Can I use cladding over pre-existing brickwork

If you’re looking to give your home a fresh look, improve weather resistance, or boost thermal efficiency, fibre-cement weatherboard cladding is ideal. And the good news is that it can be used over pre-existing brickwork, meaning that installation is both quick and cost-effective.

Why put cladding on a brick wall?
Adding weatherboard cladding to your home can almost instantly boost its kerb appeal, updating its look and hiding any damaged brickwork. Installation should only take a few days, and you’ll enjoy the benefits for years to come.

Depending on what it’s made from, cladding may also bring some practical improvements to your home.

Weatherboard cladding is manufactured from various materials, including timber, uPVC, and fibre-reinforced cement. While timber may be the traditional option, fibre cement outperforms timber in several ways, including weather resistance, resistance to rot and excellent fire performance.

In terms of aesthetics, fibre cement weatherboarding comes in a variety of colours with a realistic natural woodgrain effect, giving the appearance of timber with all the benefits of fibre cement.

Made from a mixture of cement, cellulose, sand and synthetic fibres, fibre cement is also an environmentally friendly material that is strong, durable and requires minimal maintenance.
As opposed to timber, which must be regularly repainted, fibre cement cladding maintains its colour and requires just an occasional clean to keep it looking its best.

How do you clad a brick house?
Installing fibre cement weatherboard cladding over pre-existing brickwork is a simple process. The key is ensuring that the underlying support structure is strong and secure.

The first step is to fix roof battens to the pre-existing brickwork. The connections between the cladding support battens and the masonry wall will need to be designed by a structural engineer to ensure they can withstand forces such as wind-uplift.

A vapour-permeable membrane and any desired insulation can also be installed during the construction of the support structure. Then, the weatherboards are simply fixed to the battens using screws, nailing by hand or with a pneumatic nail gun.

For detailed information about installing fibre cement cladding over pre-existing brickwork, including advice on ventilation and detailing, please download our weatherboard fixing guide.

Putting cladding on a brick house: fibre cement weatherboards from Marley

The Marley Weatherboard range of fibre cement cladding products is available in three colours, white, light grey, and slate grey. With a beautifully textured woodgrain finish, it provides the beauty of natural timber weatherboards, with the performance of fibre cement – and none of the worries about rot, maintenance, and repainting.

To find out more about Marley fibre cement weatherboards and how they can be used on your pre-existing brickwork, please get in touch. We’ll be happy to answer your questions and help you find an installer in your area.