Weatherboard homes have proved a boon for renovators, although they are also more likely to have illegal renovations than brick homes, according to the latest national housing survey released by Archicentre, the building advisory service of the Royal Australian Institute of Architects.
This is not surprising, given the fact that weatherboard houses are usually older, easier to deal with physically, involve lighter materials and are of simpler construction, making them prime targets for renovation, says David Hallett, State Manager of Archicentre Victoria.
"Whilst weatherboard homes needed more external maintenance than brick buildings, modern finishes had made them less dependent on maintenance and the lightness of the construction had seen the appearance of many double storey weatherboard extensions in the past", he said.
Weatherboard homes have a long history in Australia and in many cases have brought high prices when located in prime areas, especially single-fronted cottages with heritage listings close to capital cities, Mr. Hallett added.
"Weatherboard houses have become popular among renovators because of the ability with clever design to add dramatically to the floor space without the comparative huge costs associated with solid brick and concrete structures."
"Many Archicentre design reports over the past ten years have featured the re-birthing and re-configuring of weatherboard homes including the transformation to double storey homes", he said.
On the other hand, in a survey of 75,000 houses since 1996, Archicentre found weatherboard homes to contain the highest number of illegal renovations. The statistics were compiled from pre-purchase home inspections carried out by architects throughout Australia.
