Exterior Cladding in Burwell

Expert Exterior Cladding
in Burwell

What Exterior Cladding Is and What We Fit

Exterior cladding protects your external walls from rain, frost, and wind, reduces heat loss through the wall, and updates the appearance of the building. We fit timber, composite, and fibre cement cladding on homes in Burwell and across the surrounding area from our base in Newmarket.

A proper installation includes treated battens, a ventilated cavity, correctly specified fixings, and sealed trims at all openings. When all of that is in place, the system handles moisture effectively and should need only routine maintenance. When something goes wrong, the priority is limiting further damage until the work can be properly assessed and carried out.

When Cladding Fails: What You Are Dealing With

Cladding problems tend to fall into two categories. The first is visible damage - boards cracked by impact, sections that have pulled away from the wall, obvious rot on the face of timber boards. The second is concealed damage - water that has been getting behind the boards for some time and may have reached the wall structure or internal surfaces before you noticed anything.

Visible damage is easier to manage in the short term. Concealed damage is more serious because the moisture has already done its work by the time you spot it. Damp patches appearing on internal walls, a musty smell in rooms adjacent to an external elevation, or paint bubbling on an interior wall near the outside all suggest the latter. If you see any of these signs, call a contractor promptly rather than waiting to see if it resolves itself.

What to Do While You Wait for a Contractor

If a section of cladding has failed and rain is forecast, there are things you can do to limit further water ingress without making the situation worse or putting yourself at risk.

Cover exposed areas at ground level. If boards have fallen away or split open at ground-floor level, a heavy-duty plastic sheet fixed with battens across the gap will reduce the amount of water entering in the short term. Use a staple gun or screws into the existing battens - do not use tape directly on the wall surface as it pulls off masonry and leaves residue.

Clear the immediate area around the base of the wall. If soil, leaves, or other debris has built up against the bottom of the cladding, clear it back so water can drain away from the wall rather than pooling at the base of the boards.

Check gutters and downpipes above the problem area. A blocked gutter that is overflowing directly onto failing cladding makes the situation significantly worse. Clear the blockage if you can do so safely from a ladder on firm ground. Do not climb onto a roof or lean out beyond a safe reach.

Move items stored against the wall indoors. Bins, garden furniture, or stacked timber pressed against cladding that is already compromised traps moisture and obstructs any temporary protection you put in place.

Document the damage with photographs. Take clear photos of the affected area before any temporary repairs, from multiple angles. These are useful for the contractor assessing the job and may be needed for any home insurance claim you make.

What Not to Do Yourself

When cladding is failing, the instinct to fix it quickly is understandable. However, some DIY interventions make the professional repair more complicated or more expensive, and some are genuinely dangerous.

• Do not attempt to remove large sections of cladding yourself. Cladding boards can be heavier than they look and are often fixed at height. Removing them without scaffolding or a stable working platform creates a real risk of falls and injury. It also exposes the wall beneath to the elements without any protection in place.
• Do not apply external sealant over boards that are bowing or wet. Sealing over a damp surface traps moisture inside the cavity and accelerates rot in the battens and any timber structure behind. Sealant applied in this way will also fail quickly and peel off, leaving you no better off.
• Do not use a pressure washer on damaged cladding. High-pressure water forces its way into any gap or crack, driving moisture further into the wall than the original problem reached.
• Do not attempt to refix boards that have pulled away from above ground-floor level without a properly erected working platform. A leaning ladder is not a safe working platform for any repair that requires two hands and significant force.
• Do not paint or stain over damaged or wet timber boards. Paint applied to damp timber peels rapidly and seals in moisture. Wait until the surface is dry and any damaged sections have been properly assessed before attempting any decorative work.

Choosing a Contractor When You Need One Quickly

When there is a live problem and you need someone promptly, there is a temptation to go with the first person who answers the phone. A few quick questions protect you from a poor decision even when time is short. Ask for a written price breakdown before any work starts - a verbal figure agreed in haste is hard to dispute. Ask who will be doing the work and confirm they have experience specifically with the type of cladding on your property. Timber, composite, and fibre cement all behave differently and require different fixings, tools, and sealants.

If a contractor quotes without looking at the wall behind the boards, be cautious. The visible damage is rarely the whole story. Any honest assessment of cladding failure involves at least removing one section to check the condition of the battens and the wall surface beneath.

Cladding Materials and Costs

Timber cladding is the most affordable to buy but requires the most maintenance over its life. Composite boards are mid-range in cost with very low ongoing maintenance requirements. Fibre cement is generally the most expensive to install but offers excellent durability with modest upkeep. Installed costs for exterior cladding in this part of the country typically run from around £70 to £130 per square metre depending on the material, the board profile, and the complexity of the elevations.

Scaffold access adds to the cost on any property above single-storey height and should be included explicitly in any written quote you receive. Do not assume it is included if it is not mentioned.

We Cover Burwell and the Surrounding Villages

We work across Burwell and nearby areas including Newmarket, Soham, Ely, Cambridge, and Kentford. If your cladding has failed or you want to understand your options before a problem develops, call us to book a survey. We will inspect the existing installation, check what is happening behind the boards, and give you a clear picture of what the repair or replacement involves.