RECLADDING VS DEMOLISHING AND REBUILDING: WHICH OPTION IS RIGHT FOR YOUR HOME RENOVATION?
If you’re thinking about recladding your plaster-clad home, you might be wondering if you should reclad your existing house or demolish and rebuild.
Both alternatives offer advantages and disadvantages, and your choice will be influenced by a number of circumstances.
In this post, we’ll look at the advantages and disadvantages of both solutions to help you make an informed decision.
Table of Contents
You can use an eraser on the drafting table or a sledgehammer on the construction site.
RECLAD
Recladding is the process of replacing the outside cladding of your property while leaving the inside structure intact.
This solution is frequently used when the present cladding such as plaster cladding is creating weathertight issues.
The following are the advantages and disadvantages of recladding:
Advantages of Recladding:
Cost-effective: Recladding is generally less expensive than demolishing and rebuilding because it doesn’t require extensive civil and structural work.
Less disruption: A simple reclad can often be done while you continue to live in your home, minimizing the disruption to your daily life.
Maintain the existing layout: With recladding, you can keep your existing floor plan and layout, which may be important to you if you are happy with the current layout of your home.
Disadvantages of Recladding
Hidden damage: Once the cladding is removed, it may be discovered that there is more extensive damage to the framing than anticipated. This could lead to additional costs and delays.
DEMOLISH AND REBUILD
Demolishing and rebuilding (aka knockdown-rebuild) entails entirely demolishing the present structure and replacing it with a new one.
This option is frequently selected if the present structure is beyond repair or if you wish to entirely redesign your home.
Here are the advantages and disadvantages of dismantling and rebuilding:
Advantages of Demolishing and Rebuilding
A blank canvas for your design: When you demolish and rebuild your house, you have complete control over the design, allowing you to construct a home that meets your wants and lifestyle.
In addition, the house will be built in accordance with current building codes.
Demolishing and rebuilding allows you to stay in a location you love.
Disadvantages of Demolishing and Rebuilding
Higher cost: Demolishing and rebuilding is typically more expensive than recladding because it involves more extensive civil and structural work.
Demolishing and rebuilding will take longer to complete.
Before
After
DEMOLISHING AND REBUILDING FAQS
- Once the council final inspection is completed and passed, how long does it take for the council to issue Code Compliance Certificate (CCC)The process for council to issue CCC can take approximately 4 weeks.
- How long do I have before I have to start the new build after receiving the Building Consent?Once the Building Consent is issued, the building work must start within 12 months, unless the council agrees to an extension.
- Once Building Consent is obtained, how long does the new build take?Foundation work takes around 4 weeks. Following the slab pour and curing time for the slab, you should estimate 6 - 8 months for the new build construction. However, the size, complexity, custom design of the house may influence/extend the construction timeline.
- How long does Auckland Council take to process the Building Consent Application?Once a building consent application is lodged with the council, they have 20 working days to process it. During this time the council may request further information (RFI) from you. If this happens, the 20-day clock is stopped.
- What are the factors that can affect the new build process?There are a number of factors that can affect the new build process, typically these include:
- Design complexity.
- Number of storeys of the new build. You maybe looking at a 3 level house.
- Slope of the site. For example if the site is on a steep slope, it will be more expensive to build on.
- Volume of land to clear. This may include to original property that was knocked-down.
- The type of new build. For example custom new built homes take longer to build than off-the-plan house.
- Weather conditions are starting to be a factor.
- How long does it take to prepare for a Building Consent Application?The process of preparing your Building Consent Application can take 4 to 6 weeks.
- Where can I find information about my house?You can obtain your Property File from the local council. For Auckland you can order online. This file contains information relevant to a property, for example;
- Files of building consents or permits and associated drawings and documents.
- Inspection records and other relevant documents.
- What are weatherboards?Weatherboards are a type of cladding. They can be manufactured from timber, fibre cement, aluminium or PVC. The boards can be fixed horizontally or vertically. Also there different types of profiles available.
- How long does the reclad process take?Typically, allow 4 months (16 weeks), but due to the current materials delays this timeline can often take a lot longer.
If you’re still undecided about what to do, contact us to discuss your renovation ideas and plans and arrange for a free consultation. At Style Plus Renovations, we will help you achieve your renovation goals!
Whilst all information is considered to be true and correct at the date of publication, changes in circumstances after the time of publication may impact the accuracy of the information.
The information may change without notice and Style Plus Renovations is not in any way liable for the accuracy of any information printed and stored or in any way interpreted and used by a user.
CLIENT
TESTIMONIAL
Get started with a Free
Architects Renovation Feasibility Report
LET'S START
YOUR RENOVATION PROJECT
Tel us about your renovation project and we’ll call you back for a no-obligation chat about your ideas.
Alternatively, if you prefer, we can initially set up a meeting using Microsoft Teams or Zoom (and other meeting apps) for a no-obligation chat about your ideas.
We look forward to hearing from you to discuss your project and get you started on your renovation journey.
If you would like to know more about our renovation process, check it out here.
