Walls and cladding

Weatherboard, brick veneer, asbestos-cement, stucco, concrete block, and other claddings were all used in the 1970s.

In any renovation, you'll need to consider insulation, and may have to deal with issues such as deterioration in cladding.

Original details

Use of timber

By the 1970s, the most common timber for house construction was pinus radiata. Read more.

Wall framing

Wall framing was typically 100 x 50 mm pinus radiata. Read more.
See wall cladding for details of concrete block construction.

Wall cladding

1970s houses most often used timber weatherboards, brick veneer, asbestos or stucco cladding, or concrete block construction. Read more.

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Common problems and remedies

Insulation

Few houses built in the early 1970s were insulated, and where insulation was installed it is unlikely to meet modern requirements. Insulation may be required as part of any renovation project, and in any case will provide benefits for occupants. Read more.

Moisture and weathertightness

Though 1970s houses are usually weathertight, there may be a risk of moisture getting in where there are gaps in cladding or it has been damaged or deteriorated. Read more.

Matching new framing and cladding to existing

New framing timber has different dimensions from original 1970s framing. Original cladding may also be difficult to match. 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 unsuitable for paint finish, and linings that have cracked due to building movement. Read more.