Material Aging

Question

How do exposed sandcrete block, board-formed concrete and rammed earth actually weather over a five-to-ten-year horizon in this climate?

Methodology

Photographic and surface-condition survey of the practice's earliest built projects, five to ten years post-completion.

Observations

Rammed earth walls under adequate eave protection showed the least visible degradation of the three materials studied.

Findings

Board-formed concrete without a sacrificial coating showed the most staining, concentrated at wash points below roof overhangs.

Conclusion

Detailing water's exit path matters more to long-term appearance than the base material choice itself.