The exterior is slate? or similar and parts are damaged, and some the frame is also damaged to nail the slate to.
Welcome to the Bunnings Workshop community @BigdogBaker. It's sensational to have you join us and many thanks for your question on cladding a garage.
That sounds like a really interesting project. It would help a lot to see some photos of the garage, especially the damaged areas, so we can better understand what you’re working with. If you’re not sure how to upload images here, I can walk you through it.
Slate was traditionally used more for roofing than walls, so it’s a bit unusual but not unheard of depending on the build. If you can share a few shots of the exterior and the framing behind it, that’ll give much better context. The other possibility is cement sheeting, which is commonly used for outbuildings. Given the age, be very mindful that it could possibly contain asbestos, so do not disturb it until verified otherwise by a professional or through testing.
From what you’ve described, if parts of the frame are damaged, you may need to repair or replace those sections first before reattaching any slate tiles. The integrity of the frame is key, otherwise anything you fix on the surface won’t hold up long-term.
Please let me know if you have any questions.
Mitchell
Thanks, Mitchellmc, I am traveling up the Coast this weekend (The Entrance) from Sydney and will take photos and send them.
PS I am not by any means a builder, but am building some skills with the aim of retiring up The Entrance and buying a place that needs some care so I don't get bored in my retirement.
Cheers
