Your home’s exterior is more than just what makes it look good — it’s your first line of defence against WA’s harsh climate. From UV rays and heat to humidity, rain and coastal winds, every home in the state faces its own mix of challenges. The right materials make all the difference.
Whether you’re thinking of revamping your outdoor spaces in line with the trends or simply building a house from the ground up, choosing durable, low-maintenance materials will keep a home looking sharp and performing well for years. Let’s look at what to consider when building for Western Australia’s conditions.
Building for WA Climate Zones
Before picking out your exterior building materials for your home, it’s critical first to assess your location. Where you live in WA and the corresponding climate zone will dictate what environmental conditions you’ll be facing for years to come. Different exterior building materials exhibit different properties and features, and their performance and longevity will depend on the elements they’re exposed to.
Here’s a quick rundown:
- Coastal areas (Perth, Bunbury, Geraldton): high salt and wind exposure — choose corrosion- and UV-resistant materials.
- Inland and regional WA: dry heat and big temperature swings — pick products that handle expansion and contraction well.
- Northern WA: humid and cyclone-prone — go for rot-proof, water-resistant materials with secure fixings.
Aside from the materials, your specific location and climate zone will also affect the design, structure, and installation of materials in your home, as there might be specific mandates for building energy efficiency and other standards required.
To know more about your climate zone, check out the Australian Building Codes Board map of WA climate zones.
Environmental factors that affect exterior house building materials
1. Sunlight
The sunlight’s UV radiation gradually breaks down the molecular structure of matter in a process called photodegradation. This process weakens different materials like plastic, wood, vinyl, and so on, causing them to lose colour and crack. With your exterior house building materials now more vulnerable to other harsh elements, your home’s structural integrity and lifespan are compromised, resulting in increased maintenance costs.
2. Temperature
Aside from UV rays, the sun also emits heat, which is partly responsible for the external temperature surrounding your home. Experiencing too hot or too cold temperatures also affects your material’s structure. Extreme temperatures can lead to your decking or cladding material expanding or contracting, which can also lead to cracking.
3. Wind
If your home is located in an area where strong winds are a common occurrence, it’s bound to experience some form of damage from the wind. Direct wind force, especially when constant, can slowly cause building materials for external walls to crack or split. Air pollutants and dust can also contribute to the erosion of your building materials. Not to mention, if extreme winds bring about debris and projectiles, bigger damage like facade punctures can occur.
4. Salt exposure
Houses located on the coastal front, in particular, are highly vulnerable to salt exposure from the sea spray and breeze. Though tiny, sea particles can cause sizable damage over time, through material corrosion and fading, depending on your chosen exterior building material for your home.
5. Moisture
Whether from non-stop heavy rains during wet seasons or from sticky, heavy external humidity, water moisture can cost the structural integrity of your home. Once moisture penetrates your building materials for your external homes, it can seep in well within your framework and bring mould, rot, decay, and leaks within your home.
6. Bushfire risk
Lastly, your location also indicates your risk for bushfire attacks. Depending on your Bushfire Attack Level (BAL) rating, your house in WA can be susceptible to bushfire threats like ember attack, radiant heat, or direct contact with flames on the bushfire front. As such, your BAL rating limits the materials you can use.
Key considerations when choosing exterior building materials for homes
1. Compliance with Building Standards
When choosing building materials, whether it’s for internal or external use, it’s important to look into the quality and safety of the products used. Make sure your chosen exterior building materials for your home have been tested or certified, if possible. Research is key in finding whether products are compliant with national building and safety standards. Homeowners, builders, and contractors can also always reach out to their trusted suppliers for more information about their chosen product.
2. Cost of Investment
Your chosen products will inevitably be limited by your budget. However, aside from making sure your exterior house building materials are within budget, take into consideration the return on investment as well. What you pay for will not only consist of upfront costs, but installation costs, as well as long-term maintenance costs. Finding easy-to-transport and install materials that will be durable for decades to come will allow you to save in the long run.
3. Design versatility & longevity
It’s also essential to choose materials that can be easily adapted to a design plan that reflects the owner’s personality and preferences. Does your chosen material come in colours or textures that fit your aesthetic vision? Or does it need extra treatment to get the finish you want? In addition, take into consideration the material’s longevity, and whether its colour and finish would remain the same for years to come.
Recommended Exterior Building Materials in WA
Wall Panels: Nasahi AAC
Autoclaved aerated concrete (AAC) lightweight panels are a modern solution for exterior walls, offering the strength and durability of traditional concrete without the heavy weight. Their composition makes them easy to handle and install, reduces structural load on foundations, and delivers excellent thermal and acoustic performance. For WA’s varied climate — from coastal salt exposure to hot, dry inland conditions — AAC panels provide a reliable, long-lasting exterior solution when finished with the right protective coatings.
How Nasahi External Walls Perform in the WA Climate
- Durable and lightweight: made from AAC, Nasahi panels combine concrete-level strength with reduced weight, making installation easier without compromising on durability.
- Thermally efficient: the panel structure helps regulate temperature, keeping homes cooler in WA’s heat and reducing energy use.
- Fire-resistant: non-combustible and suitable for BAL-rated areas, providing peace of mind in bushfire-prone zones.
- Acoustically sound: solid construction delivers excellent noise reduction, ideal for urban or high-traffic areas.
- Coating-ready for coastal protection: while AAC isn’t naturally UV- or salt-resistant, applying a quality exterior coating adds long-term protection against sun, salt, and weather exposure.
Cladding: James Hardie Fibre Cement
Made from their proprietary fibre cement formula, James Hardie products are highly recommended for external building cladding materials. Trusted by homeowners, builders, and DIYers from Perth and beyond, James Hardie cladding offers a wide range of cladding panels to suit any architectural style or cladding trend you may want to cop.
How James Hardie Performs in the WA Climate:
- Fire-resistant: cladding panels are made of non-combustible materials and are compliant with national bushfire-safety standards
- Moisture-resistant: cladding panels reduce the risk of water penetration, swelling, and rot in rainy and humid areas
- Heavy-duty: durable against strong winds, along with dust and salt particles
- Low maintenance: pre-primed and holds onto colour well; requires minimal cleaning
Decking: NewTechWood Composite Timber
A rising star in Perth homes, NewTechWood is now becoming a popular choice for home decking material that’s durable enough against the tough local climate. Being composite timber, NewTechWood decking offers the beauty of natural wood without the vulnerabilities of one. Made with recycled plastic and reclaimed wood fibres, NewTechWood is an eco-friendly option for homeowners looking to build a sustainable home.
How NewTechWood Performs in the WA Climate:
- UV-resistant: composite decking from NewTechWood is fully-capped against damage and fading from heat and UV rays
- Moisture-resistant: the decking panel composition doesn’t retain water or moisture
- Weather-proof: protected against damage and warping due to heavy rainfall, salt, and temperature changes
- Fire-resistant: as a composite material, it’s less susceptible to flames than regular timber and can be used in BAL-rated areas when installed properly
Protect your home with materials you can trust
Ensure your home’s structural integrity is well-protected for years to come. Invest in exterior building materials in WA that are tried and tested in quality.
We at Westgyp have been supplying contractors and builders in WA for more than 30 years. As a family-owned business in Perth, Westgyp hand-picks construction materials that we know can endure long and well in our harsh conditions. Contact our staff today to get expert advice on the best exterior building material for your project based on your needs and budget.