Large Weatherboard Restoration in Biddenden, Kent
Biddenden, Kent
What began as a repair and redecoration project on a large weatherboarded home in Biddenden turned into a substantial timber restoration. The exterior looked reasonably sound from the ground, but once sanding and preparation started, far more rot came to light than anyone had expected. This is how we put it right.
Project Overview
This is a large modern weatherboarded home in Biddenden, Kent. It came to us for repair and redecoration, and from the ground the boarding looked as though it needed little more than sound preparation and a fresh finish.
The reality, once we started work, was rather different. The project ended up covering timber repair and replacement, joinery repairs around the windows, work to the rainwater goods, a chimney render repair and a full exterior finish across the elevations.
Project at a Glance
- Location
- Biddenden, Kent
- Property
- Large modern weatherboarded home
- Work
- Repair, timber replacement, joinery repairs, rainwater goods, render repairs and redecoration
- Timber
- Treated shiplap 22 mm x 150 mm
- Finish
- Sadolin Superdec Satin
What Preparation Revealed
A weatherboarded elevation can look far healthier than it is. Paint hides a great deal, and a surface that seems sound from the ground often tells a different story up close. That is exactly what happened here.
As soon as sanding and preparation began, the true condition of the timber started to show. Boards that had appeared solid were soft and failing in places, and it became clear that a straightforward redecoration would not do the property justice. Proper preparation is what exposed the real extent of the work, and it is why we always assess the timber thoroughly before committing to an approach.
Hidden Rot and Joinery Defects
The worst of the decay was concentrated around the windows, where water had been finding its way into the timber over a long period. Leaking gutters had contributed to the problem in several areas, keeping the timber damp and allowing rot to take hold in the boarding and the joinery alike.
Extensive Weatherboard Renewal
In the end, over 220 linear metres of cladding had to be replaced. The new material was treated shiplap, 22 mm x 150 mm, chosen to sit correctly alongside the existing boarding and to give the timber a long, protected life.
Wherever it was practical to do so, sound material was retained and the new boards were spliced and integrated carefully into the existing elevations. The aim throughout was for the repairs to read as part of the building rather than as obvious patches, so the finished elevations look coherent from every angle.
Corner and Finishing Details
The difference between a good restoration and an ordinary one is usually in the details. On a property of this size there are a great many corners and junctions, and each one needs to be right if the finished elevations are to look clean and consistent.
- Every corner cover fillet was renewed.
- Several window beads were replaced.
- Local splice repairs were made where vertical window frames meet the cills.
Rainwater Goods and Associated Repairs
The leaking gutters that had contributed to the rot needed dealing with properly, otherwise the same problems would simply return. The rainwater goods were cleared, the leaks were rectified and everything was repainted so that water is once again taken away from the timber rather than into it.
The barge boards were also repaired, prepared and finished as required, tidying up the roofline and protecting the timber at the edges of the elevations where it is most exposed to the weather.
Chimney Render Repair
Areas of the chimney render had failed and needed making good. The damaged render was repaired and re-rendered, then finished in Dulux Weathershield masonry paint, colour matched to the weatherboards so the chimney sits comfortably with the rest of the exterior.
Tying the render finish in with the boarding is a small thing that makes a real difference to how coherent the whole property looks once the scaffolding comes down.
Paint System and Colours
With the timber repaired, replaced and fully prepared, the elevations were finished in a durable, breathable system suited to traditional weatherboarding.
Weatherboards
Sadolin Superdec Satin in Moscari Blue K0711G.
Trim
Sadolin Superdec Satin in Bygone Era B9840R, a creamy white.
The Completed Result
The finished property looks the way a well cared for weatherboarded home should. The repairs and renewals are integrated into the elevations, the trim is crisp against the blue boarding, and the timber is properly protected against the Kent weather once more. The clients were very pleased with the care taken throughout.
What This Project Demonstrates
Large timber clad properties can conceal far more deterioration than is visible from the ground. An elevation that looks sound may be holding a good deal of hidden decay, and it is only once proper preparation begins that the true condition becomes clear.
Our approach is to repair and retain wherever it is genuinely sensible, and to replace fully where the timber has actually failed. On this project that meant renewing a great deal of boarding, but the result is a durable, coherent exterior that should serve the property well for years to come, rather than a quick redecoration that would have failed again before long.
What the Client Said
“Jane and I are delighted with the work. It’s been completed to a very high standard and the house looks really terrific. We particularly appreciate how you attended to the additional items which inevitably spring up on a job of this scale.”
“Your team are a credit to you — unfailingly polite, friendly, hard working and very professional. It’s been a very positive experience working with you, and we’ll definitely call on you again next time it needs doing.”
Related Services and Guidance
Need Advice About Your Weatherboards?
If you own a weatherboarded home in Biddenden, Tenterden, Cranbrook, Hawkhurst or the surrounding parts of Kent and East Sussex, we can assess the condition of the timber and explain the most sensible way forward, whether that is repair, selective replacement or a full restoration.