House Facelift — Portico & Cornice Restoration
House Renovation
This house facelift in Werribee, completed by Naxan Renovations, focused on restoring the front portico of a brick veneer home. Years of weather exposure had cracked and stained the original render, leaving the timber framing beneath the cornice exposed and vulnerable to further water damage.
Naxan Renovations stripped back the failing sections, repaired the underlying timber structure, and re-rendered the entire portico — columns, pediment, and cornice — to deliver a clean, uniform, crack-free finish that lifts the street presence of the whole home.
Built for Werribee homeowners who want their entrance to look as solid as it is, this house front renovation turned a tired, damaged portico into a sharp, ready-to-paint feature that matches the quality of the rest of the property.
The portico shows extensive render damage — cracking, rust staining, and a section of exposed timber roof framing where the old cornice had failed, leaving the structure open to further water damage.
With the damaged render stripped back, the timber framing above the entry is fully exposed, showing the extent of repair needed before any new render could go on.
The finished portico presents a smooth, consistent render across the columns and cornice, with sharp, restored pediment detailing — a durable, ready-to-paint finish that protects the structure and refreshes the home's entrance.
Naxan Renovations follows a clear, staged process so every house facelift is handled properly from inspection through to finish.
The portico was assessed for cracking, water staining, and structural exposure, identifying how far the timber framing had been compromised behind the failing render.
Damaged and unstable render sections were removed and the exposed timber frame was addressed, giving the team a sound base to rebuild from.
The columns, pediment, and cornice were re-rendered to a smooth, uniform finish, restoring the portico's shape and preparing it for paint.
Older render entries are especially prone to water damage once cracking sets in, and this Werribee home was no exception.
Years of movement and weathering had cracked the original render, allowing water to track behind the surface.
Once the render failed, the timber structure supporting the cornice was left exposed to the elements, increasing the risk of rot and further damage.
Rust and water staining along the columns showed ongoing moisture penetration that would have worsened if left unaddressed.
Rather than rendering over the damage, the exposed timber and unstable sections were repaired first, addressing the root cause
A smooth, evenly applied render was carried across the full portico for a durable, uniform surface built to resist future cracking.
The cornice and pediment detailing were rebuilt to match the home’s original design, preserving its street-facing character.
A house facelift is a cosmetic and structural refresh of a home's street-facing exterior — typically the entry portico, render, cornice, and front details — without a full rebuild. It's designed to fix damage and modernise the look of the front of the house.
Common signs include visible cracking, rust or water staining running down columns, and render that sounds hollow when tapped — all indicators that moisture has gotten behind the surface. This is especially common in older Werribee homes exposed to seasonal wind and rain.
Yes. Rendering over damaged or exposed timber framing only hides the problem temporarily. Structural repair first ensures the new render finish actually lasts.
Timeframes vary with the extent of damage, but most restorations of this scale — including strip-back, structural repair, and re-render — are completed within one to two weeks, weather permitting.
Yes. Naxan Renovations completed this house facelift in Werribee and services homes throughout the surrounding Melbourne western suburbs.
Yes. Naxan Renovations rebuilds the cornice and pediment profile to match the home's existing architectural detailing rather than simplifying or altering the design.
31 Latitude Promenade
Truganina, VIC 3029
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