"Plaster cladding systems are alive and well in New Zealand, and at the moment are taking back ground in the Auckland region," says Trent Mason, Director of Masons (Plastabrick Ltd). "We are seeing plaster being an extremely popular product of choice in lots of other parts of the country."

The future lies with having a complete system that works together and upholds a strong warranty. Masons are the only company in NZ that can supply that full system:

• Stage 1: Last line of defence preventing the moisture from penetrating the frame: Masons building wraps, window tapes and DPC.
• Stage 2: Plaster panel substrates, including a complete range of flashings and beads that comply to E2/VM1 standards for moisture control.
• Stage 3: Comprehensive plaster systems all the way out to paint.

"Currently we supply three kinds of substrates for exterior plaster cladding: XRV (Poly Panel), Enviro (AAC Panel) and ThermalCrete (Composite Panel). We describe them as good, better and best. And they all have their place in the market," says Trent. "All are 50mm thick panels installed over a 20 — 45mm cavity system and come with our comprehensive flashing system."

"The key with plaster is to have a substrate that is stable and secure, and doesn't crumble under moisture pressure. ThermalCrete is a composite panel that owns all these qualities. With its interlocking panel it gives extra stability to the wall," he adds.

"The absence of steel rods from ThermalCrete makes it easier to install and eliminates the potential hazard of rust corrosion taking away the strengths of the panel. This is a very real factor, particularly in sea spray zones, considering that AAC has a 24-35% absorption factor. Thermalcrete only has a 3-6% moisture absorption rate, dramatically aiding in the reduction of water entering the cavity. For these reasons we see the industry moving to this composite type of panel."

"We also experience the transition from cementitious plaster to our FLX Acrylic plaster," says Trent. He adds that the industry now "sees the benefits of having a flexible water-resistant plaster. The product goes a long way and holds the future for plastering. FLX upholds a 20 year warranty."