Connaght Terrace

This stunning weatherboard home on Connaght Terrace required a complete exterior transformation to restore its classic Wellington character while providing modern weather protection. The property presented several challenges, including exposure to strong southerly winds and salt spray from the nearby coast, which had deteriorated the existing paint system over time.

Before any paint touched the surface, our team conducted a thorough assessment of the weatherboards, identifying three sections with early-stage rot that needed to be treated and stabilised. We removed all loose and flaking material by hand-scraping and sanding, then applied a penetrating timber stabiliser to consolidate soft fibres before priming. Any gaps between boards and around window reveals were sealed with flexible polyurethane sealant to prevent future water ingress — a critical step on a coastal-exposed property like this one.

Our team carefully prepared all weatherboard surfaces, ensuring proper sealing before applying a premium exterior house painting system. We used Resene's high-performance acrylic paint system, beginning with a thorough water-blast clean, followed by two coats of Resene Quick Dry primer on all bare timber. The topcoat consisted of two full coats of Resene Sonyx 101 in carefully selected heritage colours that complement the home's architectural style.

Resene Sonyx 101 was the right call for this location. Its formulation is specifically engineered for high-UV and high-humidity environments, with a semi-gloss finish that sheds water rather than absorbing it. We applied the topcoat in two full passes with proper flash-off time between coats — cutting corners on dry time is how paint fails early, and this home deserved better than that.

Particular care went into the window joinery, fascias, and soffits, where we used a small brush to achieve crisp, clean lines rather than relying on masking tape alone. The decorative barge boards and corner trims were picked out in a contrasting trim colour to lift the home's period character and give it definition from the street.

The transformation was remarkable, with the fresh colour scheme highlighting the home's period features whilst providing exceptional durability against Wellington's harsh weather conditions. The client was delighted with the professional finish and the care taken to protect their property throughout the project. If you're considering a similar transformation, visit our guide on how much to paint a house in NZ to understand the investment involved.