Exterior Envelope Palette
The finishes that meet the weather — a durability decision, not a taste one.
Price is a relative direction only — never a quotation. The real figure is confirmed by ALUMAX or a specialist at site measurement.
One approved build, component by component.
One coordinated finish story for the parts of the house that face full sun, monsoon and coastal salt. ALUMAX supplies and installs the aluminium — framing, louvres, gate, screens, pergola; specialists supply the facade coating, masonry, paving, roofing and waterproofing to the ELS requirement. Every finish is chosen for weathering first: the wrong choice chalks, streaks, rusts or fades within a year.
| Component | Route | ELS specification | Status |
|---|---|---|---|
| Facade cladding & coating | Specialist trade | PVDF (fluoropolymer) or high-build elastomeric coating, UV- and fungal-resistant; body LRV 45–65 with darker feature or plinth bands — sun-struck elevations stay light-to-mid, never very dark (dark absorbs heat and warps lesser cladding). Colour approved on the actual elevation, in sun. | Sample hold |
| Aluminium framing, louvres & fins | ALUMAX | Architectural powder coat to AAMA 2604 (AAMA 2605 or anodised in coastal / premium zones), matte; shading depth and angle designed to the actual orientation, not chosen for looks.ALUMAX code confirmed on the finishes catalogue. | Primary |
| Canopy & entrance shelter | ALUMAX | Aluminium structure, finish matched to the facade trim; the waterproof membrane and discharge above it are the roofing specialist's — overhang depth, fall and where the water goes are engineering, not decoration.ALUMAX code confirmed on the finishes catalogue. | Conditional |
| Boundary fence & gate | ALUMAX | Aluminium gate and fence, powder-coated to match the envelope; masonry piers and wall by the specialist with a coordinated finish. Gate span, sag, motorisation and a car-clearing setback designed in.ALUMAX code confirmed on the finishes catalogue. | Supporting |
| Driveway & surface drainage | Specialist trade | External paving rated R11 minimum (R12 to ramps and steep falls); falls 1:40–1:60 to a defined discharge, with a permeable or drained option where the porch is prone to ponding. The most common defect complaint in the state, and entirely a setting-out problem. | Supporting |
| Balcony screen & planter | ALUMAX | Aluminium weather screen to make the balcony usable in a squall, with a planter drainage detail that does not stain the facade below.ALUMAX code confirmed on the finishes catalogue. | Supporting |
| Louvred pergola & pavilion | ALUMAX | Adjustable aluminium louvre roof in the same finish family — shade, rain cover and airflow on demand for an outdoor room that never traps heat.ALUMAX code confirmed on the finishes catalogue. | Accent-only |
| Roof & rainwater goods | Specialist trade | Roofing plus gutters and downpipes in a coordinated colour, sized for monsoon intensity — the discharge route designed so a downpour clears the frontage rather than ponding at the door. | Supporting |
| Finishes to avoid | Specialist trade | Very dark cladding on full-sun elevations (absorbs heat, warps lesser panels, fades fastest); untreated or mild-steel exterior metal (rust-blooms within two monsoons); glossy facade paint (telegraphs every substrate imperfection under raking sun). | Not recommended |
- Sample hold
- Cannot be specified until a physical sample is reviewed on site.
- Primary
- Suitable for large surfaces and main cabinetry.
- Conditional
- Approved only under the stated room, lighting or material condition.
- Supporting
- Suitable for secondary surfaces.
- Accent-only
- Use in limited areas only.
- Not recommended
- Available from ALUMAX but not approved for this ELS style.
- Specialist trade
- Quoted, supplied, installed and warranted by the appointed specialist; ELS specifies the requirement and checks the installed result.
- ALUMAX
- Quoted, supplied, installed and warranted by ALUMAX; ELS specifies the finish.
Where the original selection is unavailable or commercially unsuitable, an approved equivalent must match it on every axis above. The installer must never choose an equivalent on site — a substitution is subject to ELS design and specification review and client approval.
ELS selects, specifies and coordinates materials to one approved design direction. Products supplied by ALUMAX are quoted, supplied and warranted by ALUMAX. Products and works supplied by specialist trades remain under the respective specialist's quotation and warranty. Any proposed substitution is subject to ELS design and specification review and client approval.
◆ marks the components that drive this collection's impact.
Concept studies, not photographs of completed projects.
What to publish from the library, and what to commission new.
- Publish existingGrade & publish a curated set from the ~242 gated EXT-FAC / LVR / CAN / FEN / GAT / DRV / PRG + BAL renders — no new shots needed to own the look.
- Commission newA facade-coating close-up in raking afternoon sun — light-to-mid holding vs a dark panel absorbing heat.