Exterior cladding prices can vary more than most homeowners expect - here is what drives the cost, what you can expect to pay for different materials, and where the hidden extras tend to appear.
Exterior cladding in the UK typically costs between £80 and £200 per square metre supplied and fitted, depending on the material chosen and the complexity of the job. That range is wide because a straightforward single-storey garage in composite boards and a multi-elevation Victorian semi in timber with detailed window reveals are both described as cladding jobs but involve very different amounts of work and material.
For a typical semi-detached house with two or three elevations clad, total project costs commonly fall between £6,000 and £18,000. The material choice, access requirements and preparation work are the three biggest variables. Understanding each one helps you assess quotes properly.
The board itself is usually the largest single line in a cladding quote. Here is how the three main materials compare on cost.
Timber varies most in price because species and profile differ so widely. Treated softwood cladding (spruce or pine, pressure-treated) is the cheapest option, starting around £15-25 per square metre for the boards alone. Siberian larch or western red cedar - both commonly specified for their natural durability - typically cost £35-65 per square metre for boards, depending on profile and grade. Timber also needs maintenance (staining, oiling or painting on a cycle of roughly three to five years depending on exposure), so the whole-life cost is higher than the upfront price suggests.
Composite cladding boards typically cost £40-80 per square metre for supply, with better-specified products at the upper end. They need no ongoing painting or staining, so the whole-life cost is more competitive than the upfront figure implies. Quality between manufacturers varies considerably - do not assume that a composite board at £45/m2 and one at £75/m2 are the same product with a different label.
Fibre cement boards sit broadly between treated softwood and composite on supply cost - typically £25-55 per square metre for the boards. Factory-painted products cost more than primed-only boards. The material is heavier than timber or composite, which slightly increases installation time and handling effort on taller elevations.
Labour for cladding installation typically runs at £30-55 per square metre on a straightforward job. That rate covers removing the existing surface or preparing it, fixing the batten framework, fitting the boards and forming the basic junctions at windows and edges.
The rate rises when any of the following apply:
Scaffolding is the item most commonly absent from early budget estimates and then appears as a surprise in the formal quote. For a full two-storey elevation, scaffolding typically adds £800 to £2,000 depending on the size of the area and the duration of hire. On larger projects or where multiple elevations are clad at the same time, scaffold costs can reach £3,000 or more.
It is worth clading all accessible elevations at the same time if they all need work, because mobilising scaffold twice costs significantly more than leaving it up for an extra week. The scaffold hire period should be agreed as part of the quotation - day-rate overhire can add up quickly if the job runs long.
Adding rigid insulation between the battens before the cladding boards go on increases both material and labour cost, but it reduces heat loss through the wall - particularly relevant on solid-wall properties where the wall itself provides little thermal resistance. Rigid mineral wool or phenolic insulation boards typically add £15-40 per square metre to the project cost depending on the thickness specified.
If the property qualifies for any government-backed energy efficiency funding, it is worth checking eligibility before the job is priced - some schemes contribute to the cost of external wall insulation when it is fitted as part of a cladding installation.
Beyond the obvious material and access factors, several specific decisions consistently add to the final bill.
Several choices reduce the project cost without sacrificing quality.
A properly itemised quote for cladding work on a property in Fulbourn or nearby should show material cost and labour cost separately, should specify the board product and profile by name, should detail what preparation is included and what is excluded, and should show scaffolding as its own line item. A quote that shows a single total figure with no breakdown is very hard to compare against another quote - and very easy to dispute if something is not included.
If a quote is considerably cheaper than others, the most likely explanations are cheaper board specification, galvanised rather than stainless fixings, a thinner batten creating a smaller cavity, or junction details that have been simplified. Ask specifically about each of those points before accepting a lower price.
We cover Fulbourn, Newmarket, Cambridge, Soham, Ely, Kentford and Bury St Edmunds. If you want an itemised quote for cladding on your home, call Newmarket Roofers and ask for a survey. We will price the job to the specific condition of your walls and the material you want, so you know exactly what you are paying for before work starts.
No obligation · We usually respond within 2 hours
Storm damage, active leak, damaged ridge - we aim to be on-site within 24 hours.
