Leaking through timber weatherboard cladding

Causes

Split or cupped boards

Plugs missing in rusticated weatherboards 

Scribers missing in bevel-back weatherboards

Joints opening due to deteriorated paint finish, particularly at mitred corners 

Poor corner detailing

No cap or saddle flashings at junctions of parapet and balcony walls 

Minimal jamb flange cover of aluminium windows

Junctions with other claddings and/or roof poorly detailed/constructed 

Listed under: Exterior, timber and wood-based, timber, cladding, walls, moisture, leaks, wall cladding, painted timber weatherboards

Cause

Split or cupped boards

Repair

  • replace damaged boards
  • a building consent will be required for repair work where the cladding has failed to meet building code durability and weathertightness provisions
  • where it is suspected that the building may be leaking and there is a risk of damage behind the cladding, engage an experienced building surveyor to report on the building 

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Cause

Plugs missing in rusticated weatherboards 

Repair

  • replace or install plugs in rusticated weatherboards
  • replace damaged boards
  • a building consent will be required for repair work where the cladding has failed to meet building code durability and weathertightness provisions
  • where it is suspected that the building may be leaking and there is a risk of damage behind the cladding, engage an experienced building surveyor to report on the building

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Cause

Scribers missing in bevel-back weatherboards

Repair

  • replace or install scribers in bevel-back weatherboards
  • replace damaged boards
  • a building consent will be required for repair work where the cladding has failed to meet building code durability and weathertightness provisions
  • where it is suspected that the building may be leaking and there is a risk of damage behind the cladding, engage an experienced building surveyor to report on the building 

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Cause

Joints opening due to deteriorated paint finish, particularly at mitred corners 

Repair

 

  • see 'Admitting moisture into joint'
  • scrape or sand to remove deteriorating paint; prime; paint with at least two coats of semi-gloss or high gloss acrylic paint; cover joints and corners with galvanised steel soakers (metal covers) or timber cover boards
  • replace damaged boards
  • a building consent will be required for repair work where the cladding has failed to meet building code durability and weathertightness provisions
  • where it is suspected that the building may be leaking and there is a risk of damage behind the cladding, engage an experienced building surveyor to report on the building 

Repair

  • scrape or sand to remove deteriorating paint; prime; paint with at least two coats of semi-gloss or high gloss acrylic paint; cover joints and corners with galvanised steel soakers (metal covers) or timber cover boards
  • replace damaged boards
  • a building consent will be required for repair work where the cladding has failed to meet building code durability and weathertightness provisions
  • where it is suspected that the building may be leaking and there is a risk of damage behind the cladding, engage an experienced building surveyor to report on the building 

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Cause

Poor corner detailing

Repair

  • scrape or sand to remove deteriorating paint; prime; paint with at least two coats of semi-gloss or high gloss acrylic paint; cover joints and corners with galvanised steel soakers (metal covers) or timber cover boards
  • replace damaged boards
  • a building consent will be required for repair work where the cladding has failed to meet building code durability and weathertightness provisions
  • where it is suspected that the building may be leaking and there is a risk of damage behind the cladding, engage an experienced building surveyor to report on the building 

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Cause

No cap or saddle flashings at junctions of parapet and balcony walls 

Repair

  • remove weatherboards, install flashings as required, replace weatherboards
  • replace damaged boards
  • a building consent will be required for repair work where the cladding has failed to meet building code durability and weathertightness provisions
  • where it is suspected that the building may be leaking and there is a risk of damage behind the cladding, engage an experienced building surveyor to report on the building 

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Cause

Minimal jamb flange cover of aluminium windows

Repair

  • replace windows with windows that have larger jamb flanges

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Cause

Junctions with other claddings and/or roof poorly detailed/constructed 

Repair

  • engage a registered building surveyor to report on the building and repair options
  • a building consent will be required for repair work where the cladding has failed to meet building code durability and weathertightness provisions

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