Cladding is one of those building terms that gets used constantly and explained rarely. If you have been quoted for a re-clad, or you are looking at a tired looking house and wondering what can be done with it, this is the plain English version.
What cladding actually is
Cladding is the external skin fixed to the outside of a building. It sits over the frame and the wall structure underneath, sheds water away from the building, and gives the house its finished appearance.
The important part is that cladding is generally not structural. The walls hold the house up, the cladding protects and finishes them. That is why an existing home can be re-clad without rebuilding anything behind it, and it is why a re-clad can change the entire look of a house from the street without touching the internal layout.
What cladding is for
The first job is weather. Cladding, together with the flashings, trims and the cavity behind it, keeps driving rain out of the wall. In a climate like Ballarat's, where wind driven rain and frost work on a building all winter, that matters more than most people realise.
The second job is appearance. Board width, joint spacing and the trim around windows and corners set the character of the house. Two homes with identical footprints can look completely different depending on how the cladding is detailed.
Common cladding materials on Australian homes
Fibre cement, such as the James Hardie range, is the most common modern choice. It is stable, does not rot, is not a food source for termites, and takes paint well, so the colour can be changed later.
Reconstituted timber, such as Weathertex, is Australian made from hardwood and gives a genuine textured timber look. It suits period homes and country properties where a flat modern face would look wrong.
Traditional timber weatherboard is the classic older Australian exterior. It looks the part but asks for more maintenance than the alternatives.
Steel and Colorbond cladding gives a sharp, low maintenance finish in a pre-coated colour, and it pairs neatly with a matching roof.
Older homes may also carry asbestos cement sheeting, often called fibro or super six. That is a different situation entirely and is covered below.
Can you clad a brick house?
Yes. Cladding can be installed over brick using a batten or framing system that creates the required cavity and gives the new cladding something to fix to. It is a common way to modernise a plain brick home or to tie an older brick house together with a newer extension.
The wall needs to be assessed first, because the build up has to leave the correct cavity and drainage path behind the new skin.
Can cladding be painted, or removed?
Most fibre cement and timber based cladding is designed to be painted, and many products are supplied primed for exactly that. Pre-finished steel and Colorbond is meant to be left as it comes.
Removing old cladding is normal practice on a re-clad. Taking the old skin off lets us see the frame and repair anything damaged before the new cladding goes on, which is far better than covering a problem up.
One important exception: asbestos cement
If your home, garage or shed was built or extended before the late 1980s, the existing sheeting may be asbestos cement. Do not cut it, drill it, water blast it or break it.
Asbestos removal in Victoria is regulated work, and the bulk of it must be carried out by a licensed removalist with correct disposal and documentation. We coordinate that through a licensed local partner and follow straight behind with the new work.
When does cladding need replacing?
Splitting or soft boards, especially near the ground, paint that will not hold no matter how often it is redone, cracked or crumbling sheets, and any sign of moisture inside the wall are the usual indicators.
The other honest reason is appearance. Plenty of re-clads happen simply because the house looks tired, and a re-clad is one of the few renovations that changes the whole street presence of a home.
Getting advice on your own home
Every house is different, and the right material depends on the building, its exposure and the look you want. We assess the property, explain the options in plain terms and give you a written price before anything starts. Quotes are free.
Call Clifton Roofing & Cladding on 0437 978 856 or send us a message through the contact page.