature if you want to use your terrace barefoot.”
Creative design options
Sarah is a creative soul. A precious quality for an architect. Her feeling for **design **clearly shows in her modern home that she built recently. So also the new 33 m² terrace attached to the back of her house went through her creative fingers…
“I gave our home has a resolutely modern look. The butterfly roof gives the house a playful touch. The brick facade (has huge sliding windows that open up to the terrace and the garden below. What I was looking for, was an elegant connection between the interior and the exterior.
Cedral Terrace gave me the design options I was looking for. It comes in four natural colours and two different widths. I received a sample box from my supplier to help me decide. I chose Cedral’s deep grey (TR15) because it nicely contrasts with the colour of our bricks and complements the colour of our window frames . To continue the playfulness of the butterfly roof, I created a dynamic pattern of alternating narrow and wide planks for our terrace. This sleek combination reinforces the contemporary style of the house.”
A pleasure to walk on it barefoot
With a simple movement, Sarah slides the enormous bay windows open, connecting the living room with the gorgeous terrace. The inside and outside merge and the terrace becomes a fully-fledged part of the living area. That’s why the quality of the terrace should deliver the same comfort as the rest of the house.
“Cedral Terrace has a particularly soft feeling, thanks to its finishing. So it is a pleasure to walk on it barefoot. We can walk in and out without having to think about shoes or slippers. Unlike tiles, the fibre-cement planks do not heat up in the sun, keeping them cool and comfortable to walk on. And also, Cedral Terrace doesn’t get slippery, even when wet. So our terrace doesn’t turn into a skating ring when it rains.”
Easy to install by ourselves
The price is also a decisive factor. However, it is important to look **beyond the investment cost **of installing your terrace. Also take into account the durability and maintenance required over the years. In other words, the cheapest option is not always the best. But there are ways to keep the costs down, as Sarah explains.
“Money is not endless, so we decided to install the terrace by ourselves to save on costs. Cedral Terrace offered a straightforward installation package and an easy process. Again, for durability reasons, I opted for an aluminium substructure instead of wood. Attaching the planks with the tailor-made clips was child’s play. And the fibre-cement planks are easily cut to size without cracking or splintering.
The total cost of our terrace, including the fibre-cement decking and the aluminium substructure was €3.289,38 excl. VAT for 33 m² but it will surely last us for many years. Thanks to the fibre cement, the planks are impervious to rot, mould, rust and pests. Maintenance is easy too. All it takes is a mop and some soapy water to keep the terrace as new.”
I recommend Cedral Terrace
“Me and my partner, we’re very satisfied with the result because it looks modern and feels so comfortable with bare feet. It doesn't get too warm in the sun and it doesn’t become slippery in the rain. And we are not the only ones being fond of our terrace, judging by the many likes I had on Facebook. In the meantime, my cousin also had a Cedral Terrace installed and our friends sometimes curse me, because I didn’t tell them about Cedral Terrace before. Well, now they know!”
More pictures at Cedral.world.
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