Why Weathertex? The Smart Choice for Home Cladding

Advice would you give families considering, like the Weathertex product itself, it's 100% natural.

We have no chemicals in the board. It's backed by a. A wonderful warranty. Follow that process through right to the end and ensuring that that's what the homeowner wants.

Hey, guys, welcome to the Builder's Edge. I'm Norm Wales from Norm Wales Constructions. Now, for me, the whole purpose of this podcast here is to bring a little bit more awareness around the construction industry. I've been feeling for many, many years that there's not enough helpful information out there to support you guys to make the right choice. Now, we are a smaller family independent building company and we're not here to build everybody's home, but we would definitely love to be able to work with you to facilitate your dream home. But if we don't build your new home, we want you to be able to make the right decision in choosing the right builder for you. So hopefully the information that I'm able to provide through this podcast can be informative and helpful that you can now create your dream home. So I hope you enjoy and thanks for watching.

So cheeky. Before we dive into this podcast, tell us a little bit about yourself and how you got to where you are today day, and then why you care so much about helping families build their dream home.

Yeah, look, thanks, Norm, and thanks for having me here today. And it's, It's a privilege to be here. So where it all started from is I actually did about 10 years in the building industry for a timber merchant with Sunshine Mitre 10. From there, I progressed into the role that I'm into now as the BDM for Weather Tax.

And from then on, it's, it's just escalated for me as a career to step and go outside, I suppose, my parameters and trying to, you know, better myself. So, yeah, wonderful to get where I am now. I've, you know, there's been some hurdles during, during my career, but this one's one of the best ones because a, you know, there's a product there that I sell and I'm so passionate about it. A lot of people tell me is, what do you get out of it? Cheek? And I say, well, it's more about seeing the happy faces when the likes of your guys, Norm on site have installed it to perfection. And I see the homeowners, especially when there's, I know there's a lot of time and effort giving into.

Selecting from day dot and actually finally seeing that product how it is at the end, that's where I get the most passionate out of it. And success for me as well, mate.

I, I love that. That's amazing. And look, I think something, you know, when you got that passion and that drive behind it there, it just means so much more, doesn't it? You know, like it just makes it more enjoyable.

Exactly.

Perfect. So cheeky. Like what's the most like unique qualities like does Weathertex cladding offer compared to other materials made in honesty?

It's. It's 100 natural. 97 of it's made out of a hardwood. 3% is just natural wax. To be quite upright, it's paraffin wax. So all that is is just to handle the outdoor conditions.

So we've, you know, totally 100 natural where we have no chemicals in the board. Formaldehyde and most importantly silicosis.

Yeah, no, that's very important. We all are very aware of, you know, the asbestos and silicosis and those sorts of things that have been in the industry in the past. And yeah, unfortunately it hasn't ended in the right result with you know, where that's taken people. But no, like it, the Weathertech's mate, like it is a fantastic product, you know and it's, you know, great to see you guys, you know, standing by your product and delivering such a, a fantastic range as well.

What I guess cheeky. Like how does like using the Weathertechs cladding and the ranges that you have there like impact at homes, like sustainability and then you know like the overall environment footprint, like what does it leave behind?

Yeah, look in it. Sustainable is a unique thing that.

We all thrive through in the actual factory itself without having a sustainable product. I believe that.

We, yeah we wouldn't be where we are now in pushing that. That's what we're all about. Yeah is being sustainable. Then it comes to the better zero carbon footprint as well. Which when we look at that.

I suppose in an essence circularity to where it comes from the forestry.

Through, you know, obviously our logs into factory with the processes going through and it, it minimizes the zero waste as well. That way we're, we're using every depth of our product that can be for example shredded and used in your garden beds, to be honest, because you don't. It's all termite resistant.

Yeah.

So you know, little knickknacks like that people don't realize. They're like check it. Are you serious?

And that's the thing, like I must admit when you first, you know, when I say pitched it to us, you didn't have to pitch it like it's a fantastic product, you know. But you know to have that, that product to be able to be. It's zero waste. Like especially the you know, the day we live in now it's. There's that much waste in a building site and we're very, you know, big on minimal waste ourselves and have been able to be so fortunate to use such a great product that there is no waste. You know, like it's marvelous you know and you know if you get a little off cut here or there can all go back and being recycled again.

Correct that and that's the beauty of, of the Weathertex products and doing that.

No, that, that's wonderful mate. And like around that there. Like what long term benefits, you know such as like the durability and of the product in itself there can families expect from you know, using Weathertech cladding?

Oh look it's, it's backed by a, a Wonderful warranty overall. 25 years on our, our prime products and that's governed by no splitting, rotting or cracking with our timber natural. Again you have a 10 year warranty as well. Because it's an unprimed product. Yeah, with no splitting, rotting or cracking as well. So the longer jevity of our warranty purposes, the actual length of it being very warranted.

That's amazing. Like they have such a, you know, great extensive warranty there. You know, it just proves you know, the company itself, they're standing by the product and you know, in more experience. That's probably one of my number one things to stand about what you do, you know. And I love surrounding myself with people that are as passionate about doing that as well. And then that means all of us together are going to get going to give you know, our customers, you know, the best we possibly can, you know. So definitely, you know, standing by your product and you know, backing up with the warranty, you know it's is more of a rarity these days. Not, not every company can sort of say they do that. So that's amazing mate. Like that's you know, hats off to you guys for that, you know. And like, you know how does like for yourself there like you know, using Weathertech clad in there, how's that actually help with the aesthetics of the overall value of a customer's home?

Look, we've always taken to the factors with the new suppose legislations coming into place next year where everything's going to be required to be on a type of batten, whether it's polystyrene or timber. Now because with whether it's steel frame or timber frame, we can actually have that sort of system again polystyrene or timber to create that cavity. And what that reassures is there's just the airflow in behind the cladding because of your gun between obviously the sarking and the cavity thermal break, sorry which they call it lets the flow of the air go behind Ventilation, bit of ventilation. And it gives the homeowner that seven star rating as well.

And like, can you tell me a little bit more around that they're like, you know, obviously you've been around a block a little bit yourself. Like by not installing, you know, your product or any other specific claddings that are there, you know, correctly. How, you know, can that impact the homeowner?

It will in terms of.

Hold up the job where you know, things have gone in this compare shape where you get on the phone and say cheek, I need you. This is what's happened. Could you come and see the boys? And which I'll be there in a heart, you know, I'll go through the process. I say this is what we actually need to do is by eliminating that procedure and then implementing the new procedure as per obviously the new legislations in the new year. So you know, being there, reassuring obviously the guys and then ensuring the homeowners as well. This is the reason why it is done this way.

Yeah.

So that they have I suppose clarity as well.

And it's, it's great that you obviously I said you stand by your products and you know, you've got that warranty out there and you know, I guess if you've got that education, that support around with what you do, you know, I guess you won't be having those problems especially if you're working with reputable builders and trades anyway. But you know, still to have that there is definitely a very great asset, you know, for I guess the consumer knowing that, you know, you guys are there for them all the way through from start to finish.

And that's the beauty of it too Norm is like, you know, we're just a phone call away. Not my, not just myself. I mean we've got other BDMs in, in the state. So if you, you know, your boys are saying, look, we've got something that needs to be rectified, we can be there within next day or day, day later.

So beautiful.

And you know, we, we go through that process with you guys, we of how to install it.

Yeah.

And then we go away and then come back just to make sure there's reassurance by your boys and not only that you could meet the homeowner on site and have a good yarn to them and say, I'm cheek from WeatherTechs, I'm here to help you.

Wonderful. Now look, that's amazing. And I said before, you don't often get that support from companies. So, you know, what you guys are doing is absolutely amazing.

You know, like when it comes down.

To the homeowner, like, what do they need to know about sourcing this material?

Yeah, look, it's, we'll talk about how it's, where it's made in all that it's actually made in New South Wales or to be exact, Heather Brake. So we've been around for quite a long time. So the factory has actually been around since 1938 and in 1939 it actually, it formed to where it is today. So she's an old factory and it's still producing the good products of what you see out in the market today.

Yep.

As well. So it's.

It'S a blessing to actually.

Go online when you can actually see the 3D video of a virtual tour of our factory.

Okay.

Which, you know, the homeowners are more than quite happy to jump online, go onto our website and actually check that out and you know, give yourself a beer of wine or two. No.

Yeah, Wonderful. I like that, mate. And like, I guess, Jake, what would you, you know, one thing or bit of advice would you give families considering like the Weathertext product itself.

I back the product. Not only that, the reassurance is, you know, we can go back to the designers and work from day dot and potentially get an understanding and a view of what the homeowner wants. Where a, we talk with the homeowner, we talk with the designer, collaborate our materials together and follow that process through right to the end and ensuring that that's what the homeowner wants.

Oh, that's, that's, that's amazing, man. Like, that's, you know, such a, a great thing and an asset, you know, for you guys to be there for the homeowners. So I guess they're like wrapping up a bit like the, the benefits, you know, of a consumer picking such a wonderful product like, you know, what you have there. It's not just the range that is offering and that there's, you know, a zero footprint with and you know, having no waste. It's also having a reputable, you know, company that's, that stands by their product and that's there at, you know, a phone call you know, moments notice, you know, so that's something that is really, really great to see that you guys are really pushing that, you know, zero footprint, wanting, you know, the best product there for the customers and you're there to stand by, mate. So, you know, as I said before, hats off to, you know, I really commend that. So. But mate, just before I wrap up there, I'd just like to ask one last question. And we call this the get to Know Norm jar. So mate, I might have to go.

Get another beer, I think.

What have we got today? Okay, so Cheeky, what's a value or principle you live by and how was it shaped? Or how has it shaped your life?

Wow, mate, there's a lot out there. But one really sticks to mind is if you believe in it, go and do it and let no one else tell you how to do it.

I like that. That's, that's something that I'm very focused on myself. But I guess for me it'd be a like a handshake's a handshake and your words, your word. And I stand by what you do. But mate, that's. No, that's great. All right, Cheeky, mate. Really appreciate you having on today. It's, you know, your wisdom has been, I think very valuable, you know, and it's amazing with what you guys are doing there at Weathertech. So thanks again for being on the builder's edge.

Thanks for having me and thanks for choosing Weathertechs cuz it's a better choice naturally.

Love it. All right, thanks, mate.