Cambridge Roofers installs timber, composite, fibre cement, and metal cladding for homes and commercial properties in Little Shelford and the surrounding villages.
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Exterior cladding is a layer of material fixed to the outside walls of a building. It does three things: it improves the thermal performance of the wall, it protects the underlying structure from rain, frost, and wind, and it changes how the property looks from the outside. Done well, it can transform a tired elevation and reduce draughts noticeably in winter.
Cladding is used on houses, bungalows, garages, extensions, outbuildings, and commercial premises. It is particularly effective on properties where the original masonry has become porous or where external wall insulation is being installed at the same time. Typical systems available include timber boarding, composite panels, fibre cement planks, and metal cladding - each with different maintenance needs, lifespans, and costs.
Timber cladding, including featheredge and shiplap boards, is the most traditional choice. Softwood is the lower-cost entry point; hardwood and thermally modified timber cost more but need less treatment over their lifetime. Untreated softwood can begin to degrade within a few years if it is not stained or painted regularly - typically every three to five years depending on exposure.
Composite cladding is made from a mix of wood fibre and plastic. It holds its colour longer than bare timber and does not require the same painting cycle, though it costs more to supply and fit. Fibre cement planks are heavier and require careful installation to achieve a weathertight joint, but they are highly durable and resistant to rot and impact. Metal cladding - usually aluminium or steel - is most common on commercial buildings but is increasingly used on contemporary house extensions.
As a rough guide, supply-and-fit costs for timber cladding in the UK typically run from around £80 to £150 per square metre depending on the timber species and board profile. Composite and fibre cement systems tend to sit between £120 and £200 per square metre fitted. Metal systems for commercial or architectural projects can exceed that. These figures vary with access difficulty, substrate condition, and insulation requirements.
This is where many homeowners make costly mistakes - choosing on price alone, or agreeing to work before asking the questions that actually matter. Below is a practical checklist to use before you sign anything or pay a deposit.
Not every installer who fits timber cladding has experience with fibre cement or metal rainscreen systems. Each material has its own fixing methods, movement tolerances, and detailing requirements at junctions, corners, and around windows. Ask the contractor to describe how they handle corner details and window reveals in the material you have chosen. A vague or generic answer is a warning sign.
Ask whether they have fitted the same system on a similar property recently, and whether you can see photographs or speak to that customer. A contractor who has done the job before should have no hesitation in showing you their work.
Cladding quotes can vary significantly depending on what is actually included. A low headline price may exclude battening out the wall, installing a breather membrane behind the cladding, making good around windows, repainting or replacing soffits and fascias to match, and disposing of old materials. Ask for the quote to list every element separately so you can compare like with like when you receive multiple prices.
Ask specifically whether the price includes:
Cladding should almost never be fixed directly to the wall face without a ventilated cavity behind it. Without ventilation, moisture becomes trapped between the cladding and the wall, leading to timber rot, mould growth, and damage to the substrate - often invisible until the boards are removed years later. A correctly installed system has a continuous ventilated gap, typically 25 to 50 millimetres, with open mesh at the bottom and top to allow air to move through.
Ask the contractor how the cavity will be ventilated on your property. If they say it is not necessary, treat that as a red flag and ask a different contractor.
Most cladding work on standard residential properties in England falls within permitted development rights and does not require planning permission. However, if your property is listed, is in a conservation area, or if the cladding would change the appearance of a building in a way that goes beyond permitted development, you may need to apply. Ask the contractor whether they have come across planning requirements on similar jobs, and check with the local planning authority yourself before work begins if there is any doubt.
Cladding work on a typical semi-detached house might take anywhere from three days to two weeks depending on the size of the elevation, the access required, and the number of operatives. Scaffolding is usually necessary for anything above single-storey height. Ask whether scaffolding is included in the price or quoted separately, and who is responsible for erecting and removing it.
Ask how the site will be managed at the end of each working day. Loose timber offcuts and packaging left on a garden or path become a hazard and a nuisance. A professional contractor will clear as they go.
Verbal assurances are easy to give. Ask for at least two references from customers whose cladding work was completed in the last two years, and actually call them. Ask those customers whether the job ran to time, whether the price changed after work started, and whether they were happy with how the contractor communicated.
Any agreement should be confirmed in writing. This does not need to be an elaborate contract - a clear written quote listing the materials, the scope, the price, the payment schedule, and the expected start and completion dates is enough. If a contractor refuses to put anything in writing, walk away.
When cladding an elevation, the soffits, fascias, and bargeboards - the timber boards at the roof edge and verge - are often replaced at the same time. They are usually uPVC on newer properties but original timber on older ones. If the existing timber is sound, they can sometimes be overpainted to match. If they are rotten or the existing profile does not complement the new cladding, replacing them as part of the same project saves a second visit and keeps the external appearance consistent.
Cambridge Roofers works across Little Shelford and the surrounding villages. If you are planning a cladding project, call us to arrange a site visit so we can assess the substrate, discuss material options, and give you a detailed written price before any work begins.
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Call any time. Calls are answered day and night and passed straight to our roofers.
