Timber is an increasingly popular building and cladding material. Its use is to be welcomed. As a renewable, sustainable resource so should be approporiate for use in the Western Isles.

Combinations of materials on walls, the use of feature panels (e.g. synthetic stone) and excessive ornamentation should be avoided.

Colour

Colour is an important consideration in the landscape; roofing materials should generally be of a dark colour and walls of white, pastle or muted colours which occur naturallin in the landscape.

Groups of buildings in towns and villages can be improved by careful use of colours to break monotony and emphasise valuable design features of buildings.

Roofs

Use of traditional roofing materials such as thatch, profiled metal and natural slate will be welcomed where a traditional style is adopted, in some instances ‘reconstituted slate' tiles can work quite well.

In most circumstances mansard style, asymmetrical monopitch or flat roof styles will not be acceptable.

Hipped roof styles may be acceptable depending on the house design and style of neighbouring dwellings;

Eaves and Verges/Skews

These are traditionally trimmed, particularly in areas exposed to wind and rain. Pronounced overhangs are extensive areas of barge boarding generally increase maintenance costs and can also look out of place.

Dormers and roof lights

The use of dormer windows or roof lights can lead to savings in building costs, provide light to upstair rooms and reduce the bulk of the building whilst maintaining virtually the same floor space.

Chimneys

These are important features normally located on gable ends. They should breach the ridgeline of the roof to avoid long slender stacks.

Porches

They should normally be small scale, be finished in materials to match or complement the house.

Windows and Doors

Most houses look best with windows which have a vertical emphasis. (i.e. they were consistently narrower in width than in height)

A uniform style but not necessarily size of window should be used throughout the house. The style will be dictated by the form and design of the house.

Visually and environmentally, wooden windows are preferable to UPVX or alumimium.

Traditional window margins or reveals, with deep sills give better weather protection.

Doors generally look better if they are of timber construction with minimal or no glazing and are simple in design.

Boundaries

Stone walls are an attractive feature and should be retained where possible. Walls and fences found in urban and suburban areas will generally not be appropriate in rural situations.

Screening can give the house occupants a sense of privacy by tree and shrub planting and/or sensitive earthworks. Existing hedges or trees should be retained.

Outbuildings

The siting and design or garden sheds and other buildings and structure should also be considered.

Where available, existing dilapidated structures should be considered for re-use by renovation and extension or existing materials re-used.