Exterior cladding costs in Burnham Market vary widely depending on the material, the size of the job and the condition of what is already on the wall - here is what shapes the price.
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If you have asked more than one company to quote for exterior cladding work, you have probably noticed that the figures can be quite different. Some of that variation reflects genuine differences in quality and scope. Some of it reflects contractors pricing to different specifications - different materials, different preparation standards, different assumptions about what they will find when the old cladding comes off. Understanding what drives cladding costs means you can compare quotes on a like-for-like basis rather than simply picking the lowest number.
Exterior cladding in the UK typically costs between £50 and £150 per square metre, fully installed, depending on the material chosen and the complexity of the job. Timber softwood cladding sits at the lower end of that range. Composite cladding and hardwood timber sit in the middle to upper end. Fibre cement and premium composite products can push beyond £150 per square metre on complex jobs.
These figures cover material and labour for a straightforward installation on a wall in reasonable condition. They do not include scaffolding, remedial work to the wall behind, or significant additional detailing around multiple openings. On many real jobs, those additional items add meaningfully to the overall cost.
Several things consistently make cladding work more expensive than a basic per-square-metre calculation suggests.
Material choice is the biggest single variable. Softwood timber is the cheapest material option. Modified timber such as Accoya, premium composite boards and natural hardwoods cost significantly more per metre. On a large elevation, moving from a budget softwood to a premium composite can add thousands of pounds to the material cost alone.
Scaffolding is a fixed cost that applies regardless of how much cladding is being fitted. A scaffold erected for a single storey rear elevation on a modest property might cost £600-£900. A scaffold for a full two-storey elevation on a larger house can cost £2,000 or more. Because scaffolding cost is spread across the area being clad, it matters less on a large job than on a small one - if you are replacing a small section of cladding, the scaffold can be a significant proportion of the total bill.
The condition of the wall behind is a factor that cannot always be confirmed until the existing cladding is stripped. If the breather membrane has failed and will need replacing, if the battens have absorbed moisture and need to come off, or if the wall surface itself has damaged render or pointing that needs making good, those are additional costs on top of the cladding itself. A responsible quote will flag this as a contingency rather than pretend it will not arise.
Complexity of the elevation adds to labour time and material waste. A straightforward rectangular elevation with no openings is the fastest and most efficient cladding job. Every window, door, corner, pipe penetration or change in level adds time - the boards have to be measured, cut, fitted and sealed around each one, and the flashing details at window heads and sills take time to do properly. An elevation with six windows in it takes noticeably longer to clad than one of the same area with no openings.
Removal and disposal of old cladding has a cost that is sometimes left out of initial estimates. A full elevation of old timber or UPVC boards is bulky. Skip hire, or a contractor's own disposal charges, need to be included in the total. Check whether a quote includes removal and disposal or whether that is treated as a separate item.
Painted or finished-on-site timber adds labour. Factory-primed boards that just need a topcoat on site are quicker. Bare boards that need two or three coats applied by hand add time, particularly on textured profiles where every groove needs to be reached properly.
Timing a full elevation replacement to coincide with other work is one of the most effective ways to reduce cost. If scaffolding is already up for roof repairs or chimney work, using that access for cladding work at the same time avoids the scaffold cost being applied twice. Agreeing the scope of the job clearly before work starts - so that there are minimal variations once work is underway - also helps keep the final cost close to the quoted figure.
Choosing a material that does not need painting saves money over the life of the installation even if the upfront cost is higher. A composite board that needs only an annual clean compares well over ten years against a softwood board that needs repainting every three or four years, especially once the cost of paint, preparation and labour is added up each time.
On smaller jobs, checking whether a contractor has other work in the area at the same time can sometimes reduce the cost of getting access equipment to site, though this depends entirely on individual circumstances and is worth raising as a question rather than assuming.
A new cladding installation on a wall that has never been clad before is in some ways a cleaner job to price. The wall is visible, its condition is known, and the full scope of the work can be confirmed before materials are ordered. The cost is driven by area, material choice and the complexity of the elevation.
A replacement job - stripping existing cladding and fitting new - involves an element of uncertainty until the old boards are off. The additional unknowns are whether the membrane behind is usable, whether the battens need replacing, and what condition the wall surface is in. Good contractors price replacement jobs with an allowance for remedial work and are clear about what triggers additional costs. If a quote for replacement cladding does not mention this contingency at all, it is worth asking how unexpected findings behind the boards will be handled.
The only way to get a reliable figure for your specific property is to have someone look at it properly. Area, material, access requirements, the number of openings and the condition of what is already there all need to be assessed in person. A quote given over the phone without a site visit is giving you a rough ballpark at best.
When comparing quotes, make sure each one specifies: the material and profile being used, whether scaffold is included, how waste disposal is handled, and how variations in scope will be priced if unexpected findings come up during the job. Those four points tell you whether two quotes are genuinely comparable or whether you are looking at very different things.
We install and replace exterior cladding on homes across Burnham Market and the surrounding area. If you want a proper, itemised assessment of what your cladding project is likely to cost, call us to arrange a site visit and we will go through the scope and options with you directly.
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