Siding, Exteriors and Home Additions in Halifax

The exterior of a Nova Scotia home is a weather barrier before it is a look. Wind-driven rain arrives horizontally, salt air corrodes anything unprotected within a few kilometres of the water, and the freeze and thaw cycle works at every joint that holds moisture. What sits behind the siding decides how the wall performs, and it is invisible once the job is done.

Nova Core Construction takes on exterior renovation and home additions across Halifax, Dartmouth, Bedford, Sackville and the coastal communities of the HRM. We build the wall assembly properly, then finish it so the house looks like it was meant to be that way.

Siding and exterior envelope work

A siding replacement is the one chance in twenty or thirty years to see the sheathing. We take the opportunity: rot at window corners, failed flashing above doors, missing housewrap laps and inadequate insulation all get found and reported while the wall is open, with any remedial work priced before we proceed.

• Siding replacement. Vinyl, fibre cement, engineered wood and cedar, installed to the manufacturer's fastening and clearance requirements so the warranty holds.
• Water resistive barrier and flashing. Housewrap lapped correctly, with head flashing, sill pans and window details done before cladding goes on.
• Rainscreen where it belongs. A drained and vented cavity behind the cladding on exposed elevations, which is worth every dollar near the water.
• Soffit, fascia and trim. Ventilated soffit sized for the attic, plus fascia and corner detail that sheds water away from the wall.
• Windows and doors. Replacement units installed and flashed into the drainage plane rather than caulked and hoped for.
• Porches, steps and railings. Front entries rebuilt with proper footings, framing and guards.

Home additions and garages

An addition is a full build attached to an existing structure, which makes the connection between old and new the part that needs the most care. Foundations have to be designed so the addition and the house move together, the roof tie-in has to shed water without a valley that traps debris, and the new wall assembly has to meet the existing one without creating a cold bridge.

We build rear and side additions, second storey work, sunrooms and four season rooms, detached and attached garages, and garage conversions to living or office space. Each of these needs a permit from Halifax Regional Municipality, drawings, and usually an engineered element, all of which we coordinate as part of the project.

Coastal exposure and material choice

Properties in Eastern Passage, Cole Harbour and along the harbour approach get a harder ride than homes a few kilometres inland. Salt deposits on cladding, corrodes fasteners and shortens the life of anything galvanized to a light spec. For those addresses we specify stainless or heavy hot dip fasteners, cladding rated for coastal exposure, and a vented cavity so the wall dries between weather events.

Inland and wooded lots have the opposite problem: shade and tree cover keep walls damp and encourage moss and algae growth on the north side. Material selection and clearance from grade and vegetation do more for longevity there than any coating.

Permits, setbacks and neighbours

Additions and garages are subject to setback, lot coverage and height rules that vary by zone across the HRM. Before design work goes far, we check what your lot allows so the plan you fall in love with is one that can actually be built. Where a variance would be needed, you hear it early.

We handle the permit application and the inspection schedule, and we keep the site organised so a months-long build does not turn your street against you.