Wall Claddings and Systems
When you are considering your home or commercial building, cladding choice is a major factor in both aesthetics and cost.
The below guide will be helpful to summarise the various type and costs.
This is by no means a full guide but just assistance, we can help you with choice and guidance.
Please note, Solutions Architecture do not sell cladding materials or provide exact pricing. This information is intended purely as a guide.
Timber Weatherboards
Probably the best known and most used cladding in the NZ Environment.
Weatherboards date back hundreds of years. With fibre cement substitutes also now available.
Weatherboards both timber and fibre cement require upkeep and painting. But kept to a LRV (Light Reflective Value of 40 or over (light colours), this prevents warping and stressing of the boards meaning they will last longer and perform better.
Taranaki Pine https://taranakipine.co.nz/ or JSC https://jsc.co.nz/ are our go to suppliers.
Pine Painted Weatherboards approx. $250-300m.sq
Standard Brick
Most probably the second most used cladding.
Durable and low maintenance.
There are now lots of choices on the market with various colours and styles.
Premier Group and Midland Brick are client favourites.
Standard brick laid cost is $230-280/m.sq
Extra Wide Brick $300-330/m.sq
Basic or Seconds Bricks to be covered $180-200/m.sq
Plastered and Painted an extra $160/m.sq
Bagged and Painted an extra $120/m.sq
Fibre Cement Weatherboards
These have been on the market for quite some time and were bought in as an alternative to timber weatherboards.
There are both vertical and horizontal profiles. One of the main benefits over timber weatherboards is that fibre cement can be painted dark colours and will not twist or warp. It can also handle the harsh environments of Sea Spray Zones. It will need to be painted every 7 to 10 years as for standard weatherboards.
Cost $320-350/m.sq
Cedar Cladding
Comes in both vertical and horizontal profiles. Has been used in NZ for many years. Most of our Cedar comes from Canada.
Cedar requires regular maintenance, especially north facing walls.
There are also specialist profiles such as Random Width and Random thickness which can create real interest and texture to a buildings’ exterior.
Hermpac, JSC and Rosefeld Kidson are all major suppliers.
Cost $350-375/m.sq
Random Width and Thickness more like $450/m.sq
Metal Cladding
Sometimes called Colorsteel or Tin Cladding, longrun cladding comes in long sheets of steel, which is then roll formed into various profiles both Corrugated and Profiled. There is also Standing Seam cladding, which is more bespoke.
There are many profile variations all have there place and particular style.
This cladding is easy to fix and low maintenance.
It is also durable for Coastal Properties.
Maintenance is easy with just a simple wash down.
Standard Profiles $200-230/m.sq
Architectural and Tray and Standing Seam Profiles $400+/m.sq
Plaster Cladding
Comes in many forms.
This cladding has not always had the best publicity due to the houses built without a Cavity System in the 1980s and 1990s. However since then plaster systems have come a long way and are just as watertight and structurally sound than other cladding options.
One of our favourites is plaster over 50mm thick AAC (Autoclaved Aerated Concrete), these panels come in various sizes and are fixed over a cavity system. Then multiple layers of plaster are applied. Different looks and textures are available.
Another way of creating a plastered finish which we like to use is to get “seconds” bricks and plaster and paint over them.
Easy Panel 50mm AAC Plastered and Painted $320/m.sq
Plastered and Painted Brick approx. $400/m.sq
Aluminium Cladding
Aluminium Cladding has made huge inroads into the NZ cladding market.
This is virtually maintenance free and is robust in all types of environments. Nu-Wall and Ultraclad are two of the main brands in NZ.
Benefits include that it wont rot, warp, twist or fade.
https://nuwall.co.nz/projects/wapu-gables/
Price $450/m.sq
Ply and Batten
Ply and Batten is popular with people looking for a Country House Style or Barn look.
Shadowclad is a popular choice. It has had some negative press. However this was due to a Utility Grade of the product being sold through merchants and not being used for non-habitable uses.
Board and Batten when painted can last a long time and give that look that some are after.
It should always be over a drained and vented cavity.
Price $250-300/m.sq
Weathertex
Weathertex is a wood composite weatherboard or board product, made up of wood chips and resin.
Weathertex is an alternative to Fibre Cement. Whilst using ground up timber as the bulk of the material.
Builders like Weathertex as it is easy to handle and cut. It comes in a range of profiles and is extremely durable.
It is a great cost effective option and has a better than Carbon Zero Footprint and is non toxic.
PVC Cladding
Palliside is probably the best know and most used PVC cladding in NZ.
Many homeowners consider a plastic clad home not a choice. Palliside is extremely durable and has been used in harsh environments and has performed admirably.
You can't actually tell unless you are right up close that it is PVC. The material is solid in colour right through, this gives it great longevity and low maintenance, especially good for harsh environments.
Cost $220-250/m.sq
Mineral Board – Millboard Envello
Millboard is a high performance timber alternative cladding. Crafted from limestone and fibre reinforced resin material, Millboard Envello is innovative, weather resistant and low maintenance. Envello boards have an authentic wood look and feel and require no staining over the lifetime of the product. With its wood-free composition, preventing the boards from rotting and warping, it is the ideal cladding material to withstand New Zealand’s demanding environment.
It is available in two profiles, Shadow Line+, and Board and Batten+, Envello cladding requires no specialist tools and can be cut and installed the same way as traditional timber.
For further information on Millboard Envello Cladding by Forte, visit Millboard Envello Cladding Collection.
Price Millboard Shadowline+ $500/m.sq
Board and Batten+ $600/m.sq
Cladding Prices from High to Low
Real Schist – $850-1000/m.sq
Zinc Tray Profiles – $700-900/m.sq
Craftstone Loose individual stones – $570/m.sq
Millboard Shadowline+ – $500/m.sq
Craftstone on a Panel – $470/m.sq
Nu Wall Aluminium – $450-500/m
Cedar – $350-450/m.sq
Colorsteel Tray Profiles – $400/m.sq
Brick Plastered and Painted – $350-400/m.sq
Fibre Cement Weatherboards and sheet – $320-350/m.sq
Brick Bagged and Painted – $320/m.sq
EZ Panel AAC Plastered and Painted – $320/m.sq
Extra Wide Brick – $300-330/m.sq
Pine Painted Weatherboards – $250-300/m.sq
Standard Brick – $230-300/m.sq
Palliside – $220-250/m.sq
Weathertex – $220-250/m.sq
Colorsteel Standard Profiles – $200-230/m.sq
There are of course many more options but this gives you a good basis to start from.
This is one of the most important steps in the process of Building or Renovating, its also a fun time making selections.
There are new claddings and systems coming onto the market all the time and we can advise you should you have any difficulty making a decision.
Other factors which affect exterior wall cladding types and pricing
Aside from materials and labour to install and paint your cladding, factors like wall height, joinery configuration, house location and access all play parts in the install cost of your cladding.
If your site is closer to the coast ie. within 1km, this may affect the type of coating required on your cladding or the fixings may be required to be stainless steel.
Finally to help with Wall Claddings and Selection
We recommend you go through a process of elimination, and research. Take photos or cut outs from magazines and come and discuss with us.
We will discuss the pros and cons of the various options with you. We can order samples and get addresses for you to visit to see and feel the product.
Of course if you are looking for further advice on what to do with with your project call us and we can discuss with you. We are here and are happy to help.
We want to create your dream home or commercial project.