It was a trip back to the 1950s for The Block this season as the five teams were asked to bring five houses from suburban East Hampton into the present day, turning them from ugly ducklings into modern masterpieces.

With very little street appeal, the teams were asked to transform the home from the outside in, and there are few materials that can update the look and feel as dramatically as James Hardie engineered fibre cement products.

The Hardie™ range of cladding products has become a trusted solution for the teams from The Block, who engage the experts from James Hardie to help them create fresh, modern, and durable exteriors.

“You can do anything with the Hardie™ Architectural Collection,” says architect Julian Brenchley, who is behind the design of the homes on The Block. “The look is only limited by the imagination of the designer.”

“You can preserve the existing brick structure while adding a modern extension, or you can clad the entire house to achieve a harmonious design, at a fraction of the cost. The possibilities are endless, and the outcome can be absolutely transformational.”

Brenchley has designed every Block residential project, starting with the debut season in Bondi in 2003.

He is regularly asked by renovators about how these products work and how to use Hardie™ cladding products to give their homes a facelift. “Updating a brick façade with products from the Hardie™ Architectural Collection is a straightforward and effective way to give your home a fresh makeover and personalise the look of the exterior,” he says. “It’s an obvious choice for restoring or updating older buildings.”

The process typically involves the installation of the vapour permeable membrane (VPM), such as HardieWrap™ Weather Barrier over the brickwork and then the timber or fibre cement batten to create the frame.

When installed and maintained correctly using the right materials, weatherboard or cladding will stand the test of time. As a modern alternative to timber, fibre cement-based cladding means homeowners are able to achieve the look of traditional weatherboards without the expense and maintenance. Resistant to damage from termites, fibre cement cladding has the same look as classic weatherboards, with added benefits of resisting warping and shrinking from exposure to heat or moisture, making it an ideal choice anywhere from harsh and dry regions to wet and tropical climates.

Brenchley adds that while it’s hard to go past classic white (still very popular with homeowners), products from the Hardie™ Architectural Collection can be painted any colour you choose. The boards are pre-primed to hold paint longer, so you can take your pick of exterior finishes, from light and bright shades such as white, dove grey and pastels through to more modern dark paint colours such charcoal and dark blue.

Cladding over brick with James Hardie products offers a winning combination of durability, aesthetics, and design versatility when transforming a home's exterior.

So, if you're ready to elevate your home's aesthetic and embrace the benefits of James Hardie cladding, it's time to get started on your renovation.

Your dream home is just a few weeks away!