Cladding Advice

Choosing the Perfect Cladding for Your New Zealand Home in 2025: A Longview Homes Guide

Here at Longview Homes, we understand that selecting the right cladding is one of the most crucial decisions you’ll make for your new home. It’s not just about aesthetics; it’s about durability, maintenance, performance, and how your home integrates with our stunning New Zealand landscape. As your trusted advisor in the building industry, we’re here to help you navigate the options and make an informed choice for 2025 and beyond.

The right cladding protects your home from the elements, enhances its curb appeal, and can even contribute to its energy efficiency. When making your decision, consider these key factors:

• Location and Environment: Is your home exposed to harsh coastal winds, intense sun, or heavy rainfall?
• Architectural Style: Do you envision a classic, contemporary, or unique look?
• Maintenance Expectations: How much time and effort are you willing to invest in upkeep?
• Budget: Cladding materials vary significantly in cost.
• Sustainability Goals: Are eco-friendly and renewable resources a priority for you?

Let’s explore some popular cladding options thriving in New Zealand homes:

Popular Cladding Choices for New Zealand Homes

1. Colorsteel Profiled Sheets
   • Description: A versatile and popular choice, Colorsteel offers pre-painted steel sheets with a durable, long-lasting finish. They can be profiled in various styles to suit different architectural looks.
   • Longview Homes Advantage: We’ve seen firsthand how Colorsteel Profiled sheets create incredibly low-maintenance homes, perfect for busy lifestyles. This was a key feature in our custom design and build for Dave and Christine in Awakeri, Bay of Plenty, allowing them to enjoy their stunning 360-degree views without constant upkeep.
   • Pros: Exceptional durability, wide range of colours and profiles, low maintenance, lightweight.
   • Cons: Can sometimes appear industrial depending on profile and colour choice.
2. Timber Weatherboards (e.g., Abodo, Cedar)

1. Description: Timber provides timeless warmth and character, adding a natural aesthetic to any home. Options like Abodo are engineered for durability and sustainability. Cedar offers beautiful grain and natural resistance to decay.
2. Longview Homes Advantage: For clients with a strong focus on environmentally friendly and sustainable practices, Abodo weatherboards are an excellent choice. We used vertically fixed Abodo weatherboards in a new build in Opotiki, as they are a renewable resource and require no chemical treatments, perfectly aligning with the client’s brief. Cedar weatherboards also make for stunning feature areas, as seen in our custom Ohope Beach build.
3. Pros: Natural beauty, excellent insulation properties, sustainable options available, can be painted or stained.
4. Cons: Requires regular maintenance (painting/staining) to preserve its appearance and longevity.
5. Fibre Cement Weatherboards (e.g., James Hardie Stria)

1. Description: Engineered for strength and stability, fibre cement cladding offers a robust and durable exterior. Products like James Hardie Stria provide a modern, clean line aesthetic, often used vertically for a contemporary look.
2. Longview Homes Advantage: In harsh environments like beachfront sites, durability is paramount. Our custom new build at Ohope Beach utilised Stria vertically fixed fibre cement weatherboards for their hard-wearing and stable qualities, combined with Colorsteel Maxx longrun roofing to enhance the clean lines of the design.
3. Pros: High durability, low maintenance, resistant to rot, fire, and pests, design flexibility.
4. Cons: Can be heavier than other options, installation might require specialised tools.
5. Brick and Stone/Schist Cladding

1. Description: Brick is a classic, low-maintenance choice offering excellent thermal mass and a wide variety of colours and textures. Stone and schist provide a luxurious, natural, and highly durable finish, particularly popular in regions like Queenstown and Wanaka.
2. Pros: Extremely durable, very low maintenance, excellent thermal properties, timeless appeal.
3. Cons: Can be more expensive to install, less design flexibility compared to other options.

Our Expert Advice

Choosing the right cladding is a partnership. At Longview Homes, we pride ourselves on our attention to detail, quality craftsmanship, and exceptional communication throughout your build journey. Our experienced designers work closely with you, collating your ideas and wish list, to create a customised plan that perfectly matches your vision and budget. We even help you select products that meet your specific needs, even if they require longer lead times.

Ready to discuss the perfect cladding for your dream home? We can’t wait to work with you on your project’s success!