If you're planning exterior cladding for your home in Histon, choosing the right contractor matters as much as choosing the right material.
Exterior cladding sits over your existing wall structure and does two things: it protects the fabric of the wall from rain, frost and wind, and it changes how the building looks. Done properly, it can also reduce heat loss by adding a layer of insulation behind the boards. Done badly, it traps moisture against the wall and causes far more damage than it prevents.
At Newmarket Roofers, we fit timber, composite and fibre cement cladding on homes across the area, including properties in Histon and the surrounding villages. Each material has different characteristics, different maintenance requirements and a different price point, so the choice you make at the start shapes everything that follows.
Timber cladding gives a natural look and performs well when correctly specified and maintained. Softwood boards need treating and repainting on a regular cycle - typically every five to eight years depending on exposure. Hardwood lasts longer between treatments but costs more upfront.
Composite cladding is made from a mix of wood fibre and polymer. It resists moisture and does not need painting, which is why many homeowners choose it for north-facing or sheltered elevations where timber might struggle. The boards tend to hold their colour for many years without intervention.
Fibre cement cladding is the most robust of the three. It is non-combustible, does not rot, and holds a factory-applied finish that typically lasts fifteen to twenty years before recoating is needed. It is heavier than the other options, so the fixing method and wall structure matter.
This is where most homeowners in Histon and nearby areas like Cambridge or Ely get caught out. They focus on price and miss the details that determine whether the job will last. Here is what to ask before you agree to anything.
Installing composite cladding is not the same as installing fibre cement. The fixing methods differ, the expansion allowances differ, and the junction details at windows and corners differ. Ask the contractor how many jobs they have done with the exact material you are considering and whether they can show you examples.
A good cladding installation does not go straight onto bare masonry or existing render without inspection. The contractor should check for damp, loose areas or previous repairs that need addressing before the cladding goes on. If they quote without mentioning this step, ask why.
Cladding systems need a ventilated cavity between the boards and the wall to allow any moisture that gets in to escape. A breather membrane behind the battens protects the wall if water does penetrate. Any contractor who cannot explain this detail clearly, or who skips it to keep costs down, is cutting a corner that will cost you later.
Scaffolding, removal of existing render or cladding, window and door trims, sealing around penetrations, and making good any decoration at the edges - these are all things that can appear as extras if they are not specified in writing from the start. Get a written breakdown, not just a total figure.
Some contractors price the job and then subcontract it to whoever is available. There is nothing automatically wrong with that, but you should know. If the person who surveys your property and discusses the details is not the person on the scaffold, make sure the information is passed across properly.
Before any cladding work is priced, someone should visit the property and look at the walls properly - not just the front elevation. They should check the condition of the existing wall surface, identify any existing damp patches or cracks, look at how windows and doors are set into the wall (reveal depth matters for trim details), and assess what access is needed.
A survey done from the pavement is not a survey. If a contractor gives you a price without visiting, or visits for less than ten minutes, the price will either be wrong or it will come with a long list of variations later.
Exterior cladding costs vary depending on the material chosen, the size of the property and the complexity of the elevation. Fibre cement tends to sit at the higher end; timber softwood at the lower. These broad differences are a starting point to help you judge whether quotes are in a reasonable range.
Very low quotes almost always reflect one of three things: a cheaper material than discussed, missing items like scaffolding or trims, or a contractor planning to cut corners on fixing and weatherproofing details. If two quotes are close and one is significantly lower, ask what is different before you accept it.
The specification is the document that describes exactly what will be installed - the product name, board profile, colour, fixing centres, membrane specification and trim details. If your contractor does not produce one, write down what was agreed yourself and ask them to confirm it in writing. Without this, disputes over what was promised are almost impossible to resolve fairly.
A clear specification also makes it easier to compare quotes properly. If one contractor specifies 18mm cement board on 50mm battens with a specific breather membrane and another just writes "supply and fix fibre cement cladding", you are not comparing like for like.
We carry out exterior cladding work in Histon and across the wider area including Newmarket, Cambridge and neighbouring villages. Call us to arrange a proper site visit and a written quote that sets out exactly what is included.
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