Service · Gold Coast

Cladding Gold Coast

External wall cladding installation, replacement and repairs across the Gold Coast and Brisbane - fibre cement and James Hardie systems, weatherboards, timber and composite cladding, full re-clads, soffits and screening, installed with correct battening, ventilation and weatherproofing.

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Living room with timber batten feature wall and built-in joinery

Quick answer

Orange Projects installs, replaces and repairs external cladding across the Gold Coast and Brisbane, including fibre cement systems such as HardiePlank, Linea, Axon, Stria, Matrix and EasyLap, plus timber weatherboards and composite cladding. Installed cladding typically costs $180-$400 per square metre depending on the product, with removal of existing cladding quoted separately. Correct battening, drainage cavity, sarking and flashings matter more than the board itself - that is what decides whether a coastal facade lasts.

Typical range: $180 - $400 per m2 installed
Timeframe: 3 days - 3 weeks
Coverage: All Gold Coast suburbs + Brisbane
Credentials: QBCC-licensed, insured

Overview

Cladding is the fastest way to change how a house reads from the street. A tired brick, fibro or rendered facade with new external cladding across the entry and upper level looks like a different home, at a fraction of the cost of a rebuild. It is also one of the most common requests we get from owners in Burleigh Heads, Palm Beach, Mermaid Waters, Helensvale and the inner Brisbane suburbs. We cover the whole service, not just one product: new cladding installation, replacement of old or damaged cladding, weatherboard replacement, and repairs to sections that have failed. Fibre cement, James Hardie systems, timber, timber weatherboards and composite are all on the table, and the right answer usually differs wall by wall depending on exposure and the look you are after. The risk with cladding is what sits behind it. A beautiful board fixed straight onto a wall with no drainage cavity, no sarking and no flashings will trap moisture and fail, and on the Gold Coast, with driving rain and salt air, it fails faster. Orange Projects installs cladding as a QBCC licensed contractor, which means we build the wall system, not just the surface.

What's included

New external cladding installation for renovations, extensions and existing homes
Cladding replacement and full re-clads over brick, render, fibro or old weatherboard
Fibre cement cladding installation and replacement
James Hardie systems - HardiePlank, Linea, Axon, Stria, Matrix, EasyLap
Timber cladding - shiplap, weatherboard, board and batten, vertical shadowline
Timber weatherboard replacement and profile matching on older homes
Composite cladding installation
Cladding repairs to damaged, split, cracked or deteriorated boards
Battening, sarking, drainage cavity and vermin mesh
Flashings, head and sill details, penetration sealing
Soffits, eave linings and undercroft cladding
External timber screening and privacy battens
Prefinishing, oiling and coating of boards
Assessment and rectification of timber found behind removed cladding

Cladding installation

New external cladding for renovations, extensions, alterations and existing homes. We set the wall system out first - breathable wrap, vertical battens, drainage cavity and vermin mesh - then install the boards or panels you have chosen. Whether that is a fibre cement weatherboard, a vertical panel system, timber or composite, the setout is what makes a finished elevation read as clean, even lines rather than a patchwork of joins and gaps. Window and door trims, corners, soffits and penetrations are planned before the first board goes on.

Cladding replacement and re-clads

Removal and replacement of old, damaged, deteriorated or simply outdated external cladding. This is where the biggest visual change comes from, and it is also the one opportunity you get to fix what is behind the wall - insulation, wrap, flashings and any timber needing attention. We manage removal and disposal, the new installation, and all the trims and flashings that finish it properly, keeping the house weathertight as we go rather than opening more wall than we can close in a day.

Timber batten screen and feature wall in a contemporary lounge

Fibre cement cladding

Fibre cement is the most widely used cladding on Queensland homes for good reason: it handles UV, salt air and driving rain with very little maintenance, it takes paint well, and it is available in profiles that range from traditional weatherboard to sharp contemporary panels. We install and replace fibre cement cladding systems across the Gold Coast and Brisbane, including the James Hardie products most people are familiar with, along with equivalents from other manufacturers where they suit the job better.

James Hardie cladding systems

James Hardie products cover most of the looks owners ask for, and we install them regularly. HardiePlank weatherboard for a classic Queensland profile, Linea weatherboard for a wider, deeper shadow line, Axon for vertical grooved panels, Stria for strong horizontal banding, Matrix for a contemporary expressed-joint facade, and EasyLap where a flat rendered-look sheet is wanted. Each has its own fixing, jointing and flashing requirements, and each has to be installed to the manufacturer's specification for the warranty to stand. We are not a single-brand installer, so if another product suits your wall, budget or look better, we will say so.

Repaired and repainted plasterboard ceiling in a residential living room

Timber cladding and weatherboards

Nothing imitating timber looks quite like timber. Shiplap, weatherboard, board and batten and vertical shadowline in spotted gum, blackbutt, merbau or cedar, used across full elevations or as an entry and upper-level feature. Timber weatherboard replacement on older homes is a regular job for us, where matching the existing profile is what keeps the house looking original rather than patched. The trade-off is maintenance: most exposed timber cladding on the Gold Coast needs recoating every 18 to 24 months, and more often on west and north elevations. We talk that through honestly, and offer composite or fibre cement where you want the look without the upkeep.

Cladding repairs

Repairs to cracked, split, water-damaged, impact-damaged or storm-damaged cladding, along with the associated carpentry, flashings and jointing. Where only part of an elevation has failed we can often repair and blend into the existing cladding, which keeps the cost well below a full re-clad. Where the underlying problem is the original installation - no cavity, missing flashings, boards hard against the ground - we will tell you plainly, because patching that kind of wall only buys a couple of years.

Tradesperson repairing a timber door frame inside a residential home

Timber damage behind existing cladding

Most re-clads come apart cleanly and the framing underneath is in good order. Occasionally, once the old cladding is off, some deterioration turns up in framing, battens, trims or sill members that nobody could have seen beforehand. If that happens we stop, photograph the exposed area, show you exactly what is there and price any rectification before we carry on. It is not something to plan for or worry about, just something worth knowing can happen, so if it does, you get a clear explanation and a number rather than a surprise.

The wall system behind the boards

A compliant cladding installation is a drained and ventilated cavity system: sarking or a breathable wrap on the frame, vertical battens creating an air gap, mesh top and bottom for vermin and ventilation, and boards fixed to the battens. Water that gets behind the boards - and it always does - drains out and the wall dries. Skipping the cavity to save a few hundred dollars is the single most common cause of the failed cladding we are called out to repair.

Details that decide whether it lasts

Head flashings over windows, correct sill and apron details, sealed penetrations for taps and lights, a clean ground clearance so boards are not wicking moisture, stainless or hot-dipped galvanised fixings near the coast, correct joint treatment on fibre cement, and end grain sealed before fixing. These are the details you cannot see on a finished job and cannot fix later without pulling the wall apart.

Cladding as part of a wider renovation

Cladding is often the finishing move on a bigger project - a raise and build under, a garage conversion, a facade update, or a deck and pergola package that needs the adjoining wall to match. Because we handle carpentry, decking, framing and finishing in-house, the cladding lines, deck level and window trims are set out together instead of three trades each doing their own thing.

Why choose Orange Projects

QBCC-licensed & fully insured

Orange Projects is a QBCC-licensed business carrying full public liability and works insurance, so every Gold Coast project is delivered under a QBCC-licensed business, insured, protected contract.

Gold Coast renovation specialists

We have hands-on experience in the Gold Coast climate, coastal conditions and local council requirements from Coolangatta to Coomera.

Fixed-price quotes

You receive a detailed, itemised fixed-price quote after site inspection - no vague allowances, no mid-project surprises.

Premium workmanship

Our licensed carpenters and trade partners hold themselves to a high finishing standard and take pride in tidy sites and clean details.

End-to-end project management

one QBCC licensed team manages design coordination, trades, approvals and finishes so you have one point of contact from start to handover.

Clear communication

Regular progress updates, honest timelines and quick responses - you always know where your project is at.

Quality materials

We specify materials that suit the Queensland climate and stand up to salt air, humidity and UV - not just what's cheapest on the shelf.

Warranty-backed workmanship

All work is backed by QBCC statutory warranties and our own workmanship guarantee, so the finish lasts long after handover.

Our process

1
Free Gold Coast consultation
We meet on site anywhere from Coolangatta to Coomera (or virtually), understand your goals, take measurements and photos, and answer every question - no pressure and no obligation.
2
Fixed-price quote
You receive a detailed written quote after site inspection, itemising labour, materials and inclusions with no vague allowances - what you sign is what you pay.
3
Scheduling & approvals
We coordinate any required certification, Gold Coast City Council approvals and align trades to a clear program of works so you know exactly when each stage happens.
4
Build & progress updates
Our Gold Coast crew executes the work with regular photo updates, tidy sites and clear communication throughout - you're never left wondering.
5
Final walkthrough & handover
We complete a defects walkthrough, hand over documentation and warranties, and stand behind the workmanship long after the invoice is paid.

Areas we service on the Gold Coast

Orange Projects is a Gold Coast-based builder delivering this service across every Gold Coast suburb, including:

We also service Brisbane and surrounding South East Queensland areas as a secondary catchment:

Cladding near you - Gold Coast & Brisbane

Local cladding pages covering installation, replacement, material choice and installed costs in each area.

Gold Coast

Brisbane

Logan, Ipswich & Redlands

Frequently asked questions

How much does cladding cost on the Gold Coast?

Installed cladding typically runs $180-$400 per square metre depending on the product. Fibre cement systems such as HardiePlank, Linea, Axon and Stria sit toward the lower and middle of that range, composite in the middle, and hardwoods such as spotted gum and blackbutt toward the upper end. Removing and disposing of existing cladding, scaffold and painting are quoted separately. Every quote is fixed-price after a site measure.

Do you replace existing cladding?

Yes. Cladding replacement is a large part of what we do - removing old, damaged, deteriorated or dated weatherboards, fibro or sheet cladding and installing a new fibre cement, weatherboard, timber or composite system with correct wrap, cavity and flashings behind it.

Do you install James Hardie cladding?

Yes. We install the James Hardie range including HardiePlank and Linea weatherboards, Axon and Stria, Matrix and EasyLap, installed to the manufacturer's specification. We also install timber, composite and other fibre cement brands, so the product recommended is the one that suits your home rather than the one we happen to stock.

What is the difference between fibre cement and timber cladding?

Fibre cement is stable, resistant to UV, salt and moisture, and needs little more than repainting every several years. Timber has depth and warmth that no product fully replicates, but needs recoating every 18-24 months on exposed elevations. Many homes end up with fibre cement on the hard-hit walls and timber on sheltered entries and features.

Can you replace timber weatherboards on an older home?

Yes. We replace damaged or rotted weatherboards and match the existing profile, or replace a full elevation with a fibre cement weatherboard such as HardiePlank or Linea where the original boards are past economical repair. We price both options so you can compare.

What happens if there is damaged timber behind the old cladding?

Most homes come apart cleanly. If deterioration does turn up in framing, battens or trims once the cladding is off, we stop, show you the exposed area with photos and provide a clear price for the rectification before continuing. Nothing additional is carried out without your approval.

Do I need council approval to re-clad my house?

Small feature cladding to an existing compliant wall generally does not require approval. A full re-clad, changes to fire-separation walls, work in a character or heritage overlay in Brisbane, or work that alters the building envelope usually does. We confirm the requirement before quoting and lodge where needed.

What is the best cladding for a beachfront home?

For high salt and UV exposure we usually recommend fibre cement or composite cladding with stainless fixings, or a durable hardwood such as spotted gum if you are committed to regular oiling. The fixings, cavity and flashing detailing matter as much as the board selection.

How often does timber cladding need re-oiling?

Most exposed timber cladding on the Gold Coast needs recoating every 18-24 months, and more often on west and north elevations. Shaded and protected elevations can stretch to three years. Composite and fibre cement cladding need washing and periodic repainting only.

Can you clad over existing brick?

Yes. We fix a treated batten framework to the brickwork, install the wrap and drainage cavity, then clad over it. It is a popular way to modernise 1970s and 1980s brick homes and adds an insulating air gap behind the boards.