PROJECT SPOTLIGHT: St Heliers reclad

A Mid-90s Plaster Home Transformation

Architect: Buildology
Roofing: Resolution Roofing
Plumber: Fletcher Plumbing
Electrician: Electric Avenue
Plasterer: Gypset
Painter: True Colours

Cyclone Gabrielle exposed critical design flaws in this mid-1990s plaster home. A full reclad and modernisation has created a contemporary home that will withstand the elements for decades to come.

In this project, the Woodsmith team reclad the exterior in bevel back weatherboards with striking vertical Abodo walls to frame the property's entrance and outdoor entertaining area.

A modern matt-coloured tray roof and new joinery were installed to keep up with the new regulations while inside the kitchen and bathrooms were modernised to complement the exterior updates.

Removing the rotten timber framing presented the main challenge for the team and requried the mid-floor to be propped up so the exterior corners and lintels could be removed and replaced with new timber framing. Careful attention was also paid to the existing timber to ensure all beams and lintels were painted and penetrated to the centre with framesaver.

The sharp and tidy exterior is the home's standout feature, with the client seeking a simplistic finish. This was acheived by using soakers instead of box coverings for the corners of the weatherboards and Abodo panels. The same approach was applied where the weatherboards meet the soffits, relying on precise, tidy cuts instead of trims to cover the joins. A leaky plaster home no more.