When you’re building or renovating in New Zealand, cladding is one of the biggest design decisions you’ll make. It’s a major decision, as you’re defining what protects your home from the elements while balancing what your choice says about your home’s character.
For most Kiwis, the choice usually comes down to two proven options: timber cladding materials or fibre cement cladding.
There’s no clear frontrunner across all scenarios. Both have their strengths. Both can look incredible when installed well. But they perform very differently over time, and which one’s “best” will depend entirely on how you live, where you live, the kind of maintenance you’re happy to take on, and what you want the final look to be!
We’ve installed just about every cladding type there is, so we’re here to help you weigh your options. Let’s go.
Let’s begin with a classic. If you’re after warmth and a natural look, nothing beats the texture of real timber. It’s been a well-loved Kiwi favourite for generations for a very good reason.
Timber tends to breathe with the seasons; it can be stained or painted to suit any aesthetic, and it weathers beautifully if you know how to look after it. If you’re a bit closer to one of Aotearoa’s many beaches, or buried deep in a rural postcode, this is the kind of look that makes your home look as if it sprang fully-formed from the ground.
That’s not to say that all timber cladding materials will meet this mark. Many timber cladding materials are, in fact, subpar and will decay faster than fibre cement cladding. But if you get a building team that you can trust or find a great supplier connection, you can have your pick of options, such as:
The key here is preparation and maintenance. Timber cladding needs to be sealed, stained, or painted to protect it from moisture and UV damage. If you stay on top of it, you’ll get decades of service from this type of cladding. Leave timber cladding materials to the elements, though, and they can warp, split, or discolour faster than you might like.
If you like a bit of upkeep and want to keep that rich, authentic look, timber is tough to beat. It’s tactile and warm, a perfect choice for a quiet neighbourhood or rural build.
On the other end of the spectrum, we have fibre cladding, a mainstay for more architectural builds. Crisp and clean, fibre-cement cladding will slot effortlessly onto the exterior of any particularly forward-thinking home. It’s also an excellent choice for a simple home renovation, especially for a homeowner who likes low-maintenance materials (is that you?).
Fibre cement cladding is made from a blend of cement, sand, and cellulose fibres, all of which are shaped into clean lines. These panels don’t expand or contract with moisture like timber does, which means fewer cracks and a smoother finish for years and years and years.
Funnily enough, making this choice will present you with even more options, as there are two main types of fibre-cement cladding used in New Zealand: sheet systems and weatherboard systems.
On top of all that, fibre-cement cladding is also fire-resistant, rot-proof, and pest-resistant (all of which are big advantages in this humid country).
If you’re after something durable, low-maintenance, and sleek, there’s no better option.
That all depends on how you define “best”.
The most important thing to remember is that both of these options can look outstanding with the right design and professional installation. The trick is aligning your choice with how you actually live, not just how it looks on move-in day.
At QBS Construction, we help homeowners across New Zealand design and build cladding systems that last. Whether that means sleek, low-maintenance fibre cement or handcrafted timber that grows more beautiful with age, we’re here to help.
If you’re ready to talk through your options, get in touch to book an initial consultation with our team.
