Everything you need to know to clad over your brick home

We delve into what it takes to clad over your brick home with Julian Brenchley, The Block Architect.

The Block stepped back to the 1950’s this season as our couples were tasked with bringing five houses into the modern day, turning them from ugly ducklings into modern masterpieces. This was no easy task for our couples as the facades of the houses were well and truly stuck in a time warp of brick and cement with very little street appeal.

Steph and Gian have created a stunning facade cladding over the existing brick to give this blonde brick house the ultimate transformation. House 5 used  Hardie™ Fine Texture Cladding to give the house a board and batten look.

When it comes to transforming homes from a bygone era, few materials can transform the look and feel as dramatically as James Hardie engineered fibre cement products.  The Hardie™ range of cladding products has become a staple for  Block couples who engage the mastermind team from Hardie to help them create fresh, modern, and durable exterior.

Let's take a look at some real-life before-and-after transformations that showcase the power of the Hardie™ Architectural Collection:

How incredible is this transformation? Builder: JJSACCO Building, Designer: Lydia Thompson, using: Linea™ Weatherboard 180mm

And who remembers this incredible before and after, from red brick horrors to a hamptons haven, read all about it here. Using  Linea™ Weatherboard

“You can do anything with the Hardie™ Architectural Collection” Julian Brenchley, Block Architect explains. The look is only limited by the imagination of the designer.“

“You can choose to preserve the existing brick structure while adding a modern extension, or you can clad the entire house to achieve a harmonious design, at a fraction of the cost. The possibilities are endless, and the outcome can be absolutely transformational.” 

Julian designed the facades for all five Block house in 2023, Kristy and Brett's house used a combination of existing brickwork and Hardie™ Oblique™ Cladding

Not only has Julian Brenchley been recognised internationally for his work, but Brenchley has designed every Block residential project starting with the debut season in Bondi in 2003.

Julian is regularly asked by renovators about how these products work and how to use Hardie™ cladding products to give their homes a facelift so we thought we would sit down with Julian and the team at Hardie™ to answer some of your questions.

Leah and Ash in House 2 also had a combination of existing brickwork and Hardie™ Oblique™ Cladding

Can I clad over brick?

Yes, you can. Weatherboard cladding is a great alternative to rendering to achieve the hallmark look that is synonymous with Hamptons style, combining traditional and contemporary with ease.

Updating a brick façade with products from the Hardie™ Architectural Collection is a straightforward and effective way to give your home a fresh makeover and personalise the look of the exterior, and is an obvious choice for restoring or updating older buildings.

The process typically involves the installation of the vapour permeable membrane (VPM), such as HardieWrapTM Weather Barrier over the brickwork and then the timber or fibre cement batten to create the frame.

How do I know if weatherboard is suitable for my home?

The clean, horizontal lines of Linea™ Weatherboard cladding, combined with simple installation, mean they suit just about every home and environment.

Whether your property is by the water, in the country or on a suburban street, Linea™ Weatherboard with its simple and stylish exterior is designed to make you feel relaxed and comfortable, like you’re on holidays all year round.

The durability of James Hardie engineered fibre cement products means it is also suitable for any Australian climate – the product is resistant to shrinking, cracking and swelling due to heat and moisture which often happens with timber boards. This makes it an ideal choice anywhere from harsh and dry regions to wet and rainy climes

Will the weatherboard last? 

Yes. When installed and maintained correctly using the right materials, weatherboard cladding will stand the test of time not only aesthetically but also physically.

By choosing fibre cement-based cladding as a modern alternative to timber, homeowners are able to achieve the same look of traditional weatherboards without the expense and maintenance. Resistant to damage from termites and fire resistant, fibre cement cladding has the same look as classic weatherboards, with added benefits of resisting warping and shrinking from exposure to heat or moisture.

Can I paint it any colour? 

Yes! While it’s hard to go past classic white, products from the Hardie™ Architectural Collection can be painted any colour you choose. 

The boards are pre-primed to hold paint longer, so you can take your pick of exterior finishes, from light and bright shades such as white, dove grey and pastels through to more modern dark paint colours like charcoal and duck egg blue. 

For trims that match the durability and longevity of the products from Hardie™ Architectural Collection, Axent Trim™ is resistant to shrinking, swelling and cracking. It is available in a range of timber-like profiles to suit door and window surrounds as well as external and internal corners to join cladding, and comes pre-primed for fast paint application.

Steph from House 4 is an architect by profession and said "alot of people don't understand that you can paint this product whichever colour you want" 

Cladding over brick with James Hardie products, offers a winning combination of aesthetics and durability. With the right planning and installation, you can transform your home's exterior and make it the envy of your neighborhood.

So, if you're ready to elevate your home's aesthetic and embrace the benefits of James Hardie cladding, it's time to get started on your renovation project. 

Your dream home is just a few cladding boards away!

Want to see more before and afters, check out this one here.