More than a makeover

Re-cladding your home is one of the most dramatic ways to change its look. And it's a transformation that can provide on-going practical benefits when you choose the right materials.

The owners of the Tauranga house featured on these pages wanted to update their home with a good-looking weatherboard that would require minimal maintenance. Originally built in the 1960s, the house had been added onto over the years and featured of a mix of exterior materials, including clinker brick veneer, fibrolite and blockwork. Nick and Bev Middledorf say the house was not only looking its age, it was also falling into a state of disrepair.

"After undertaking considerable research, we chose to re-clad the entire house with Palliside weatherboards in a rusticated profile," says Bev Middledorf.

"The service we received from our local consultant was a determining factor in our choice. So, too, were the low maintenance qualities of Palliside. With two children and a business to run, we didn't want to spend our weekends maintaining the house."

Palliside is a solid weatherboard with a foamed cellular core and a UV-resistant top coat, which won't dent or chip. As well as being impervious to water, Palliside doesn't absorb moisture, won't rot, warp or peel and never needs painting.

"We also appreciated the fact that Palliside is suitable for coastal locations," says Bev Middledorf. "As we live near an estuary, the house is occasionally subjected to salt spray."

The owners say another benefit was the ease of installation, and the way the weatherboards co-ordinated with other building materials.

Authorised installer Rowland de Bruin, who supplied and installed the Palliside cladding for this project, says the light weight of the weatherboards was another advantage.

"They are very easy to work with, and there are plenty of trim components to ensure a neat and tidy finish," he says. "For this house, we removed both the 1970s clinker brick veneer and the original weatherboards beneath, applying the cladding to the timber framing. On the basement walls, it was applied directly over the existing blockwork."

For the owner's added peace of mind, Palliside's durability is assured by a 25-year guarantee and a BRANZ appraisal.

For further information, contact the manufacturer, Dynex Extrusions Ltd, PO Box 19-133, Avondale, phone 0800 4 Dynex (439 639). Websites: www.palliside.co.nz and www.Trendsideas.com.

Story by: Trendsideas