Why Summer Is The Perfect Time To Reclad Your Home
Is your home telling you it is time for a fresh face?
Maybe the plaster is cracking, paint is peeling, or you keep catching a faint musty smell after rain. Maybe you know your house was built in the classic “leaky home” era and it has been sitting on your mind for a while.
Recladding can feel like a big, slightly scary project, but done well it can completely transform how your home looks, feels and performs. Summer is one of the best times to tackle it, especially in Auckland’s climate.
This guide walks through why summer reclads work so well, what to expect, and a bunch of practical tips to make the whole process smoother if you have a dated exterior or a suspected leaky home.
Why summer is a smart time to reclad
Recladding can technically happen year round, but summer brings some very real advantages.
1. Better weather and faster drying
Recladding involves opening up your walls, exposing framing and installing new building wraps, flashings and cladding systems. Summer helps because:
There are more dry days, so less weather disruption.
Timber framing dries faster if any moisture is found.
Sealants, membranes and paints cure more quickly and more reliably in warmer temperatures.
Result: fewer weather delays, a shorter overall project and less time living in a construction zone.
2. Longer daylight hours
With extra daylight, your build team can:
Get more done each day without working at awkward times.
Move faster through key milestones like wrapping, flashing and closing in walls.
For you, that often means a tighter, more predictable schedule and fewer “this will spill into next week” conversations.
3. Easier to live through the disruption
When recladding, parts of your exterior come off, scaffolding goes up and there is a steady flow of tradies and materials.
Summer simply makes that easier:
You can use decks and outdoor areas as extra living space while work is going on.
Outdoor cooking takes pressure off the kitchen when access is limited.
Windows and doors can be opened to ventilate dust and smells without freezing the house out.
How to tell it might be time to reclad
You do not always need a full reclad, but these are strong signs it is worth investigating:
Hairline cracks in plaster cladding, especially around windows and corners.
Bubbling or flaking paint that keeps coming back.
Stains, swelling or softness around skirting boards or window sills.
Musty smells that are strongest after heavy rain.
Past repairs that keep reappearing in the same areas.
Your home was built in the known “leaky home” period and uses monolithic plaster cladding with minimal eaves.
If any of these sound familiar, summer is a great time to open things up, assess properly and fix the underlying cause instead of constantly patching the symptoms.
What actually happens in a reclad
There is a lot of jargon around recladding, so here is the process in plain language.
Investigation and planning
A licenced builder and other specialists (such as a weathertightness assessor or engineer for leaky homes) inspect the exterior and key internal areas. From there you get:A clearer picture of any damage.
Concept options for new cladding systems.
A rough cost and timeline.
Consent and design
Reclads usually require a building consent. This is where architectural drawings, product choices and details like flashings and ventilation are all nailed down so the work meets the Building Code and weathertightness requirements.Scaffolding and site setup
Scaffolding goes up, safety barriers and site fencing go in, and protective coverings for paths and gardens are set out.Strip back the old cladding
The old cladding is removed in stages, revealing the framing. Any damaged timber is cut out and replaced. Insulation can often be checked and upgraded at this point too.Make it dry and tight
New building wrap, flashings, cavity battens and other weathertightness components are installed. This stage is critical for leaky homes, as it is where the underlying weaknesses in the old system are fixed.Install the new cladding
The new cladding system goes on, followed by details like soffits, trim, sealants and exterior finishings.Finishing and painting
Painting or staining is completed, scaffolding comes down and the site is cleaned up.
Summer conditions help at almost every step, from drying framing to getting paint finishes perfect.
Summer recladding tips for a smoother project
Here are some practical things that make a big difference.
1. Book early and be realistic on timing
Builders, scaffolders and painters often book out months in advance for summer. If you want a summer reclad:
Start conversations in winter or early spring.
Be realistic about the timeline. A full reclad is usually measured in weeks to months, not days.
A good builder will give you a staged plan and explain what will be happening around your home each week.
2. Talk to your neighbours before the scaffolding arrives
Recladding usually means:
Scaffolding up close to boundaries.
Some noise from tools and deliveries.
A few extra vehicles on the street.
A quick chat and a rough schedule on the fridge in the neighbour’s house can go a long way to keeping everyone happy. Summer is also when more people are outside enjoying their gardens, so early communication really helps.
3. Protect your gardens and outdoor areas
If you are proud of your landscaping, protect it before work starts:
Photograph any garden areas near the walls that will be worked on.
Discuss protection with your builder: temporary boards over grass, shade cloth over delicate plants, relocating pots.
Move outdoor furniture, barbecues and kids’ toys away from the work area.
This keeps the site safer and reduces the chance of damage.
4. Plan for privacy and security
When cladding comes off, there can be periods where sections of wall are open or only wrapped.
Useful summer tips:
Use temporary blinds or screens on windows in bedrooms and bathrooms.
Ask your builder how the house will be secured at the end of each day.
Keep valuables away from windows and access points during the build.
5. Make the most of being “open”
Once your walls are open, it is a good time to consider a few extras:
Upgrading insulation to improve comfort year round.
Running new cabling for future power points, exterior lighting or cameras.
Checking window condition and thinking about upgrading single glazing to modern units.
Doing these while the walls are open is far easier than trying to retrofit them later.
Extra considerations for leaky homes
If you suspect you have a leaky home, summer is particularly helpful because it gives your builder the best chance to dry and repair framing properly. A few key points:
Get proper investigation
Do not rely only on guesswork. Moisture readings, targeted invasive testing and professional reports are worth their weight in gold for planning and for future resale.Think long term, not cosmetic
A true leaky home fix is about weathertightness and structure, not just a fresh coat of paint. Expect repairs to focus on:Removing moisture traps.
Adding drainage and ventilation cavities.
Redesigning high risk details such as flat tops, parapets or badly detailed balconies.
Keep good records
Store reports, consent documents, invoices, photos and warranties together. Future buyers and banks are often far more comfortable with a previously leaky home that has a properly documented reclad by licenced professionals.
Budgeting and expectations
Recladding is an investment that can:
Protect your biggest asset from ongoing moisture damage.
Improve comfort and energy efficiency.
Modernise the look and curb appeal of your home.
Increase buyer confidence and value.
Costs will depend on size, design, access, the amount of timber repair required and the cladding system you choose.
A good builder will:
Break down costs clearly.
Flag areas where there is some uncertainty until walls are opened.
Help you prioritise if your wish list is bigger than the budget.
Summer does not necessarily make the work cheaper, but it often makes it more predictable.
A quick summer reclad checklist
If you are thinking about recladding this summer, start here:
Note any visible issues: cracks, stains, swelling, musty smells.
Gather any past reports or repair invoices.
Decide if you are just refreshing a tired exterior or dealing with a potential leaky home.
Talk to a licenced builder about an initial inspection and options.
Ask about timeframes, consent requirements and likely disruption.
Give your neighbours a heads up once plans are forming.
Plan how you will use outdoor spaces while work is underway.
Ready to talk about recladding your home?
Whether your exterior is simply dated or you are worried about leaks, summer is the perfect window to investigate, plan and get it sorted.
True Property Builders can walk you through the options, explain the process in plain language and give you a clear plan for bringing your home up to modern standards.
Sorting your cladding in summer sets your home up to face many more winters with confidence.
