Phillip Bay 2036 · Randwick City Council
Phillip Bay Builder: Recladding Fibro Cottages Properly
Not every fibro cottage needs knocking down. Some just need new skin.
Phillip Bay is post-war fibro and brick on generous blocks of 500 to 700m². The usual advice is to bulldoze. Sometimes that's right. But a lot of these cottages have sound hardwood frames and a floor plan that works fine. Strip the old sheeting, reclad, insulate, and you keep the house for a fraction of the rebuild cost.
Short answer
Should I reclad or rebuild a fibro cottage in Phillip Bay?
Check the frame first. Many of these cottages have solid hardwood framing, and if it's sound, recladding after licensed asbestos removal can cost less than rebuilding. Cladding straight over old fibro isn't the answer. If termites or rot have taken hold, a rebuild at about $2,090 to $2,520 per m² mid-spec makes more sense.
Written and reviewed by Oliver Alameri
Licensed builder, NSW Contractor Licence 487805C · Founder, Buildana
Fact-checked
Reclad or rebuild? Start with the frame
The whole decision turns on what's under the fibro. Post-war hardwood framing is often in better shape than people expect. Termites, rot around old leaking windows, or sagging from removed walls change the picture.
So before any quote, we inspect the frame where we can reach it: subfloor, roof space, and a few test openings. If it's sound, recladding is usually the cheaper path to a warm, dry, good-looking house. If it's riddled, we'll say so and talk about a rebuild instead, which in Phillip Bay runs about $2,090–$2,520/m² mid-spec on adjusted Rawlinsons Sydney figures.
- Subfloor and roof-space frame inspection
- Termite and rot check at window heads and sills
- Test openings in suspect walls
- Honest call: reclad, or rebuild
If the frame's sound, the house is worth saving. If it isn't, I'll tell you.
Getting the old sheeting off safely
Most fibro from this era contains asbestos. It has to be tested, then removed by a licensed contractor with the right controls, air monitoring where needed, and a clearance before anyone else works on the walls.
With the sheeting off, the frame is fully exposed. Best moment in the whole job, honestly. Every stud visible. We fix what needs fixing: replacing damaged members, adding bracing where the engineer wants it, and straightening walls that have moved.
Is your fibro cottage worth saving?
Send me photos of the outside, the subfloor if you can get under it, and any areas of concern. You'll get my honest take on reclad versus rebuild, and the next steps for each.
0476 300 300What goes back on
This is where a fibro cottage stops being cold. Insulation batts go into the open wall cavities, which almost none of these houses ever had. A vapour-permeable wall wrap keeps weather out but lets moisture escape. New windows can go in while the walls are open, often double glazed.
Then the cladding. Painted fibre cement weatherboards look close to the original lines. Some owners go for a lightweight rendered panel, or a mix with timber. Each has a different weight, fixing method and maintenance cost, and we walk you through them.
Whether recladding needs approval depends on the material and how the street view changes. Sometimes it's exempt work. Sometimes it needs a CDC or DA from Randwick. We confirm that before quoting.
Phillip Bay recladding checklist
Work through these before deciding between reclad and rebuild.
- 01
Asbestos test on the external sheeting
- 02
Frame inspection for termites, rot and movement
- 03
Check whether the new cladding needs approval
- 04
Choose insulation and wall wrap for the open cavities
- 05
Decide on window replacement while walls are open
- 06
Compare the recladding quote with a rebuild estimate
Recladding fibro in Phillip Bay
Is recladding cheaper than rebuilding?
Usually, when the frame is sound. You keep the structure, roof and often the floors, and avoid most of the demolition and new-build costs.
Can I just clad over the old fibro?
It's generally not recommended. Removing the asbestos sheeting properly lets you inspect the frame, insulate and fix defects, and it removes the hazard for good.
Do I need approval to reclad my house?
It depends on the material and the change to the house's appearance. Some recladding is exempt; other work needs a CDC or DA.
Which council covers Phillip Bay?
Randwick City Council, postcode 2036. There's no Heritage Conservation Area across most of the suburb.
Sources and references
Costs are from the Rawlinsons handbook with the local cost index applied; rules and timeframes are checked against the sources below.
Keep the cottage. Lose the fibro.
Asbestos removal, frame repairs, insulation and new cladding for Phillip Bay's post-war homes. Or a rebuild, if that's the smarter call.