Newmarket Roofers fits exterior cladding in Isleham and the surrounding area, and this page walks you through exactly what the process looks like from the first visit to the day we leave your property tidy.
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A lot of homeowners feel uncertain about cladding work because it involves fixing to the fabric of the building, and once the boards are on you cannot easily see what is happening behind them. Understanding the process from start to finish means you can follow what a good contractor is doing, ask the right questions at each stage, and spot if something is being skipped.
We fit timber, composite and fibre cement cladding on homes and commercial properties across the area. Here is what a proper installation looks like in practice.
Before any pricing or planning, a thorough survey of the wall is needed. This is not just a glance at the surface. A proper survey looks at what the wall is built from (brick, block, timber frame), whether the existing surface has any damp, damage or loose material, what is at the edges - windows, doors, eaves, sills - and how fixings will need to be made given the wall construction.
On older properties in the Isleham area, it is not unusual to find that a previous render coat has partially delaminated from the wall behind it, or that pointing is missing in patches. These things need to be resolved before cladding goes on, because sealing a damp wall behind boards creates a lasting problem rather than solving one.
The survey should also cover access. Scaffolding or a mobile elevated work platform is needed for anything above a single storey, and the cost of access equipment is a real part of the project that should be included in any price you are given, not added later as a surprise.
If you have existing cladding or render that is being replaced, this comes off first. Stripping back to the bare wall is the only way to know the true condition of what is underneath. A contractor who boards straight over existing cladding without inspecting the wall is taking a shortcut that may come back to cause problems.
Stripping produces waste material - old boards, render, fixings and whatever has accumulated behind the cladding over the years. A responsible contractor arranges for this to be removed to a licensed waste facility and should be able to confirm how they handle it if you ask.
Once the wall is exposed, any damaged areas of brick or mortar are repaired. If the wall is damp it needs time to dry before anything goes over it. In some cases a damp-proof treatment may be recommended, though this depends on the source of the moisture - if water is getting in from outside, fixing the route of entry is the right answer, not trying to treat the symptom.
A breather membrane is then fixed to the wall. This is a breathable, water-resistant sheet that allows moisture vapour to escape outward while stopping liquid water from getting in. It is a critical part of a ventilated cladding system and should not be omitted.
Horizontal or vertical timber battens are fixed to the wall through the membrane. These create the ventilated cavity between the wall and the cladding boards - the gap that allows air to circulate and carry away any moisture that gets past the boards. The battens also provide the fixing points for the boards themselves.
Battens must be treated against rot and fixed at the correct centres for the board type and weight being used. For heavier materials such as fibre cement, fixings need to reach a solid substrate - screws into nothing will not hold the boards securely in wind.
If insulation is being added to the build-up, rigid insulation boards are fitted between the battens at this stage, or a second layer of battens is added to create depth for the insulation behind the primary battening.
Boards are measured, cut and fixed from the bottom of the wall upward. The starter course at the bottom needs to be set level regardless of whether the ground or the existing structure is level. Any deviation at this stage becomes more pronounced as you work up the wall.
Each board overlaps or interlocks with the one below, depending on the profile. Fixings are either face-fixed (visible on the surface) or hidden, depending on the board system. Hidden fixings give a cleaner look but add time to the installation.
All cut edges on timber and fibre cement boards need to be sealed or treated before they are fixed. On timber this prevents moisture absorption into the cut end grain. On fibre cement it prevents the cement absorbing water at the cut face, which can cause swelling or cracking.
The junctions around windows, doors and at external corners are where most cladding failures begin. Water finds the path of least resistance, and any poorly sealed junction is an invitation for water to track behind the boards.
Window and door heads need a flashing that directs water onto the face of the cladding below, not behind it. Sills need to drain outward. Corners can be handled with purpose-made corner sections, return boards or metal trim, depending on the material and the visual result you want. All of these details should be discussed and agreed before work starts, not improvised on the day.
Once boards are fitted, a final check should go over every junction, every fixing and the alignment of each course. Any face fixings should be checked to make sure they are driven flush rather than over-tightened (which can crack boards) or under-driven (which leaves a raised fixing that collects water).
All off-cuts, packaging and waste should be cleared from site. Scaffolding or access equipment is removed. Your paths, garden and any protected planting should be left in the same condition they were found.
If you are considering cladding for your Isleham property, call Newmarket Roofers and we will carry out an initial survey to assess your walls and talk you through what the job involves for your specific situation.
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Call any time. Calls are answered day and night and passed straight to our roofers.
