Choosing the right cladding system
Cavity
- Essential for remedial work to ensure wall framing kept dry
- Better performance through pressure equalisation
- Enhanced drainage and drying – we top vent as this improves drying and reliability
- Separates potential damp cladding from dry framing
- Reduces framing and cladding moisture-related movement
The key to success of any cladding system is the correct utilisation of cavities.
Cladding
- Perform as effective rainscreen (in combination with cavity)
- Must be durable – decay, corrosion and UV damage resistant
- Needs to look good and suit building
- Choose cladding to avoid stigma with remediation
- Impact resistance – education
- Fire resistance – detached dwellings mostly excluded
Typical claddings
- Timber weatherboards – cedar or H3.2 clear Radiata pine
- Fibre cement weatherboard – typically Linea or Hardiflex
- PVC or aluminium weatherboard
Plywood – H3.2 Radiata pine
Fibre cement panels – typically Titan or Exotec
Fibre cement monolithic – typically Monotek
EIFS (external insulation finishsystem) typically Rockcote EPS Cavity
Plastered and painted brick veneer
Stucco plaster
Long-run metal – aluminium, zinc-aluminium coat steel (bare or pre-painted)
Copper or zinc sheathing
Aluminium composite panels (with non-flammable core)
Masonry (brick and stone) veneer
Masonry and stone slips over fibre cement backing
Compliance
A number of claddings have been approved as code-compliant under the Acceptable Solution E2/AS1 –masonry veneer, stucco, timber & fibre cement weatherboards, plywood and fibre cement sheet, and EIFS.
Others claddings rely on specific design, BRANZ Appraisals or supplier/manufacturer technical recommendations and warranties. It is up to the Building Consent Authority whether to accept these claddings.
A word of warning – we find there can be limited technical knowledge and support from some suppliers; and their warranties may just be marketing tools.
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