Installing cladding to your property is a great way to give it a fresh look. An original exterior and interior decoration can make a house or commercial buildings look much more stylish, attractive, and modern. It also serves as a layer of protection from wind, rain, dust and other adverse climatic conditions. But how much does cladding cost? And is the cost justified?
This article we will explain in detail what cladding is, the benefits of cladding, the different types of cladding materials used and the average cost of cladding installation.
What is cladding?
Cladding is a layer of natural or artificial building material (wood, stone, tiles, etc) which gives a special appearance, both to the facades of buildings and the internal surfaces of the structure, and can also serve as a protection.
Today’s building materials offer a many different types of cladding solutions that differ in price, manufacturer and purpose. It’s crucial that you identify which type of cladding materials are suitable for your property and requirements. More importantly, you need to inspect the following:
- The cladding must be complete and have no potholes and cracks
- It should be flat over the entire surface plane and look whole
- There should be no voids between the base and the cladding
- The cladding must be rigid, and the material itself must firmly adhere to the base
Choosing Cladding Materials
One of the more significant variants when it comes to figuring out how much cladding costs is the materials being used. When choosing cladding, you need to take into account such features as:
- protection from environmental factors
- insulation
- soundproofing
- complexity of installation
- durability
- external characteristics
- cost
While choosing the supplier for your materials, it is important that you choose one that follows the local/national quality standards. For instance, British Standards Institution (BSI) determines various standards for cladding materials used such as BS 8414 Fire performance of external cladding systems.
Types of Cladding
The following are some of the more recognised types of cladding:
- Aluminium Standing Seam Systems
Aluminium Standing Seam Systems is one of the most reliable, representing a longitudinal connection between adjacent seam pictures. The edge of this seam has a double fold. It is very unlikely that water will somehow penetrate under the seam, or overtime, the steel sheets will begin to diverge.
This system helps you avoid overlap joints on very large roof surfaces or round buildings and in the case of free-form construction. Moreover, it fits almost any building shape. The variety of visual design is limitless because of the arbitrary shape of the profile and colors.
- Micro Rib Cladding Panels
Micro Rib Panels are durable panels and have a micro-relief on the front side, and are distinguished by strong edges. Their trimless ends and pre-formed corners provide a clean, finished appearance
With the help of Micro Rib Panels, you can decorate any degree of complexity and embody all design fantasies. They will naturally fit any building – office, shopping centre, educational institution, or other public space. Moreover, Micro Rib Panels successfully combine a high degree of fire safety and excellent aesthetic properties.
- Composite Roof Cladding Panels
Composite panels, also known as sandwich panels, are a popular construction material that has an insulation core sandwiched between two metal or plastic panels. These help reduce initial construction costs and other ongoing expenses such as energy bills.
- Agricultural Cladding Systems
Agricultural cladding systems are mainly used in buildings that are used as poultry houses, barns, grain stores etc. These designs can also be catered to make sure there’s sufficient through-flow ventilation within these systems in livestock housing, anti-condensation fleece and placement of purlins/cladding rails etc.
Benefits of Cladding
The following are some benefits of cladding:
- Low maintenance
Almost all types of cladding discussed above require less maintenance than painting a masonry surface. Most of them need only regular washing.
- Protection
The primary goal of cladding is to protect the surfaces underneath from water penetration, fungal growth, moulds, wind, and sunlight. In addition, it increases the strength of a structure and prevents continual expansion and contractions due to temperature changes.
- Insulation
Between the cladding and the structural wall, a cavity can hold insulation sheets and a waterproof vapour barrier. It allows the building to breathe, dry out, and lose moisture naturally.
- Appearance
Installing cladding to a structure transforms a dull and drab looking building into something special. Today, the cladding market offers various colors, designs, sizes, and other parameters. So, it makes it easy for you to choose an option for every taste and with almost any design concept.
How much does house cladding cost?
The average cost of cladding a residential house in the UK is about £20 per m2 .The following table will outline typical jobs for cladding outside the home.
| Cladding Type | Estimated Cladding Cost (exc. VAT) |
| Aluminium cladding cost | from £30 – £50 per m2 |
| Wood / timber cladding cost | from £20 – £30 per m2 |
| Composite cladding cost | from £30 – £40 per m2 |
| Agricultural cladding cost (steel) | from £35 – £45 per m2 |
Moreover, you need to pay an extra amount to remove the waste material and hire scaffolding. Also, you have to add on the cost of fascias, trims, and fixing battens. Still not sure of what’s to be included in the quotation? Get in touch with our team who can provide professional help with the same.
Single Storey External Cladding Costs
External cladding for single storey properties are the more simple jobs and doesn’t cost too much either. The starting price of external cladding for a single floor property can be within the range between £2,800 – £5,000, dependant on the size of the property.
The materials could add up to around £1,500 can vary depending on the type of quality/brand that you choose. On the premium end, this could go up to around £6,000.
Two Storey External Cladding Costs
A double-storey property is comparatively more expensive and could be more complicated too. As such, the prices are going to be higher with house cladding costs on a double-storey property being in the range between £4,000 – £6,000. These again can vary based on the size of the property and several other factors mentioned above.
The material cost of installing cladding to a double-storey property could add up to between £3,000 – £6,000 depending on the quality of materials used.
How much do cladding contractors cost?
The cost of cladding contractors can vary based on the type of work you require them to carry out. For instance, installing external cladding can often be performed by multiple different trades such as cladding specialists, general builders, carpenters, or labourers. The average costs of these traders can vary based on their levels of expertise.
In general, the labour rates fo each type of trade can be summarised as shown in the table below:
| Trade | Suitable | Cost |
| Cladding Specialists | specialist cladding work for high quality finishes with high quality materials. | £150 to £250 per day |
| General Builders | to lead an entire installation project. | £110 to £140 per day |
| Carpenters | if you decide to use wooden cladding for your installation. | £125 50 £150 per day |
| Labourers | all the heavy lifting work, moving materials, and jobs, which do not require a specific skill. | £60 to £80 |
How much do cladding materials cost?
The cost of cladding materials will vary depending on your specific choice. For instance, if you decide to use timber as your cladding material, you can save up significantly as it costs approximately £20 – £30 per m². These are generally cheapest material compared to the rest.
However, more modern houses tend to use UPVC cladding as it comes various shapes, colors and sizes providing more flexibility. These are more expensive than timber which costs approximately £20 to £50 per m².
The most premium option is the aluminium cladding that has a multitude of finishes, lengths and even shapes. They usually cost around £30 to £50 per m² which can be customised to whatever the quantity that you require.
Are there any additional cladding costs to consider?
In addition to materials and labour cladding costs, you need to also consider that may not be highlighted during the planning phase. For instance, you may consider replacing any defected cladding that you already have put in place. Furthermore, you will have costs associated with obtaining planning permissions, logistical costs (especially if you do not choose a local contractor), levy on the use of certain types of materials. These are some examples that you may want to watch out for.
Conclusion
So, cladding work is, in fact, a decorative finish and must be treated creatively. You can carry out any experiments, use and combine different materials, play with colors and shades, but you still need to adhere to the basic rules.
Please feel more than welcome to contact our cladding contractors at SPS Roofing Ltd for a free quote and consultation today!
