Cambridge Roofers fits and repairs exterior cladding in Histon and nearby villages, helping homeowners decide whether to repair what is there or start fresh with a new system.
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Before any material is specified or any price is agreed, the most important question on a cladding job is whether the existing wall covering should be repaired or completely replaced. Get this wrong and you either spend money on patchwork that fails again within a year, or you strip out a perfectly sound system unnecessarily and add thousands to the cost. This page works through how to make that decision clearly.
Exterior cladding is a fixed outer layer of material - timber, composite, fibre cement, or metal - applied to the outside face of a building. It provides a physical barrier against rain and wind, can add insulation if combined with external wall insulation behind it, and changes the visual character of the elevation. It is used on houses, extensions, outbuildings, and commercial buildings alike.
A correctly installed cladding system is not simply boards nailed to a wall. It includes a breather membrane behind the boards, treated timber battens to create a ventilated cavity, purpose-made trims at corners and window junctions, and correct fixings for the specific board material. The quality of those hidden components is what determines how long the system lasts.
Repairing existing cladding is the right choice when the damage is genuinely localised and the core structure behind the boards is sound. Specific scenarios where repair is appropriate include:
In these cases, replacing the affected boards and resealing joints is cost-effective. A like-for-like board replacement on a few metres of run might cost a few hundred pounds rather than several thousand for a full reclad. However, the match between old and new boards is rarely perfect - timber weathers and the colour changes over time - so some visual inconsistency should be expected.
Widespread problems mean that repairing section by section is a false economy. Replacement is the more sensible option when:
A thorough inspection will usually make the picture clear. Boards need to come off in a few representative areas to check the membrane and battens behind. If the battens are wet and beginning to decay, or if the membrane has torn or was never fitted, a full replacement is necessary because the substrate damage will simply continue under any new boards fitted over the top.
From the outside, failing cladding can look worse than it is - or better. Staining and discolouration from algae or tannin runs can look alarming but may indicate only a surface treatment problem. Conversely, boards that look visually acceptable but have a hollow sound when tapped, or that flex noticeably when pressed, may be hiding significant rot behind them.
A common problem on older timber cladding is end grain exposure at board joints or where boards have been cut around pipes and fixings without being sealed. Water enters at the end grain, travels along the board, and causes rot that is invisible from the front. Always check cut edges and butted joints when assessing the condition of existing timber cladding.
If replacement is required, the choice of new material is worth considering carefully rather than automatically replicating what was there before.
Timber cladding in featheredge, shiplap, or square-edged profiles remains the most widely used option. Softwood is the lower-cost choice; more durable species such as western red cedar or larch cost more. Pre-treated and pre-primed boards reduce the risk of problems caused by delayed on-site finishing. Supply-and-fit costs for timber cladding typically run from around £80 to £150 per square metre, depending on the species and profile.
Composite cladding, made from wood fibre and polymer, does not need the same regular repainting cycle as timber. It costs more - typically £120 to £180 per square metre fitted - but the reduced maintenance burden over ten or fifteen years can make the higher initial spend worthwhile.
Fibre cement planks and panels are heavier and require more care during installation to achieve weathertight joints, but they are rot-proof and highly durable. They are a strong choice where the elevation is particularly exposed. Metal cladding systems are primarily used on commercial buildings or contemporary extensions where the architectural look is part of the brief.
Leaving failing cladding in place is rarely a neutral option. Where moisture has already begun to penetrate, the damage to battens, membrane, and eventually the masonry or timber frame behind will increase over each winter. A repair job that costs £400 this year may become a full reclad plus remedial work to the substrate costing several thousand pounds if left for two or three more winters.
If there is any doubt about the condition of the existing cladding, an inspection is worthwhile before the situation deteriorates further.
Cladding work often brings soffits, fascias, and bargeboards into focus at the same time. If the existing timber at roof level is sound and well-painted, it can usually be left. If it is rotten or visually incompatible with new cladding boards, it makes sense to address it as part of the same project rather than return a second time with scaffolding already up.
Cambridge Roofers works across Histon and the surrounding villages close to Cambridge, including Cottenham, and carries out cladding inspections, repairs, and full installations on residential and commercial properties. Call us to discuss your cladding - whether you are not yet sure which way to go or you have already decided to replace and want a price.
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Call any time. Calls are answered day and night and passed straight to our roofers.
