Great idea, your new house looks excellent...stucco and tiles don't last forever so best to replace before any major failure causes more damage...always good to have a weatherproof roof and walls and then you can tidy up inside at your leisure...very happy with our new Colorbond roof and just about to test the modern cement sheet cladding on our extension..

I think this is a good idea too, especially given the surrounding houses. The simple landscaping you have mocked up looks good. If you wanted to keep the awnings, simple black and white striped could look elegant. (My neighbor painted hers to get a different look... it needs redoing occasionally but looks fine). I can imagine a large glazed black pot or two by the front door...looking good. Love the windows like Wuff said.

The roof looks ok from the photos (no sag?) are they terracotta tiles? A pressure wash, reseal with clear and get the pointing re-done if needed- it will be brand new and cost you a fraction of what a new colourbond roof will.

wuff- we've just replaced our very old iron roof with colourbond- the builder used roof blanket and batts- I seriously don't know when it is raining now (and our bed is build into a dormer and roof pitch!). I suspect the result is as quiet as tile, if not quieter.

What is under the stucco? brick or fibro? I would probably just re-render in it's fibro. The cost of getting fibro (probably asbestos) off would be enormous! The cost of framing up for the weatherboards and the timber itself, equally enormous. The only advantage recladding gives you is the chance to re-insulate the walls. The rest is aeshetic, which could easily be achieved with fresh render in either of the colours you posted. Check out some of the new arcylic render texture-coats, they are almost maintenance free as the colour is in the render, this product is marketed as no repainting.

You talk about the character of your area- your home contributes to that. Very few streets anywhere would have a uniform character. I love your cottage and can see so much scope to enhance it's character as it is.

Yes thanks for the advice my h appreciated.

The render is 1/2 inch straight over hardwoord framing with chicken wire lathe, so there is no base to rerender on if render is taken off. Rotting render has to be ripped out and patched. To render over requires first paint stripping with extreme high water pressure which also damages the render. Could then render over after paint is off but no one will guarantee that the render will not fall off after 5 years or crack straight away hence the idea of replacing it. $12000-$18000k would probably cover recladding with weatherboard so not much in grand scheme and can easily be sanded, painted fixed etc. See the dilema?

Yup- you have no options then! At least you will be able to insulate/ replace insulation in your walls!

Have you had quotes for replacement with blue-board and then acrylic texture coat that? The blue board will be cheaper, but you will pay more for the texture coat, the difference is no maintenance.

My suggestion is driven by my own desire to minimize maintenance. We live in a weatherboard, and have no other option due to heritage constraints.

That project looks really good. I can honestly tell that you know a lot about making a smart decissons conected with your real estate. As far as I am concerned I think that this roof will be a good investment for your house. Hope it will stay in good shape for a long time! As a part of Brisbane Property Management I allways admire people like you! Take care!