When we talk about recladding, we’re talking about stripping away and replacing the protective layers of materials that are installed on the outside of your home. In the construction business, we also call this the ‘envelope’, and your cladding goes a long way towards protecting the interior wall features, including your framing and the inside of your home, from the external elements.
Keeping your home’s cladding in good condition is vital. It keeps the building weather-tight and looking great for as long as possible, holding up against rain, wind, and anything else the often hectic Auckland weather may throw at it.
Some homeowners are reluctant to take on a recladding project because of the amount of time it might take or the upfront investment of making such a change. But six to twelve weeks of work can go a long way towards maintaining or improving your property value, and this may be particularly vital if you’re planning to sell down the line.
Today, we’re focusing on five benefits of recladding your home, from strengthening it against the weather all the way to improving the way the exterior of your home looks. Read on to get the lowdown on how recladding could work for you.
Auckland has a well-deserved reputation for frequent rain and high humidity, which makes weatherproofing a top priority. The protective layer of materials around the outside of your home can act as a shield against incoming water, stopping the occurrence of dampness, leaks, and the growth of mould.
Damp homes are a serious issue many Auckland homeowners currently face. The high humidity in summer and the increased rainfall in winter make moisture a year-round concern, with 21.5% of homeowners recently reporting that their property was sometimes or always damp.
In large part, this is due to old or outdated weatherproofing that allowed water ingress. When water becomes trapped in a home, especially an older home, it’s very difficult to get it out again without some serious work. That’s why recladding is so beneficial as a preventative measure.
Similarly, recladding your home can also help improve insulation levels, trapping heat to keep it warmer during the cold months. Not only does this offset the accumulation of damp and cold, but it can also lower your overall energy costs.
Keeping your cladding updated improves insulation by making it harder for heat to transmit into or out of your home. If that initial barrier is intact and functioning well, you may notice lower energy bills, a warmer home, less condensation, and increased comfort levels as you go about your day-to-day life.
Holes or breaks anywhere in the cladding can damage this barrier, inviting all the warm air to escape and demanding much more of your heating system. That’s why, in the long run, recladding your home could actually be a great way to reduce ongoing costs.
If you’re considering selling your home at some point down the line, recladding can be a powerful way to improve its curb appeal. You can accelerate the exterior appeal of your property with an expert cladding job, and updating your property with the latest materials will also give you a feeling of pride when you pull into your driveway, and your house is looking its very best.
Prospective homeowners are on the lookout for even the smallest of issues, and leaks or damaged cladding that can impact the interior of the home will definitely pull down your property value. Not only does recladding markedly improve aesthetics, but it also ensures you are protecting the structural integrity of what is likely to be your most valuable asset.
In New Zealand, the government enforces a set of standards called the ‘Healthy Homes’ standard, which impacts landlords all over the country. Understanding and adhering to these standards is important if you are a landlord (or a tenant).
If you’re renting out a home and the weatherproofing is starting to degrade, this can cause all sorts of problems. Draughts, moisture ingress, mould, and poor heating are all out of compliance with Healthy Homes, which can affect not only your tenants but also your standing as a potential landlord.
Recladding is an effective way to make sure your property stays in top-notch condition for as long as possible, making it an attractive haven for incoming tenants.
Anyone who owns a home knows that there is a constantly revolving maintenance to-do list, with new items added all the time. It can be overwhelming to try and keep up with it all, especially if you’re a first-time homeowner.
If the outside of your home is damaged, this can mean a lot more maintenance. Leaks, pests, and other issues can germinate and spread if your cladding has been compromised and create a host of other issues. This can spell trouble for any homeowner, representing a drain on money, time, and resources.
Recladding requires an upfront investment, but in the long run, it can heavily reduce the stress, time, and money required to keep your home warm and comfortable to live in.
With so many benefits to recladding your home, it’s no wonder that thousands of Kiwis are committing to this home improvement project every year. If you’re wondering what this might look like for your home, the team at QBS Construction is here to help.
At QBS, our expert team of recladding specialists is on hand, ready to help you transform your home with an exterior upgrade that could improve curb appeal, save on energy costs and ramp up the value of your property. Get in touch for a chat today about protecting your valuable assets.
