Adding cladding boards to your house, bungalow, office or garden room is an easy way of transforming the look of your building. Wall cladding products come in a range of materials and styles. Each option offers different advantages and considerations, including variations in durability, appearance, and the total cost of materials and installation.
Adding cladding to a home will transform the look and feel of your house, whilst also protecting the underlying structural walls and acting as insulation. When installing wall cladding on your home, you will want to make sure you are paying a reasonable price for it.
This blog will explain average house cladding costs, including the cost of materials, labour, and any extra costs that may occur. This includes scaffolding and trims as well as helping you to decide which external cladding is the best option for you. From using traditional timber or brick to low-maintenance composite or uPVC cladding.
Article Contents:
- Factors that impact the cost of house cladding
- Fibre cement wall cladding
- Composite wall cladding
- Timber wall cladding
- How much does house cladding cost?
- Materials / supply only costs
- Labour costs and timescales
- Additional costs
- House cladding checklist
- Why should you choose house cladding?
- Is house cladding something I can install (DIY)?
Factors that impact the cost of house cladding
The cost of cladding a building can vary depending on the material you choose and the type of installation needed. Will the boards be installed in a tongue and groove or feather board method? What's the size of your house?
Thinking about the size and shape of the property may seem like an obvious one, but the size and shape of the building you want to clad will play a part in the total cost of your cladding project. If you are adding wall cladding to a small shed at the bottom of your garden, this is going to be significantly cheaper when compared to a five-bed detached house. Not only will a semi-detached or detached house have increased cladding costs compared to a garden studio, but if that home has multiple windows or angled walls, then the price for labour can also increase per square metre of cladding. If your builders have to spend hours cutting your cladding boards to size, the timescale for your finished project may increase, as will your bill.
Materials & types of house cladding
There is a wide range of external cladding materials on the market. Each one will use a different installation method, with different properties and costs. Here are a few exterior cladding board options with their benefits and prices.
FIBRE CEMENT WALL CLADDING
Cladco fibre cement lap cladding is a high-quality, low-maintenance cladding solution that offers the look of traditional timber without the ongoing upkeep. Each fibre cement board covers a wider surface area than standard timber cladding, making installation more efficient while maintaining an authentic wood-effect appearance.
Available in a range of eight attractive colours, as well as unpainted, our fibre cement lap cladding boards should not stain, rot, fade, or splinter. These boards have a price starting at £15.06 per board.
COMPOSITE WALL CLADDING
At Cladco, our composite wall cladding ranges feature boards with a high-quality, low-maintenance, environmentally friendly cladding material composition. They are manufactured using 60% FSC-accredited wood fibres and 40% recycled plastic and are available in a range of colours.
The Cladco Signature original composite cladding board features a smooth finish. Measuring 3.6m long, the boards boast excellent durability, longevity, and are available in eight natural tones. Prices start at £17.30 per board.
As opposed to uPVC cladding material, Cladco Signature woodgrain composite cladding mimics the appearance of wood, giving a natural timber board appearance without the hassle of having to maintain it on a regular basis. Prices start at £21.54 per board.
Also showcasing an authentic woodgrain effect finish, our Cladco ProClad composite cladding boards possess all the benefits of our Signature range, but also feature a polymer-capped surface layer, which ensures greater protection from mould, stains and water ingress. Prices start at £23.94 per board.
TIMBER WALL CLADDING
Timber wall cladding is one of the most traditional materials for external house cladding. While timber demands regular care and maintenance, the long-lasting product has a range of benefits. They can protect the property from wind, rain, and the elements while giving it an attractive, classic timber appearance. The average cost of timber wall cladding boards can start between £13 to £25 per board.
Quality of materials - The age-old advice of ‘you get what you pay for’ is true. High-quality, durable and long-lasting wall cladding is going to cost more than lower-quality cladding boards. The better cladding materials you opt for, the higher the overall cost of your cladding project will be. However, when purchasing high-quality cladding, your exterior walls should last longer and need less maintenance over the years.
Any prep or post-work may include securing the appropriate planning permission or building regulations (if required), preparing the walls, and arranging for scaffolding to be erected or taken down.
Location - Where your project is located can sometimes impact the cost of your house cladding project. If your installers have to manually carry materials up a hill or work in hazardous locations, the cost of labour may increase. Not only does the location of the house matter, but also where exactly the cladding will be installed. For example, jobs like cladding a gable end or part of a house will typically require scaffolding, whereas smaller projects like cladding a porch or garden room may not.
Carpenters or companies' reputation - A busy, highly recommended company may have higher rates than a lesser-known, smaller company or contractor.
How much does house cladding cost?
The cost of house cladding will differ depending on the variables outlined above. The average price of cladding a house can cost around £20 per m².
Costs may fluctuate depending on what style of cladding you opt for. Below are some ballpark figures for a generic semi-detached or detached house job.
This townhouse has been clad using Cladco Signature composite cladding in Stone Grey. These boards have been installed horizontally for a sophisticated and contemporary look.
While costs on average fluctuate between £1,500-£2,100, this will vary depending on the area you want to clad and the state of the existing walls.
To cover a single wall or a gable roof, composite wall cladding boards (including all the joists, screws and fixings) could cost around £1,911. Please note that these figures have been calculated using our online calculator.
To find out how much it would cost you to clad your home, why not try our easy-to-use wall cladding calculator? This will allow you to work out how many boards, fixings and screws you may need for your project.
Materials / Supply Only Costs
External cladding costs vary depending on what you're purchasing. The most common exterior cladding style tends to be timber, composite, fibre cement, or plastic.
The following prices are accurate at the time of writing for a standard square metre of wall cladding.
| Cladding Type | Avg. Cost per m2* |
|---|---|
| Tile | £40 |
| Composite | £35 |
| Fibre Cement | £30 |
| uPVC | £40 |
| Metal | £20 |
| Wood/Timber | £20 |
| Stone | £40 |
*Prices shown are approximate
uPVC is the most cost-effective option for house cladding, with stone and timber cladding sitting at the priciest options. While prices differ per type of cladding, the low maintenance benefits of composite, fibre cement, and uPVC cladding and the price difference are a bonus.
Labour Costs and Timescales
When it comes to installing wall cladding onto the exterior of your house, you may want to get some tradesmen in to undertake the project for you, or you may want to go down the do-it-yourself route.
Bringing in specialist tradespeople to install your cladding on your property will incur attached labour costs. However, the low-cost DIY option may have longer timescales.
It is important to know what the job entails and what cladding material you have opted for when it comes to hiring merchants. Not all tradesmen have the skillset for all types of cladding.
Some tradesmen may specialise in rendering and aluminium cladding, whilst others may specialise in timber or brick. It is important to know what materials you are working with before hiring a labourer.
Specialist - External wall cladding specialists are contractors who are hired out specifically for wall cladding installation jobs. Hiring a specialist contractor will ensure that your house cladding is installed correctly and will last you for many years to come. But, for their expertise, the cost of specialist installers is not cheap, usually ranging from £150- £200 per day on average. For a bungalow or multi-story home, this price may differ.
Builder - Whilst builders are often very skilled in general, they are often used to lead an entire project. They usually hire or control other contractors, such as carpenters. If you are on a strict budget, hiring a builder to install your wall cladding will generally cost between £100 and £150 a day.
Carpenter - While carpenters specialise in timber jobs, you do not need to only work with timber cladding to justify hiring a carpenter. Carpenters can also install part-wood products, like composite wall cladding, as well as other cladding materials. Carpenters, on average, cost around £125 and upwards per day, depending on the size of the build, the skillset, and the experience of the carpenter.
Labourers - When it comes to building and building jobs, using a specialist or carpenter will give you a high-quality installation. A labourer with a similar skill set can cost around £50-£200 per day.
DIY - any avid DIYer can install Cladco’s composite and fibre cement cladding boards with our easy-to-follow installation guides.
Timescales - When undertaking a building project of any nature, it is important to know the timescale in which it will be finished. Whether you are hiring an external trader or doing it yourself, knowing how long your project will last is crucial for any project.
A few factors can affect the timescale of your project:
How complex the installation is - if you are cladding in a certain pattern or need the wood or other cladding material, cut in certain lengths or styles.
How large the building is - single-storey buildings or a bungalow will take less time than installing house cladding on a large multi-story home.
Timings - this will also change depending on the skill of the tradesman and the number of tradespeople needed for the project.
Additional Costs
When adding external cladding to your home, it isn't just the cladding cost that you need to think about.
Scaffolding: If you are adding cladding to your home, and your house has multiple stories, you will likely need to hire scaffolding. This will add an additional cost on top of installation and materials.
Gutters: If you are paying for scaffolding to install wall cladding boards, why not clear, fix or replace your gutters? Purchasing gutter replacement kits could be an additional cost. For a new guttering kit, prices can begin at around £250.
Support Battens: Most cladding types require support battens. These can be wood, composite, or even a metal frame fixed to your wall, which will provide a gap between the external cladding and the surface. This can help with weatherproofing and insulation. If you do not currently have cladding installed on your property, this will be an additional cost you will need for your project.
Trims and Fixings: Corner trims, starter strips, and screws are all items which will be needed to ensure your wall cladding can be fixed to your home.
House Cladding checklist
When installing or undertaking a cladding project, there are a few things you may want to make sure you have. Such as:
The correct amount of wall cladding materials - use our wall cladding calculator to calculate how many boards, trims, and fixings you will need for your home.
Scaffolding (if required)
Insulation (if required)
Trims, fixings, and cladding boards
Multiple quotes from installers - so you can choose the one best suited to you.
Skip - if you are removing old cladding
Sander, paint, stain, or treatment if you install wall cladding which requires maintenance, such as red cedar, timber, or cedar cladding boards.
Use our calculator or view our installation guides to find out more about what you may need for your wall cladding installation.
Why should you choose house cladding?
Adding external cladding to your home is a fantastic way to transform the look of your home. While some installations may need planning permissions, adding cladding to your home is an easy way to modernise and restyle your home. Adding wall cladding to your home can also help increase the curb appeal of your home, which could help increase the cost of your house.
External cladding is becoming increasingly popular, with many options available on the market today. At Cladco, we supply two styles of composite wall cladding, our Signature and ProClad ranges. Both are a fantastic alternative to traditional timber cladding, manufactured with 60% FSC-accredited wood fibres and 40% recycled plastic. Here are just some of their beneficial properties:
Low-maintenance - does not require staining, treating, or sanding
Stain-resistant
UV-Resistant - Boards should not fade. Slight weathering may occur due to the natural components within the Boards.
Should not rot, warp or splinter
Easy to install
The Cladco Signature composite cladding range comes in a variety of eight colours and features two finishes: smooth and woodgrain. Our ProClad composite cladding range, meanwhile, has a woodgrain design and is available in seven natural tones.
The project below has used Cladco Signature composite cladding in Stone Grey installed horizontally on the exterior of a dormer window. The contemporary cladding style contrasts with the plain brick walls of the house, which is perfect for an attractive and sophisticated three-story home.
Cladco fibre cement lap cladding boards are another alternative to timber wall cladding. The fibre cement boards give the appearance of traditional timber cladding without the need for maintenance, as well as a range of additional benefits including:
Low-maintenance - does not require staining, treating, or sanding
Stain-resistant
UV-Resistant - Boards should not fade
10-year warranty
Should not rot, warp or splinter
Available in eight attractive colours, plus an unpainted option for those who want to paint their boards in their chosen colour
Find out how much weatherboard cladding costs for your project using our wall cladding calculator here.
Is house cladding something I can install (DIY)?
House cladding can be installed by either a professional or as a DIY project. Cladco’s Signature and ProClad composite cladding boards are installed using a tongue-and-groove technique.
Our composite external wall cladding boards can be installed either vertically or horizontally, depending on your preferences. With our easy-to-follow installation guides, Cladco’s composite wall cladding can be installed for a range of projects.
The project below has used Cladco Signature composite cladding in Stone Grey, installed vertically around the summer house to create an attractive, weather-resistant building.
Conclusion:
Adding wall cladding to your property is a fantastic way to transform the way your home looks. It's also a good way of protecting it from the weather and the elements. When you are looking at changing the way your home looks or installing cladding, it is important that you are not being overcharged for labour, materials, or time.
Adding cladding to homes, summer houses and businesses is becoming increasingly popular, with the range of materials available also increasing. Transforming brick walls into aluminium, timber, composite, or uPVC walls of cladding can also add value to your property.
If you are interested in purchasing wall cladding for your property, see our website or contact a member of our Sales Team on 01837 659901.
