Scaffold is erected around the whole house. Rafters over the house are also included forming a roof for the shrinkwrap to be fitted to. Shrinkwrap is then installed putting the whole house inside a weather proof cover. This means work can take place rain hail or shine until the recladding project is completed.

• Inspection: A weather tightness consultant will spray paint the timbers to be replaced. This will also be inspected by council.

• Removal of rotten timbers: This will generally include having to build temporary walls (props) to support structures above the areas that need timber replaced.

• Install new timbers to replace rotten ones. We only use H3.2 treated timber which is kiln dried and stress tested. This is also inspected by a consultant and council prior to building wrap being installed. The inspectors will also check for any new mechanical fixings required for lintels, bottom plates, bracing elements, rafters etc.

• Rafter or roof truss extensions. These are usually added if the house does not have eaves or soffits. With our climate in New Zealand we see eaves or soffits as a must; much of the time a lack of eaves or soffits is why buildings initially failed. Leaky homes are also caused by inadequate window and door openings, poor flashings and inadequate design.

• New fascia boards and soffit linings installed.

• Apply framesaver to all remaining timbers. Framesaver is a timber treatment bringing remaining timbers to a standard equivalent to H1.2.

• New insulation installed. Required to comply with new regulations, new insulation will also give greater warmth and reduce heating costs over the winter period.

• Building wrap and cavity batten. New building wrap will be fitted to the exterior framing of the entire house. All existing exterior window and doors will be removed to allow for flashing tape to be installed on sills and heads of openings.

• PVC cavity closers installed. These are installed at the base of the cladding to prevent rodents getting into the cavity and to allow water to get out of if moisture gets into the cavity. Cavity battens, H3.1 or H3.2, 20ml thick x 45ml wide, will be fixed to framing studs, lintels, boundary joists over the building wrap. These form an air gap between exterior cladding and framing allowing air flow and as a means for water to escape, thereby preventing framing from rotting away.

• New external / internal corner flashings installed over cavity battens.

• New cladding installed. We recommend timber weatherboards, either horizontally fixed or vertically fixed. This is a cladding system that has been proven to stand the test of time and our New Zealand weather conditions. Other cladding systems can be used but at Nicol Renovations we feel it is better to stay away from plaster systems. This is because they have been proven to fail and, from a resale point of view, they carry the stigma of leaky homes. H3.2 treated weatherboards are readily available and are what we recommend.  

• New joinery installed. In most cases existing joinery is single glazed and in order to meet current requirements should be upgraded to double glazed joinery. With the added thickness of the wall including cavity battens the existing jamb liners of the windows & doors will not be big enough. Therefore new jamb liners for the existing joinery may need to be installed and existing windows checked for seals etc. or new double glazed joinery installed. In most of the reclads we have done, we have also installed new joinery. New head flashings with stop ends to divert water over the cladding and thereby preventing water ingress will also be installed.Once this has been completed, cladding can be finished off up to the new eaves or soffit line. Windows are sealed with perf rod and expandable foam placed around the inside of the entire window to create a seal for both air suction and water.

• Finishing Touches. Scribers, facings, box corners are installed and then the exterior is ready for painting. Spouting and downpipes will be installed and finally the shrinkwrap and scaffolding will be disassembled.