Choosing facade materials with Shaynna Blaze
According to Australia’s top interior designer, Shaynna Blaze, your home’s facade can dramatically impact your mood as soon as you step inside. Coming home after a long day is a sweet enough feeling in itself, but coming home to an attractive facade is even sweeter.
Your facade can help set the mood, style, and tone for your entire home, so choosing the right materials for your facade is an absolute must!
Allow Shaynna to guide you through the process of choosing your facade materials in the video above, or keep reading for some in-depth tips to create a stunning, architectural facade.
#1. Traditional cladding
Cladding is one of the most popular choices for Aussie homeowners. It is a non-load bearing layer attached to the outside of your home, designed to shed water and protect your facade from the effects of weather.
It’s cost-effective and attractive, adding a traditional “homestead” or “hamptons” look to your home.
Cladding comes in a wide range of colours, thicknesses, materials, and designs, so you can choose what texture is right for your home as a whole.
#2. Moroka
If you love the look of a rendered home but want something more cost-effective and low-maintenance, Moroka is a fantastic choice.
Moroka is an acrylic-based coating system often described as a “bag and paint” technique. It’s applied directly over brickwork or masonry in two coats — first to build up texture, then to seal and colour. Depending on the tools used (trowel, sponge, or brush) and the level of texture you want, the finish can range from a soft, bagged look to a light stipple or smooth painted style.
Why choose Moroka?
Many homeowners choose Moroka for its durability, versatility, and visual warmth. It delivers the contemporary render appeal but at a fraction of the cost, and with less maintenance over time. Because it’s a breathable coating, Moroka also helps prevent trapped moisture — ideal for coastal homes where salt and humidity can cause traditional renders to crack or flake.
Moroka resists the white powdery salt deposits (efflorescence) often seen on brick near the ocean, so your facade stays cleaner for longer.
Pros and cons of Moroka
| Feature | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Texture | Light to medium texture (bag and paint) | Smooth to heavy | Smooth, plastic-like finish | Rough, rustic look |
| Cost | Lower | Moderate to high | Moderate | Lowest |
| Maintenance | Low | Medium | Low | Low |
| Salt Resistance | Excellent | Poor | Good | Fair |
| DIY-Friendly | Moderate | Difficult | Difficult | Easy |
Application and finish options
Moroka can be trowelled or sponged on, depending on the desired texture. While some DIY enthusiasts can attempt small projects, achieving a consistent, professional finish is best left to experienced applicators. You can tint Moroka in various Dulux colours to match your facade palette or achieve a modern monochrome look.
Style inspiration
Used in the Avoca 206 Display Home, Moroka creates a clean, modern street presence while adding just enough texture to avoid looking flat. It’s perfect for minimalist, coastal, or contemporary home styles, pairing beautifully with materials like timber battens or Colorbond roofing.
#3. Timber-look battans
Timber-look battens can add a natural warmth to your home’s facade, plus they’re incredibly versatile — they can be used in a number of different ways to highlight certain features of your facade.
Timber-look battens can soften modern lines in your facade, creating interest and individuality from the street. They’re attractive and earthy, making them perfect for homes with warm lighting and an “au naturale” interior design.
#4. An extra wide front door
The front door is the focal point of your facade, so your choice of door is crucial to the overall appearance of your home from the street.
Shaynna recommends an extra wide front door to make it easy for you to carry shopping bags into your home. Plus, wide doors have a natural sense of grandeur, so your facade will instantly have a luxurious appearance.
The materials of your door also have an impact on the look of your facade. For example, a timber door can add an organic yet refined aesthetic, whereas brushed aluminium has a modern yet industrial feel.
Painted timber can also help express your unique sense of style. Simply choose the colour for your door and show the world some character.
#5. Natural Stone
Make a memorable feature for that all-important street appeal with natural and earthy materials like stone.
Stone or masonry can add some additional warmth to your home’s facade, especially with a well-kept front garden with lots of leafy greens. Ferns are always an excellent choice around the front windows and door, so long as you have some shade throughout the day.
#6. Roof materials
More than half of your home’s facade is the roof, so choosing the right roofing material is vital to the overall appearance of your home.
Tile is a traditional choice for a classic aesthetic, adding texture, style, and functionality to your home design. However, Colorbond steel is the quintessential Australian roofing material, bringing clean and neat lines to achieve a modern look.
Colorbond is also timeless — tried and tested in Australia’s harshest environments, Colorbond is designed to last for decades without fading, cracking, or peeling.
The options for your home facade are endless with Montgomery homes
Ready to add a unique aesthetic to your home design? Get in touch with the team from Montgomery Homes for more information about our building materials and facade options.
Each of our architectural home designs have multiple facades to choose from, plus you can choose the colours, materials, and textures to create a home that’s truly your own.
Our interior and exterior home design specialists can provide you with brochures featuring our stunning facade materials and options, plus we have an immersive Selections Gallery in both Sydney and Newcastle that you can explore in person. Contact us to start your new home build today!
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