Start with the wall area and the reason for the work
Are you investigating a moisture problem, replacing deteriorated cladding, or changing the exterior as part of a larger alteration? Those starting points can lead to different investigations, designs and repair scopes.
Describe which elevations are involved and provide the house plans if you have them. A floor-area figure alone does not describe the amount or complexity of exterior wall. Storeys, corners, openings and the way roofs and decks meet the walls all matter.
We start our recladding work in Wellington with a conversation about your scope and the stage your plans and approvals have reached. Share any building survey, moisture report or designer’s advice so the discussion starts from the same information.
If the concern is a small patch of damaged timber, read our guide to rotten weatherboards first. A local repair and a whole-house reclad need different quote briefs.
Build the budget in parts
| Budget item | What to clarify |
|---|---|
| Investigation and design | Existing reports, further investigation, drawings, specifications and any specialist design input. |
| Approvals and inspections | The approval path for the actual work, council fees and required inspection stages. |
| Site access and protection | Scaffolding or other access, temporary weather protection, delivery space and protection of nearby areas. |
| Removal and disposal | Which cladding and trims are removed, how materials are assessed, and disposal arrangements. |
| Work behind the cladding | Assessment and any repair of framing, wall underlay and associated components once they are accessible. |
| The complete wall system | Selected cladding, fixings, flashings, junction details, window and door interfaces, and the specified finish. |
| Making good | Painting extent, trims, disturbed internal finishes, decks, landscaping or other areas affected by access and building work. |
| Household arrangements | How the home will be used during the work and any separate living, storage or access arrangements you need. |
For every item, mark whether it is included in the builder’s price, arranged by you, priced by someone else, or still to be confirmed. That gives you a more useful total than comparing only the cladding supply line.
Keep known work and allowances visible
Some wall conditions become clear only when the cladding is opened. Before accepting a quote, ask what has been assessed, which parts remain concealed and how additional findings will be handled.
A practical written arrangement identifies who will explain a discovery, what evidence you will receive, how a proposed change will be priced and when you need to approve it. Ask how the change could affect the programme as well as the budget.
- Read each allowance: what work does it cover, what assumption supports it, and what happens if that assumption changes?
- Check exclusions: note items such as painting, joinery, designer fees or making good so they are included elsewhere in your overall budget.
- Compare the same finish: use the same cladding specification and window scope across the options you are weighing.
- Confirm GST and payment stages: make sure you understand the total being presented and what each payment relates to.
Our guide to comparing renovation quotes gives you a wider checklist for inclusions, exclusions and changes.
A useful question about windows
“Are we retaining these windows, replacing them, or allowing for either outcome after assessment?”
Write the answer into the scope. Ask how the chosen approach connects to the new wall system, the flashings and the internal finishes. Deciding this alongside the cladding avoids comparing one quote that retains the windows with another that replaces them.
Prepare a recladding quote brief
- Give the property address, number of storeys and the sides of the house involved.
- Explain the reason for the work and any signs of water entry or deterioration.
- Share plans, reports, photographs and relevant repair history.
- Describe access around the house, including narrow passages, slopes and adjoining decks.
- List the cladding and finish options you are considering, plus your window and door intentions.
- State the stage of design and council discussions, and any timing or living arrangements the work must account for.
Consent depends on the proposed scope. The general repair exemption does not cover every cladding replacement, including certain durability failures and substantial structural replacement. Confirm the approval path with your designer, builder and council before the work starts.
For a project that also changes rooms or adds space, use our home renovation guide to keep the exterior work connected to the wider plan.
Can you give me a price from photographs?
Photos are useful for the first discussion, especially wide views of the walls and access. A meaningful quote needs an agreed scope and enough information about the property and proposed work.
Is a partial reclad always the cheaper approach?
Compare what each option resolves and the work needed at its junctions with the retained cladding. The assessment and design should define a coherent repair before you compare the cost.