Re-rendering your home exterior is a significant improvement that can protect your home from the elements and boost its value — but it can also affect your house insurance policy in ways many NZ homeowners don't expect. The short answer is: yes, it can affect your cover, and you should notify your insurer before and after the work is done.
Why Re-Rendering Can Affect Your Insurance
Most NZ home insurance policies are based on the sum insured — the estimated cost to rebuild your home from scratch if it were destroyed. When you re-render, you're changing the exterior cladding system, which directly affects the rebuild cost. If your sum insured doesn't reflect the updated materials and labour costs, you could be underinsured in the event of a claim.
Beyond rebuild costs, insurers also assess risk profile. A fresh, well-applied render system can actually reduce risk by improving weathertightness — a major concern in NZ given our variable climate and the legacy of leaky building issues. On the other hand, if the re-rendering work is substandard or uses incompatible products, it could introduce new moisture risks that an insurer may not cover.
What to Tell Your Insurer — and When
As a general rule, contact your insurer before work begins and again once it's completed. Here's what they'll likely want to know:
- The type of render system being used (e.g., traditional cement render, acrylic, or a proprietary system like a fibre-cement base with textured coating)
- Whether the existing cladding is being removed or rendered over
- The name and qualifications of the tradesperson or company doing the work
- Whether a building consent is required (more on this below)
- The estimated cost of the project
Some insurers may temporarily adjust your cover during construction, so it's worth asking about this specifically.
Building Consent: Do You Need One?
This is a critical question. In NZ, re-rendering is sometimes exempt from building consent under Schedule 1 of the Building Act 2004, but this depends on the scope of work. If you're simply applying a new coat of render over existing sound render, it may be exempt. However, if you're:
- Removing the existing cladding system entirely
- Changing the cladding type (e.g., from weatherboard to a plaster system)
- Carrying out repairs related to weathertightness defects
…then a building consent is very likely required. Consent-required work must comply with the NZ Building Code, particularly Clause E2 (External Moisture), which sets out requirements for keeping water out of the building envelope.
Always check with your local council before starting. Unpermitted work can void your insurance cover and create serious problems when you sell.
How Render Type Affects Your Policy
Not all render systems are equal in the eyes of an insurer. Some key systems used in NZ include:
| Render Type | Notes |
|---|---|
| Cement/sand render | Traditional, durable, common on older NZ homes |
| Acrylic render | Flexible, crack-resistant, popular on modern builds |
| Monolithic cladding systems | May attract scrutiny due to leaky building history |
| Fibre-cement board with texture coat | Common on newer homes; check manufacturer specs |
If your home previously had a monolithic cladding system associated with leaky building issues, insurers may ask detailed questions or require a weathertightness report before offering cover. BRANZ has useful guidance on cladding performance and moisture management.
Using Licensed and Qualified Tradespeople
Insurers generally want to see that work was carried out by qualified professionals. While rendering is not legally restricted work in the same way as electrical or plumbing, using an experienced, reputable renderer matters enormously for both quality and insurance purposes.
A skilled renderer will:
- Follow manufacturer specifications for the chosen system
- Ensure correct preparation of the substrate
- Apply the correct number of coats and thicknesses
- Use compatible primers, meshes, and finishes
Products from well-known NZ suppliers such as James Hardie or systems using products from Sika or Ardex often come with technical data sheets and warranties — keep these documents, as your insurer may ask for them.
You can find qualified local renderers on tradedirectory.co.nz.
When to Call a Professional
Always engage a professional renderer when:
- The project involves removing existing cladding or repairing weathertightness defects
- A building consent is required
- Your home has a history of leaky building issues
- You're unsure which render system is compatible with your substrate
- The work is on a multi-storey home (working at height carries significant safety risks — see WorkSafe NZ for guidance)
For consent-required work, your renderer may need to work alongside a Licensed Building Practitioner (LBP), as certain restricted building work must be carried out or supervised by an LBP.
Tips for Protecting Your Cover
- Notify your insurer before and after the project
- Update your sum insured to reflect the improved cladding system
- Keep all documentation: consents, producer statements, warranties, and invoices
- Don't assume the work is consent-exempt — check with your council first
- Ask your renderer for a producer statement (PS3/PS4) if consent is involved
Licensed Building Practitioner (LBP)
