Cladding cost UK 2026
External cladding costs £55–£200 per m² fitted in the UK depending on material and substrate. A typical 3-bed semi (~100m² wall area) lands £6,000–£20,000 fully clad. Timber and fibre-cement are the most common; brick slips and composite are growing in popularity.
Cost guide ranges
| Material | Per m² fitted | Pros | Cons |
|---|---|---|---|
| Timber (larch / cedar) | £75–£140 | Natural look, weathers well | Periodic maintenance, fire restrictions |
| Fibre cement (Hardie, Cembrit) | £70–£130 | Low maintenance, fire-rated | Moderate cost, can fade |
| Composite / WPC | £85–£150 | Wood-look, no maintenance | Mid-high cost |
| Brick slips | £100–£180 | Brick aesthetic, thin profile | Skilled labour required |
| Render board (with render) | £90–£160 | Clean modern look | Render finish needed on top |
| Stone (real or reconstructed) | £140–£250 | Premium look | Heaviest, most expensive |
| Vinyl / UPVC | £55–£90 | Cheapest, low maintenance | Plastic appearance |
What's typically included
- Scaffolding (3–10 days)
- Battens and breather membrane
- Cladding boards or panels
- Trim, corner pieces, soffits
- Standard fixings
- Disposal of old cladding
What's typically NOT included
- Repairs to substrate behind cladding
- External wall insulation if adding (£40–£90/m² extra)
- New windows if reveals don't suit
- Soffits and fascias if upgrading too
- Decoration of unclad areas
What drives the price
- Material choice — single biggest cost driver. Vinyl 2-4x cheaper than stone.
- Substrate condition — cladding directly over sound brick is cheapest. Existing cladding removal adds £10–£30/m². Damaged walls need repair first.
- Insulation behind cladding — common to add 50–100mm PIR foam between battens. Adds £40–£90/m² but improves thermal performance significantly.
- Fire regulations — buildings over 18m have strict cladding fire-rating requirements (post-Grenfell). Domestic 2-storey houses are unaffected by these specific rules but always confirm material rating with your installer.
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How we estimated these ranges
This is a guide only. The ranges below are intended for early budgeting and trade benchmarking. They are not a substitute for a site visit or an itemised quote from a qualified tradesperson. Always get a site-specific quote before agreeing work.
What's included in these ranges: typical labour costs, common materials at standard specification, and routine preparation or installation work for a standard project of this type.
What's excluded: unusual access (multi-storey, restricted parking), unforeseen structural issues, specialist design or architect fees, planning and building control application fees, premium or high-end finishes, emergency or out-of-hours work, and regional extremes.
Regional note: London, the South East and remote rural areas can vary significantly from the UK averages shown. London labour rates in particular can run 30–50% higher than national averages on the same scope.
Sources and checks used: publicly available UK trade supplier pricing (2025–2026), common day-rate and labour-duration assumptions used in trade quoting, internal example quote structures from TailoredQuote platform data, and where relevant cross-referenced regional contractor surveys and BCIS-style construction cost data.
Last reviewed: May 2026 by TailoredQuote. Prices in this guide will be reviewed and updated periodically.
Frequently asked questions
Cladding gives material variety (timber, stone, brick slips). Render is cheaper for solid colour finishes. Cladding is more forgiving on uneven walls; render needs flat substrate.
Timber needs oiling or painting every 5–10 years. Fibre cement, composite, vinyl, and brick slips are essentially maintenance-free for 20+ years.
Cladding part of permitted development on most homes. Conservation areas, listed buildings, and some council areas require planning.
Related cost guides
Last reviewed: May 2026
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