Large expanses of glass and an exposed location made effective structural bracing absolutely essential for a premium residential build north of Auckland. James Hardie HomeRAB Pre-Cladding was the logical way to solve both challenges.

Toby Tilsley of Craft Homes hadn't used HomeRAB Pre-Cladding before this project, however he liked the idea of a robust fibre cement board as a pre-cladding material.

"We had to pay special attention to structural bracing with this home, because it's in a high wind zone and has a lot of glass," explained Toby. "The walls between the glass areas required bracing to prevent lateral movement. After talking to the James Hardie engineer, I discovered that HomeRAB offers the same bracing benefits as ply and it's easier to work with."

The build, which is still underway, has been progressing quickly and smoothly. In many ways, HomeRAB Pre-Cladding has made life simpler for the construction team.

"HomeRAB is great to work with and it's fast to install for a solid pre-cladding," says Toby. "You put it up, nail it on, and then cut out the windows with a sabre saw. It doesn't rattle around in the wind like building wrap and fixing details are a lot quicker."

Designed by Darrell Quadling, the home has a spectacular elevated location but is very exposed to the elements.

"As soon as the HomeRAB was installed, the interior of the home was protected from the weather and we could start work on the internal linings. Early close-in is a real time saver. Usually you have to wait until the exterior cladding is on. In the construction business, time is money, so that's a huge benefit."

Now that he's discovered James Hardie HomeRAB Pre-Cladding, Toby is a convert. "I’ll definitely be using HomeRAB again. It offers the same structural stability as plywood and it goes up fast — just score, snap and nail."