As experts at home recladding in the North Shore area of Auckland, we know several warning signs that would indicate a need for your residential property’s exterior cladding to be replaced. Most of these issues are due to poor maintenance of the cladding system, or outdated/subpar installation techniques of the cladding or flashings – regardless of the cause, this has now compromised the exterior envelope – the cladding – which is our most important line of defense against structural decay.
Leaks
If your home was originally built at some point between 1988 and 2004, it may have been built with a cladding system incapable of holding up against New Zealand’s tough climate conditions over the long haul. This could explain instances of rainwater leaking into your home here in the 2020s.
Rotting Cladding
You could have this if the cladding is made of wood now showing dark spots. If you use a screwdriver handle to tap the wood and it subsequently crumbles, this will indicate that the cladding system has failed.
Mould, Fungus or Moss
Any of these can grow on your cladding due to it becoming distorted and consequently letting moisture get into the house.
Damage Inside the Home
You don’t always need to look straight at the cladding itself to judge whether it has to be replaced. Instead, you could just check the walls for loose wallpaper or peeling paint. Either form of damage would indicate that water is getting past the cladding or associated window flashings and penetrating the interior wall beyond it.
Birds or Squirrels Inside the Home
How did they get in there? There would be one potential clue if you live near a woodland area. It’s possible that birds and squirrels from this area have sneaked into your domestic building via holes in its cladding. Allowing animals such entry could lead them to damage interiors.
Faded Cladding
Don’t mistakenly assume this to only be a cosmetic concern, the paint system on your cladding accounts for a sizeable chunk of the weathertightness properties, and if it is compromised it can lead to failure of the cladding via rot, cracks and insufficient sealing of laps & gaps. If the cladding is indeed losing its original brightness, you could treat this development as a heads-up that the cladding should be replaced before it starts physically falling apart.
If you remain uncertain about whether your home genuinely needs recladding, keep in mind that we offer not only home recladding in North Shore but also further reliable advice on when this service should be utilised. You can reach us by phone on 0800 688 527 or [email protected].
