Walls and cladding

Houses built in the 1940s-60s typically used timber (native or exotic) for framing, and weatherboard, brick, asbestos-cement or stucco cladding.

In any renovation, you’ll need to consider insulation, and may have to deal with issues such as undersized framing and inadequate bracing.

Original details

Use of timber

By the late 1940s, exotic timbers such as pinus radiata and Douglas fir were replacing native timbers. Read more.

Wall framing

Wall framing was typically 4 x 2” rimu or pinus radiata. Read more.

Wall cladding

1940s-60s houses most often used weatherboards, brick veneer, asbestos or stucco cladding. Read more.

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Common problems and remedies

Insulation

Few houses built in the 1940s and 1950s were insulated. Insulation may have to be retrofitted as part of any renovation project. Read more.

Structure

Houses built in the 1940s-60s may have undersized framing and inadequate bracing. Read more.

Matching new framing and cladding to existing

New framing timber has different dimensions from original 1940s-60s framing, and new weatherboards have different profiles. There are several ways to deal with these differences. Read more.

Corrosion

Flashings and fixings may be affected by corrosion. Read more.

Internal linings

Problems may include walls that are out of plumb or are unsuitable for paint finish, and linings that have cracked due to building movement. Read more.