St Johns Recladding – What Are Some Signs That Your House May Need A Reclad?
Most homeowners take pride in the appearance of the exterior of their homes. Although a well-maintained landscape adds to the curb appeal of a house, the exterior maintenance of the house will also make a great impression on friends, family, neighbours and potential buyers. Some people leave maintenance, like recladding, until it is a big issue while others want to get their house reclad or get the cladding repaired as soon as they spot it. Below are some signs that your house might need recladding.
What Is Recladding?
First, let’s see what recladding is.
adding is simply any material that can be affixed to the outside of a house and forms the exterior walls of the building. It is sometimes called a façade product.
There are many types ranging from the infamous monolithic plasterboard used on leaky homes. But there are others ranging from wood, faux wood finishes, rusted metal, aluminium, vinyl, stones, faux stones and many more.
The main function is to protect the underlying structural walls from moisture, changes in temperature, weather etc. Cladding also helps to insulate the house, and it adds to curb-appeal of the house.
Recladding is replacing old cladding that has become damaged for whatever reason.
Signs That Your House May Need Recladding
Many people think that the leaky home problem has gone away. Far from it. The government’s Financial Assistance Package ended in 2016 but there are still a lot of homes that are not weather-tight and have leaky home symptoms. This is the government’s page about signs of a leaky home.
Besides the obvious potential increase in your home’s value, there are a few other reasons why it may be beneficial for you to consider home recladding. One of the primary reasons, in addition to curb appeal, maybe to repair any damage that has been caused by water leaks.
This is a particular issue for those who live in areas with humid climates. Excess moisture in homes, as well as poor design and sub-standard materials, has led to ‘leaky homes’ So, what are some additional signs and symptoms to look for when determining if your house needs recladding due to a moisture or weather-tightness issue?
If there are water leaks in your house, the structural integrity of the walls could be affected by the excess moisture. Skirting boards or architraves can become swollen if they get damp.
This moisture could also lead to mould, or mildew and cause musty smells.
Warped flooring is also a sign that your leaks and moisture have compromised the structural integrity of your house. The floors can begin to look unsightly and damaged floors can increase the risk of slips and falls inside the home. Fortunately, recladding a house that uses high quality materials will improve the condition of your house.
Staining or discolouration of walls or floors are other signs that you might have a leaky home or at least have your cladding checked. To verify whether or not your home’s roof is leaking, check for dark patches, mould and wet areas in the corners and on the walls.
Why Get Your House Reclad?
There are two key reasons to get a St Johns recladding company to look at your house.
Firstly, the health issues.
Damp, mould and mildew can cause or exacerbate respiratory issues other medical conditions. This must be the number one reason to have a thorough recladding assessment carried out.
Secondly, is financial.
It does not matter whether you are doing renovations because you plan to stay in the house or you are putting the house on the market for sale, your home’s curb appeal will play a crucial role in how other people view your house. In fact, real estate experts estimate that curb appeal can increase the value of a home by up to 25%.
If you intend to sell your home, if there are signs of leaks, damage or other major renovation issues like recladding, then the potential buyer has a big bargaining chip.
On the other hand, if you do intend staying in your home, the longer you leave the leaks, or cladding unattended, the more damage it will cause. That in turn means it will cost you a lot more to have your house reclad.
Keep in mid that house recladding is not only limited to structural damage and water leaks. House recladding can also be used to update the exterior of the house with high quality, weather-friendly materials.
We are Licensed Building Practitioners, meaning we undergo the latest training in the house building industry. If you think you might have any leaks or that the external walls are not weathertight, please call me on 021 209 2214 or email craig@feverpitchbuilding.co.nz and I will talk to you about your situation.