Hi Lindel Love the design and view! There are a couple of solutions here, depending on what the requirements are (ie cost versus energy efficiency). To your original query, the Colorbond will give a better maintenance long term but obviously the energy efficiency is zilch. The structure behind needs to do the insulation work as well as be structural. From a cost point of view timber framing is cheaper but the wall insulation is limited. You can however use a structural insulated panel to be both the structure as well as the insulation for everything from the upper floor to the walls and roof.... We are doing an extension in this at present which will actually look like a 1930's character style to match the existing home. I'm not familiar with your BAL but we have found that when we get such high insulation ratings from the walls and roof it has usually enabled us to cover the losses from windows and given the ability to have larger windows without the need for double glazing. Regarding the timber, I would be considering an artificial product unless you want to do the maintenance. Cheers

i don't believe that any of the cladding products you mentioned will age as you wish and once you add a stain the fading will be slowed but you should consult the manufacturers for their specific advice but my suggestion would be to consider using Colorbond steel on both walls and roof for a more economical product until you can afford to replace the cladding with a natural timber

It looks like you have some nice wooden features ? And is that wall , where it says South Western Elevation , in a red or pink shade ? Like bigreader , I wouldn't go dark over light -- it always reminds me of rugby club and schoolsand squash club buildings -- they often seem to have white basements and then a darker upstairs , with more windows and terraces and the like . In a couple of the pics , the 2 charcoal tones are subtle but works . Having said that , if you do 2 levels like that , it may look too 'tall' if you do 'bands' of the different tones , or else too chequerboard if you do the top and bottom different . Just a thought -- could you do more wooden features ? A panel in stained wood , even if it is almost fake ( erected in front of part of the existing basement ) would break up the look , and I always feel timber adds a warmth , whereas white , dark grey and charcoal don't so much .

Hi All, Just wondering if anyone knows of a good place in Sydney for Nailstrip exterior cladding? And if you have a rough estimate of cost compare to tritonal timber cladding? I'm about to put a 2 story extension and would like it to look more architectural and hoping I won't have to sell a kidney to get it! thanks