Cladding is a protective outer layer of boards or panels, such as timber, composite, fibre cement or uPVC, fixed to battens on the outside of a wall to change its appearance, shed rain and, where insulation is added, reduce heat loss.
Planning cladding for a home in Newtownards means making a handful of decisions about materials, layout, finish and timing. We help you work through them at a free survey, then confirm in writing what it will cost for the options you pick. Most projects of this type need 3 days to 3 weeks depending on area, and we cover every BT23 address as well as the rest of County Down.
- Guide price
- £4,300–£10,500 inc VAT
- Time on site
- 3 days to 3 weeks depending on area
- Postcodes
- BT23
- Planning rules
- Northern Ireland
- Local area
- Ards
- Survey
- Free, with a written quote
Cladding prices in Newtownards
Budgeting for cladding in Newtownards? The numbers below include VAT and are adjusted for Northern Ireland, where costs are about 14% below the national guide. The headline range is £4,300–£10,500. Nothing is final until we have measured up at a free survey and agreed the specification with you.
| Type of job | What it usually involves | Guide in Newtownards |
|---|---|---|
| Feature area or dormer | A gable, dormer, bay or small feature wall in uPVC, timber or composite. | £1,300–£4,300 |
| Extension or upper storey | About 40–60m² of timber, composite or fibre cement with membrane and battens. | £4,300–£10,500 |
| Whole house | Cladding most elevations of a house, often with added insulation. | £10,500–£26,000 |
Your price depends mostly on:
- Wall area to be clad and the height of the building
- Insulation behind the cladding
- Window reveals, corners and roof junctions to detail
- Scaffolding, access and distance from boundaries
What does the job include in Newtownards?
- Survey of the wall, boundaries, damp and window details
- Breather membrane and treated battens fixed to the wall
- Cavity barriers and fire-stopping where regulations require
- Cladding boards fixed with suitable stainless or coated fixings
- Corner trims, window reveals and ventilated top and bottom edges
- Waste removal and a clean site on completion
Local housing and cladding
County Down takes in suburbs of Belfast, Bangor and Holywood with Victorian and Edwardian villas, and Newry, Downpatrick and Banbridge with older town centres and newer estates. Mourne granite appears in buildings around the mountains, and detached rural homes and bungalows are common across the county, often rendered or pebbledashed.
Coastal areas such as the Ards Peninsula face salt and wind, and the Mournes bring heavier rain and colder conditions.
With that background in mind, here is how we typically handle cladding for homes in Newtownards, from the first visit to the finished result.
Planning and building rules in Newtownards
Which rules apply depends on where you live. For Newtownards, the answer is Northern Ireland, and the points below reflect that; we verify them with the council before quoting.
In Northern Ireland, re-rendering is usually treated as repair, but conservation areas and listed buildings are controlled.
Significant re-cladding or external insulation should be checked with building control under the Building Regulations (Northern Ireland).
Rules change and every property is different, so we check the planning history and constraints for your address before we quote.
The four stages
We look at the job
A free survey comes first. It gives us what we need to price cladding properly, including dimensions, existing materials and access for deliveries, and gives you the chance to ask anything you like.
Written quote
We turn the survey notes into a written quote. The price is fixed for the specification we agree, and the document sets out materials, scope and payment stages in plain language.
Getting ready
Preparation matters as much as the build. We agree access, parking and working hours with you, order materials in good time, and confirm any permissions so the job isn't held up once it starts.
The work itself
Our trades complete cladding while your point of contact keeps you updated. When everything is finished, we clear the site, take away waste and go through the result with you before handover.
What you can expect from us
Frequently asked questions
Which cladding material needs the least maintenance?
Fibre cement, composite and uPVC cladding need the least upkeep, usually just an occasional wash. Thermally modified and hardwood timber can be left to weather naturally to a silver-grey, which needs no treatment, but keeping the original colour means re-staining every few years. Painted timber needs repainting regularly. We explain the long-term care of each option.
Do I need planning permission to clad my house?
Whether cladding needs planning permission depends on the material and how it changes the look of the house, your home's location, whether it is listed or in a conservation area, and which UK nation you live in. In England, cladding is generally permitted development only if the materials look similar to the existing house, and it is not permitted development in conservation areas. We check before quoting.
How much does house cladding cost?
Cladding around 40–60m² of wall, such as an extension or upper storey, costs £4,300–£10,500, including membrane, battens and trims. As a guide, allow roughly £80–£180 per square metre plus fixed costs for scaffolding and set-up. uPVC and softwood sit at the lower end, while hardwood, composite and fibre cement cost more. Adding insulation increases the price. We confirm a fixed figure after the survey.
Is the price fixed?
Yes, for the specification we agree. Your written quote sets out exactly what is included at a fixed price. It only changes if you ask for something different, or if a problem the survey could not reasonably reveal later needs extra work. In either case we explain the change and confirm it in writing before going ahead.
Who do I deal with during the job?
One point of contact manages your project from survey to handover. They schedule the trades working under our contract, keep you updated on progress, and are the person to call with any question. You don't need to coordinate builders, electricians or decorators separately, because that is part of what we do.
Also covering areas around Newtownards
Live in Newtownards? Our coverage takes in the BT23 postcode areas and reaches out to Bangor, County Down, Castlereagh and Belfast, so homes on the outskirts and in the next town along are included.