Reading Street

This Reading Street property sits in an extremely exposed location, subject to Wellington's fiercest southerly winds and driving rain. The existing paint system had failed prematurely due to these harsh conditions, with significant chalking, fading, and areas of complete paint loss. The homeowners needed a superior paint system that could withstand these challenging environmental conditions whilst refreshing their home's appearance.

The failure pattern on this home told a clear story. The south and west elevations had lost paint down to bare timber in multiple sections — not old age, but genuine weather assault. Drive rain on an exposed Reading Street site can be relentless in winter, and when wind-driven water gets behind a compromised paint film it accelerates failure dramatically. The homeowners had made the right call using a standard system on their previous job, but the site demanded more, and they knew it.

After careful assessment, we recommended Dulux Weathershield X10, the most advanced exterior paint system available, specifically designed for extreme New Zealand weather conditions. Our preparation was meticulous, removing all failed paint, treating exposed timber with preservative, filling and sealing all gaps to prevent water ingress, and applying appropriate primers to ensure maximum paint adhesion. On south-facing sections with significant bare timber, we applied a penetrating primer first to stabilise the surface before the main primer coats.

The application consisted of premium undercoat followed by two full coats of Weathershield X10 topcoat, with additional coats on particularly exposed areas such as south-facing walls and horizontal surfaces. We also spent time carefully sealing around every window and door frame with a high-grade silicone sealant — entry points for water that are often overlooked but account for a large proportion of premature paint failure.

The completed project provides the homeowners with confidence that their property is now protected by the best available paint system for their demanding location. The fresh appearance is matched by the knowledge that this premium system is engineered to last significantly longer than standard paints. For similar challenging exterior painting situations, we offer expert advice on appropriate paint system selection.