RECLAD

Restoring faith in the building: How Platinum Pacific Group rebuilt St Paul’s Anglican Church from the ground up

The challenge

“We thought we had a water problem down one wall. We soon found out it was a lot more serious.” - St Paul’s Anglican Church

The Auckland church was facing water damage masked by ageing cladding. What began as a routine reclad quickly escalated. Left unresolved, the issues threatened the long-term integrity of the building.

 

Exposing the problem

As Platinum Pacific Group (PPG) removed the cladding, extensive rot and structural failings became clear. Some framing was missing or improperly anchored; in places, framing was resting on foundations. The discovery required a full reassessment of the building’s condition and the scope of work.

 

The search for a solution

With a project that now spanned engineering, heritage considerations, Council approvals and oversight from the Anglican Diocese, the parish needed a builder that could manage complexity with sensitivity and skill. A hands-on partner who could work with stakeholders and keep the church committees informed and supported.

Why they chose Platinum Pacific Group

St Paul’s was aware of PPG's reputation and expertise in reclads in particular and trusted their approach.

“Marty was great—very upfront and never patronising. He explained things clearly, gave us options, and always made sure we understood what needed to be done and why; including with transparent costings and our options where possible.” - St Paul’s Anglican Church

PPG also liaised directly with the Diocese’s property manager, draughtsman, engineers, and specialist tradespeople to help the project stay coordinated.

 

The solution

PPG delivered a full structural reclad, added custom-engineered foundation steel beams, installed external guttering to manage heavy runoff from the large roof space, and upgraded the windows with low-maintenance aluminium replicas.

A unique element involved restoring stained glass windows, including carefully removing them, having them professionally refurbished, and reinstalling them in the church space.

 

What worked well

Communication and trust were key.

“We always knew what was happening. They respected that while we were paying for the work, we weren’t the final decision-makers. They were patient and incredibly consultative.” - St Paul’s Anglican Church

Neighbours had no complaints, tradespeople were considerate, and the church hall functioned as a temporary worship space throughout the build.

The outcome

Today, the church is safe, dry and future-proofed.

“It’s the things you can’t see that matter. Beams in the walls (carefully concealed as pillars), new foundations, stronger framing and insulation. When it pours down, we don’t worry anymore.” - St Paul’s Anglican Church

 

Final thoughts

“We spent a lot of money on things no one will ever see, but we know it’s done right. We were very happy to have used Platinum Pacific Group for this project, which expanded beyond our wildest expectations, but which was managed carefully."

“At all times, Platinum Pacific Group respected us and the building’s place in the community. They did what had to be done, and they did it properly.” - St Paul’s Anglican Church

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