Exterior cladding protects and transforms the outside of a building, covering weathered or damaged walls with a durable finish that lasts for years. We fit a range of cladding systems on domestic and commercial properties across Newmarket and the surrounding area. Whether you need to weatherproof an exposed gable end or update a tired facade, we can advise on the right material and fix it properly.
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Exterior cladding is a layer of material fixed to the outside face of a building to protect the structure beneath and improve its appearance. It is fitted to houses, extensions, commercial units, agricultural buildings and garages across Newmarket and the surrounding area. If your existing render is cracking, your timber boards are rotting, or your brickwork is letting moisture in, cladding is often the most cost-effective way to solve the problem without major structural work.
A well-installed cladding system creates a rainscreen - a drained and ventilated gap between the cladding and the wall behind it. Water that gets past the outer face drains away rather than soaking into the masonry. This is why the fixing method and the detailing at the base, edges and window reveals matter as much as the cladding material itself.
Poorly detailed cladding traps moisture and causes exactly the problems it was meant to prevent: rot in timber frames, corrosion behind metal panels, and damp patches on internal walls. A common problem is that cladding is fixed directly to a wall with no drainage gap, or that window and door reveals are left unfinished, leaving an open route for water to travel behind the boards.
Different materials suit different buildings, budgets and planning situations. Here is a plain guide to the main options:
Planning requirements vary: listed buildings and properties in conservation areas may restrict the colour or material, so it is worth checking with the local planning authority before choosing a finish.
A cladding installation starts with an assessment of the wall behind. If there is existing render, damaged boards or rising damp, those issues need addressing before new cladding goes on. Covering over a damp wall seals moisture in and makes the problem worse over time.
Battens or a carrier frame are fixed to the wall to create the ventilated cavity. The cavity also allows for insulation to be added at this stage if the building needs improved thermal performance. The cladding boards or panels are then fixed to the battens in the correct lap or joint detail for that product, with purpose-made trims at corners, window openings and the base of the wall.
Sealing and finishing details at penetrations - pipes, vents, meter boxes - are where many installations fail. Sealants compress and split over time; mechanical flashing and trim details hold without relying on mastic alone. Getting these junctions right is what separates a cladding job that lasts from one that lets water in within a few years.
Cladding work involves working at height, handling sheet materials in wind, and making weathertight junctions that are not visible once complete. Errors are hidden and may not show up until a wet winter, by which time timber framing or wall ties behind the boards may already be damaged.
A professional will assess the wall condition first, specify the right fixing length and spacing for the substrate, and detail the reveals and flashings correctly. On a commercial building or a property with a flat or low-pitch roof junction, the cladding has to tie in correctly with the roof edge detail - getting this wrong is a common source of leaks that are difficult and expensive to trace.
Exterior cladding on a typical three-bedroom semi in the Newmarket area costs roughly £80 to £150 per square metre installed, depending on the material chosen and the condition of the wall behind. Metal cladding on commercial units is priced differently and depends heavily on the panel system, fixings and access required.
Changing the external appearance of a house with cladding is sometimes permitted development and sometimes not. Factors that usually require a planning application include changing a material finish to something visually different, cladding a property in a conservation area, or working on a listed building. Building Regulations also apply if insulation is being added at the same time, because this affects the thermal and fire performance of the wall.
It is the building owner's responsibility to obtain any permissions required. We can advise on what is likely to apply to your property, but you should confirm the position with the local planning authority before work starts, particularly where conservation areas and listed buildings are present.
The right choice depends on the building type, the budget, how much ongoing maintenance you are willing to do, and what planning allows. A timber finish suits a traditional building and takes paint or stain well, but needs attention every few years. A fibre cement or composite board requires very little maintenance once fitted and holds its appearance for a long time. Metal is the practical choice for commercial and agricultural buildings where cost per square metre and speed of installation matter most.
Talk to us about what your building needs. We will look at the wall condition, the exposure of the elevation, what your neighbours and the local planning context require, and give you a straight recommendation rather than a list of options with no guidance.
If you have a wall that needs cladding on a property in Newmarket, Kentford, Soham, Ely, Cambridge or Bury St Edmunds, call us to arrange a site visit. We will measure up, assess the wall condition, and give you a written quote for the work involved.
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