BUILD COST CLINIC
Whether it’s timber, render, stone or composite — the cladding you choose will have an impact on budget and aesthetics
Cladding is a term used for the process of adding a layer to the outside of a building. It can greatly enhance the appearance of your home and also provide valuable functional purposes — such as protecting your home from the adverse effects of weather and improving insulation. Types of cladding include timber, uPVC, stone, brick, render, composite, fibre cement, metal and tiling. We’ll look at the various costs involved, together with the factors that influence those costs and any potential issues that can impact costs in the longer term.
THE GOING RATES
There are a multitude of different cladding materials and products on the market, with a variety of different qualities, installation methods and costs. The most common materials and average costs are set out in the table (below left) as a guide.
Once you’ve chosen a material type, there’s still a wide range of cost options to consider. You can get a basic cement render from around £10/m2, but expect to pay £30-£60/m2 for monocouche render and £40-70/m2 for the latest self-coloured silicon versions such as K-Rend or Parex.
Timber costs are equally variable – according to the wood and profile selected – with larch from £15 to £30/m2, western red cedar from £20 to £50/m2 and oak from £25 to £60/m2. Thermally modified woods (such as Thermowood) can offer good value for money at around £45/m2. They are generally cheaper than most hardwoods but have been heat treated to reduce moisture content, improve longevity, stability and resistance to rot etc.
WHAT IS THE CHEAPEST AVAILABLE EXTERNAL CLADDING MATERIAL?
Softwood timber is one of the cheapest cladding materials (from around £8/m2). However, this price will be for rough sawn edged untreated timbers, which will require preparation (in the form of priming/undercoating), finishing (painting or staining depending on your preference) and ongoing maintenance (preservatives, repainting). Initial material costs can therefore be misleading. Softwood can actually end up being more expensive than hardwood or uPVC cladding, because of its maintenance requirements.
The most cost-effective cladding option if you’re on a tight budget is basic white uPVC cladding, as it’s comparatively more durable and lower maintenance over time. Your budget will naturally dictate the options available to you but if you can stretch a little on the material quality, it can cost you less in the long run.
