How to replace outdoor cladding?

[aplas87]

Hi there looking for some advice on replacing this outdoor cladding. I'd ideally like colourbond or vinyl to replace. Is this something hubby and I can do? Thanks  

  

[JacobZ]

Hi @aplas87,

Welcome to the Bunnings Workshop community, it is fantastic to have you with us.

Replacing external cladding is a pretty advanced project that I wouldn't recommend for a beginner. If you were confident, you could give it a shot, but due to the risk of water ingress and damage to your home, it is likely one that is best left to the professionals.

If you wanted to replace the cladding, it would involve removing the existing cladding, assessing the house wrap behind it to ensure it is sound, assessing the framing to ensure it is sound and meets the requirements of your chosen cladding, making any alterations to the frame and house wrap that are required, installing the cladding as per the manufacturers guidelines then sealing all edges as per the manufacturers recommendations.

There are Colorbond cladding products, but they are typically custom-made and not purchasable off the shelf. If you used this, you would need to ensure it is installed correctly in line with the relevant construction standards and the manufacturer's recommendations.

Vinyl cladding is a very American thing that I can't say I've seen in Australia.

If you wanted to repair the damage, I would be happy to advise, but replacing the cladding altogether is not so simple.

Allow me to tag @Dave-1, @Nailbag and @TedBear to see if they have any advice they can offer.

Jacob

[Nailbag]

Hi @aplas87 

As @JacobZ has mentioned, it may not be that straight forward a job and it does need to be done correctly because of the potential for water ingress. Without knowing your level of skill and tools available, I would class this as a mid-level DIY project.

If you wanted to make it easiest on yourself, replacing like for like boards with a longer lasting hybrid weatherboard product will be easier to deal with than corrugated colourbond steel. For one, you can pry the existing boards off and use each one as templates for the new.

Having said, from the photo it looks like you only have a small issue lower left corner. Prying the board above slightly to remove the damaged one and then replacing it would be pretty straight forward. Just ensuring the flashing and insulating foil remain intact.

An even simpler repair would be to use builders bog, which would be my plan of attack. Before it sets hard, just use a sharp chisel to slice any additional fill, to reduce sanding once fully set.

Nailbag

[Dave-1]

Good Morning @aplas87 

I would say yes you could do it, tho it will be an involved process as @JacobZ has laid out. I would also be more concerned about making sure water cant make its way in afterwards aand that woul be high on my list for heading towards professionals to assess.

The levering back the timber above the affected piece that @Nailbag mentions is also the way I would approach it. Its small enough and hopefully easy enough that some time and patience getting it out and replacing it would be a much easier option.

Dave