Polystyrene Cladded House

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Nikoftime

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#87570 1-Aug-2011 16:17

Would you buy a house with polystyrene cladding?
Timber frame, wrap, cavity, polystyrene and then plaster.
Is it the general perception that this is potentially leaky and if yes, why would it be more prone to leaks than any other form of cladding?

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#500433 1-Aug-2011 16:27

Nikoftime: Would you buy a house with polystyrene cladding?
Timber frame, wrap,?cavity, polystyrene and then plaster.
Is it the general perception that this is potentially leaky and if yes, why would it be more prone to leaks than any other form of cladding?

It depends on how well it is flashed, and whether the roof has overhangs.

keewee01

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#500439 1-Aug-2011 16:32

When we were house buying in Ashburton 5 years ago we came across a house that was clad like this and because of when we saw while looking around the house and property it ended up with classified as a leaky home.

The polystyrene had gaps around the windows where the sheets met (or should have met - and they were not tiny gaps either!!!). As it turned out, the weather was happily getting into the gaps and rotting the walls. Don't know if the cause was shoddy workmanship or a nature of the product.

mattwnz

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#500442 1-Aug-2011 16:40

keewee01: When we were house buying in Ashburton 5 years ago we came across a house that was clad like this and because of when we saw while looking around the house and property it ended up with classified as a leaky home.

The polystyrene had gaps around the windows where the sheets met (or should have met - and they were not tiny gaps either!!!). As it turned out, the weather was happily getting into the gaps and rotting the walls. Don't know if the cause was shoddy workmanship or a nature of the product.

I don't think there is anything wrong with the product, but they have to be installed properly with the correct flashings. However I believe building products only have to last a certain number of years under the building code. I think it is only about 10 to 20 years.

Handle9

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#500445 1-Aug-2011 16:42

I wouldn't touch it. Other than the actual possibilty of leaking the perception that these houses leak make then really hard to

1) Sell
2) Finance

When we bought our most recent house (about 18 months ago) the banks were requiring invasive building inspections for any plaster style houses. Alot of people don't even bother to go and have a look at plaster style houses.

To me a large part of buying a house is an investment decision and, to me, a house that is difficult sell again is a poor investment. Depends on your view of risk I guess.

dolsen

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#500447 1-Aug-2011 16:44

Nikoftime: Would you buy a house with polystyrene cladding?
Timber frame, wrap, cavity, polystyrene and then plaster.
Is it the general perception that this is potentially leaky and if yes, why would it be more prone to leaks than any other form of cladding?

I wasn't aware that there were houses built like this. Without any knowledge of this, and my viewpoint may change depending on more information about it, my initial response would be no.
Polystyrene doesn't scream durable to me, which is something I would want in a home. I would imagine that it would be warm, but, to me, polystyrene is for packaging, or, coolstores, not homes.

richms

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#500448 1-Aug-2011 16:45

If you want something that looks like plastered cement, then use plastered cement. all the leakey building crap happened because people basically took techniques that hollywood uses when making props and sets and applied them to houses.

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SpookyAwol

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#500464 1-Aug-2011 17:18

Theres different levels of cladding types and finish. A home with wide eaves is going to be more effectively water tight than one with no eaves.
Some cladding systems used proper flashings and some didnt..... Insulclad I believe is one of the better systems. If properly maintained, then there is quite often no issue.

If proper precautions arent maintained then any home can leak.....

mattwnz

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#500466 1-Aug-2011 17:19

dolsen:
Nikoftime: Would you buy a house with polystyrene cladding?
Timber frame, wrap,?cavity, polystyrene and then plaster.
Is it the general perception that this is potentially leaky and if yes, why would it be more prone to leaks than any other form of cladding?

I wasn't aware that there were houses built like this. Without any knowledge of this, and my viewpoint may change depending on more information about it, my initial response would be no.
Polystyrene doesn't scream durable to me, which is something I would want in a home. I would imagine that it would be warm, but, to me, polystyrene is for packaging, or, coolstores, not homes.

?

If it is protected with plaster, then it doesn't matter too much what the material is, and polystyrene doesn't rot like timber can. Poly is also used for underfloor installation and under concrete, and it is stable so doesn't break down. They make buildings out of straw too, but that is plastered over. I'd rather a house out of poly than straw myself. Timber isn't the most durable material either, and has to have a paint surface and checmial treatment in order to have a long life.

nickb800

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#500468 1-Aug-2011 17:27

The leaky home troubles had a lot of variables, but one common problem was the plaster on poly style house you described, without any eaves (roof overhang). Either factor on their own would probably be alright, although still a little more vulnerable than traditional construction, but combined together they became very vulnerable to leaks, if they werent built perfectly.

Nikoftime

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#500494 1-Aug-2011 18:17

Interesting and informative answers, thanks guys, keep them coming

dragonsinger57

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#500516 1-Aug-2011 18:56

I have friends who used this method when renovating their home - process was quite fascinating. That was around 15 years ago - their house is very tidy, waterproof and warm. I believe it all depends on how well it's done in the first place.

"You know, you blow up one sun and suddenly everyone expects you to walk on water!"

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SpookyAwol

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#500519 1-Aug-2011 18:59

We recently had 2 separate 'experts' look at out place. One was a builder with years of experience. He went around the house and brought up various issues with moisture (using a meter) at certain points throughout the property. He wasnt a fan of plaster homes....

Another expert looked at the same areas with a thermographic camera and a moisture meter. This proved that the previous builder was testing at spots where metal strapping and bracing board were present. That automatically gave higher / incorrect readings when in fact all of the readings at the correct places (away from hidden steel) were within spec.

So even testing milage may vary.....

richms

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#500520 1-Aug-2011 18:59

dragonsinger57: I have friends who used this method when renovating their home - process was quite fascinating. That was around 15 years ago - their house is very tidy, waterproof and warm. I believe it all depends on how well it's done in the first place.

Undoubtedly, I have encountered builders who shouldn't even be allowed to construct birdhouses. But that doesnt change that the solid claddings cant handle movement of the house anywhere near as well as proven weatherboard construction.

Richard rich.ms

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#500526 1-Aug-2011 19:10

Nikoftime: Would you buy a house with polystyrene cladding?
Timber frame, wrap, cavity, polystyrene and then plaster.
Is it the general perception that this is potentially leaky and if yes, why would it be more prone to leaks than any other form of cladding?

What year was the house built? Cavity indicates maybe after 2004. 2008 was mandatory treated timber. You may be after the worst of the "leaky building" phase.

Regs

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#500563 1-Aug-2011 21:06

mattwnz: However I believe building products only have to last a certain number of years under the building code. I think it is only about 10 to 20 years.

Surely that cant be true, or there must be exceptions for certain types of products. I'm pretty sure i remember my building consent for extening the house in Auckland to have a requirement that I build a structure with a minimum life of 50 years. Pretty hard to do that with building products that have a 10 or 20 year life...

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