Few building materials are quite as associated with Australian homes as weatherboard. While it has been a staple for Aussie home exteriors since the mid-19th century, you may be wondering whether it is the right look for your 21st-century home. Let’s take a look at some of the colour schemes available for weatherboard and provide some inspiration for your new home’s exterior colour scheme.
What is weatherboard?
Weatherboard is a term used mostly in Australia and New Zealand, so if you’re an international reader, you may be wondering what exactly weatherboard is. A weatherboard is an exterior cladding, usually made from timber and is recognisable by its horizontal slates. Though the term Weatherboard is mostly used in the Southern Hemisphere, the same basic product exists worldwide and just goes by a different name (in the USA, it’s called clapboard).
Though traditionally made from wood, weatherboard is now also available in materials including fibre cement and PVC. The best choice of material will come down to your preference, the environment you building in and your budget.
Traditional weatherboard home colour options
Weatherboard is a go-to option for traditional home designs and has been for decades. For a traditional home, a neutral tone is preferable to anything too bold. Cream, white and grey will all work well as your main colour, providing a heritage look without looking too dated.
Modern & contemporary weatherboard home colour options
Modern and contemporary designs feature bolder colours than traditional colour pallets. Some options include monochromatic colour schemes, using variations of one main colour to add depth to your house’s look (for example warm greys and charcoal black). When done well, your house will leave quite an impression and have some serious street appeal.
Some potential colour schemes for a modern home include black and white, grey on grey and monochromatic.
Coastal weatherboard home colour options
When building near the beach, warmer tones are a great choice. For a Hamptons-style home, a crisp white or warm white with a slight accent colour for windows and trims (a pale blue, green or even greys) will suit any coastal facade. Alternately, using pastels as a main colour can create a striking yet relaxed look for your home.
Bold & unique weatherboard home colour options
Looking to make a bold statement with your main colour, a contrasting colour scheme is a classic way to stand out from the crowd. There’s a fine art to this, as you want your colours to clash so they highlight and complement each other. You don’t want your home to stand out for the wrong reasons. Some proven contrasting colour combinations include red and green, yellow and purple, and orange and blue.
What makes Weatherboard a good option for Australian homes?
Pros of Weatherboard
Available in a variety of materials: Though timber is the most popular material for weatherboard cladding in Australia, there are various other materials available.
Affordable option: Weatherboard homes are much more affordable in price compared to other materials, especially brick or stone. Weatherboard is a fantastic option for those working on a tight budget.
Versatile Look: Weatherboard has been an Aussie home
Sustainable Choice: Weatherboard is often made from 100% recycled materials, making it an especially sustainable building material choice. How sustainable your weatherboard is will depend on where you purchase it, so double-check how eco-friendly the product you’re buying actually is.
Built with Australian Weather conditions in mind: Locally made weatherboard is designed to hold up to Australian climate
Cons of Weatherboard
Requires constant maintenance: Weatherboard requires more maintenance than other materials, including cleaning, repainting and general checks for rot, mould and termites.
Lack of insulation without other materials: When tallying up cost, you’ll need to take into account that weatherboard on its own is unlikely to provide enough insulation for your home.
Wood Damage is a risk: There are a few risks that come with building anything with timber, including rot, mould and termites. All of these are serious issues that can cause major damage to your home if left to get out of hand.
What factors should you consider when choosing house colours?
- Research pre-existing colour schemes to get a feel of what colours work together and which don’t.
- If you’re completely lost when it comes to colours, hire a decorator.
- Think long-term: the colour of your house is a long-term investment, so try to pick something that will still look great in a decade or so.
Our tips for choosing the right colour palette
- What is your home’s style: certain colour schemes suit specific home styles. For example, a Hamptons design is perfect for white and pale colours, not so much for black or anything overly bold. The architectural features of your home will suit certain colour schemes more than others.
- Personal preference: While you should certainly seek advice and check out what’s in, you should also listen to your gut. Your own preferences matter. You don’t want to come home every day to a house that’s in style, but that you can’t stand.
- Try a sample of any paint before committing. In different lights, one colour can look completely different. Get a sample of a colour you are interested in and paint a small area of your home’s exterior to see how it looks. It could save you from making a huge mistake.
- Consider the neighbourhood you’re building in: Take a look at the homes around where you’re building. Is the surrounding environment full of heritage homes? Perhaps you’re near the beach and there are a lot of lighter colour schemes? You see a lot of modern homes in your new area. Each of these provides an excellent starting point as to what colour scheme will fit in.
- Talk to a professional for more advice. At Buildi, we can offer a range of advice or put you in touch with someone who can.
Buildi is here to help
Need help choosing the best colour palette for your home? Perhaps there are other parts of the building process you feel unsure of, such as permits, or even finding the best contractor for a job. When you ask a builder if they’re any good, it’s doubtful they will tell you their flaws.
Buildi is an impartial voice who is here to help you navigate the construction industry and save time, frustration and money along the way.
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