External Surfaces

Fibre Cement Cladding (James Hardie Axon)

Your home features James Hardie Axon 133 mm Smooth cladding panels finished in Stowe White and Basalt, with Dulux Aquanamel Semi-Gloss paint.

• Wash annually with mild detergent and a soft brush or low-pressure hose.
• Do not use high-pressure washers directly on joints or panel edges.
• Inspect paint finish annually. Expect to repaint external surfaces every 7 to 10 years depending on exposure.
• Check caulked joints annually for cracking or separation and re-seal as needed.

⚠️ CAUTION — Do not penetrate the cladding

Do not drill, screw, or fix anything to the cladding without consulting Duo Build Group. Penetrations can void waterproofing.

Render (Dulux Acratex)

Acrylic render (Coventry Coarse, Stowe White Quarter) and concrete render (Acrashield, Grey Isle) have been applied to various external walls.

• Wash with a garden hose and soft brush. Do not use high-pressure washers.
• Minor hairline cracking (less than 0.5 mm) is normal and is a maintenance item, not a defect. It can be touched up with an elastomeric paint.
• Check for cracks greater than 1 mm and report these during the Defects Liability Period.

Natural Stone (Flinders Travertine + STAR Breeze Blocks)

Tumbled Flinders Travertine has been used on the exterior. This is a natural product with inherent variation in colour and texture. STAR Breeze Blocks (290×290×90 mm, White) feature as well.

• Seal with a penetrating natural stone sealer (e.g. Chemforce) every 12 to 24 months. This applies to both the Tumbled Flinders Travertine and the STAR Breeze Blocks.
• Clean with a pH-neutral stone cleaner only. Do not use acidic or alkaline cleaners.
• Efflorescence (white salt deposits) may appear in the first 12 months. This is normal and will diminish over time. Brush off with a dry brush.

Colorbond Roofing & Box Gutters (Stratco — JLR Roofing)

Your roof is Stratco Colorbond Basalt Matt (existing) and Stratco Topdek 700 Surfmist (new low-pitch sections). Gutters are Colorbond Basalt in quad and box profile, installed by Jesse Richardson, JLR Roofing.

📞 Call Jesse (JLR Roofing) ✉ Email JLR

Routine maintenance

• Wash Colorbond roof and fascia surfaces annually with fresh water to remove salt and pollution.
• Do not walk on the roof. Engage a professional for any roof work.
• Inspect parapet cappings annually for fastening security.

Box Gutter Cleaning & Maintenance — read this carefully

Box gutters are the internal gutters running between roof planes — they are different to standard eaves gutters. Because they are concealed and carry large volumes of water, a blocked box gutter can cause water to back up into the roof cavity and damage ceilings, insulation, and stored items.

• Clean box gutters and downpipes at least twice per year — once in autumn (before storm season) and once in spring (after the worst of winter debris).
• Remove leaf debris from box gutters immediately after any major storm, even if you cleaned recently.
• Look for: leaves, twigs, tennis balls, bird nests, accumulated silt at outlets.
• Tools: a leaf blower from ground level (extending pole), a soft brush, or a professional gutter-clean service. Do NOT walk on the roof.
• After clearing debris, test the flow by running water from a hose into the box gutter and watching it leave the downpipe.
• Inspect the box gutter sealant and overflow points annually. If you see rust, sagging, ponding water, or any sealant cracking, contact JLR Roofing immediately — do not wait for the next scheduled clean.

🚨 CRITICAL — Box gutters are a critical waterproofing element

Internal overflow can cause major water damage. Inspect regularly and act on any blockage straight away.

Exposed Aggregate Concrete (Premix Concrete)

Driveway and paths are finished in 7 mm Spice Exposed aggregate by Premix Concrete.

• Seal with a concrete sealer every 2 to 3 years to protect against staining and weathering.
• Clean with a garden hose or pressure washer on a low setting.
• Remove oil stains promptly with a degreaser. Once absorbed, oil stains are difficult to remove.
• Prevent weed growth in control joints by keeping them clear.

Honed Concrete — Alfresco & Pool Surrounds (Premix Concrete SA — Greystone)

The alfresco and pool surrounds are finished in Premix Greystone honed concrete (medium exposure) — a matt, low-sheen finish.

• Rinse pool splash off with fresh water. Chlorinated or salt water left to dry stains the surface and breaks down the sealer.
• Wipe up suncream, oils, and food or drink spills promptly.
• Keep undiluted pool chemicals (chlorine, acid, salt) off the surface.
• Reseal every 12 months — more diligently outdoors because of sun and pool exposure.
• Honed concrete can be slippery when wet — take care around the pool.

💡 Same finish, two places: honed Greystone also appears on selected interior floors. See Flooring for the full polished + honed concrete care guide.

Garage Floor — Epoxy Coating

Your garage floor has been finished with an epoxy coating system.

• Sweep regularly to remove grit.
• Clean spills promptly with warm water and a soft cloth.
• Avoid harsh solvents and acidic cleaners.

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See the Maintenance Schedule for the full external-care timing reference.