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.
Across Devon, people look into cladding to replace something worn out, to make the house work better for them, or to get it ready for a sale. We cover Plymouth, Exeter, Paignton and Torquay and the smaller towns around them, working to the rules that apply in England. Expect a guide of £5,100–£12,000, VAT included, in the South West, and every quote follows a free visit.
- Guide price
- £5,100–£12,000 inc VAT
- Time on site
- 3 days to 3 weeks depending on area
- Planning rules
- England
- Price level
- About 2% above the national guide
- Towns listed
- 11
- Survey
- Free, with a written quote
How much does cladding cost in Devon?
These are guide costs, not quotes. For cladding in Devon the range is £5,100–£12,000, VAT included, reflecting prices in the South West that are about 2% above the national guide. Once we have visited for a free survey, you get a firm figure for the scope you approve.
| Type of job | What it usually involves | Guide in Devon |
|---|---|---|
| Feature area or dormer | A gable, dormer, bay or small feature wall in uPVC, timber or composite. | £1,550–£5,100 |
| Extension or upper storey | About 40–60m² of timber, composite or fibre cement with membrane and battens. | £5,100–£12,000 |
| Whole house | Cladding most elevations of a house, often with added insulation. | £12,000–£30,500 |
Your price depends mostly on:
- Wall area to be clad and the height of the building
- Cladding material and board profile
- Insulation behind the cladding
- Window reveals, corners and roof junctions to detail
What do you get?
- Breather membrane and treated battens fixed to the wall
- Insulation behind the cladding where agreed
- 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
Homes in Devon
Devon is known for cob and thatch cottages, especially in mid and east Devon, alongside granite on Dartmoor and red sandstone around Exeter. Exeter and Plymouth have Georgian and Victorian terraces, Plymouth's centre was largely rebuilt after the war, and seaside towns such as Torquay and Exmouth have rendered villas and newer estates.
Cob and stone homes need breathable lime plaster and render rather than cement. Victorian terraces suit loft rooms and window replacement, while post-war and newer homes often take extensions, rendering and roofline renewal.
Mild but wet, with strong coastal winds; exposed elevations need render and pointing specified for driving rain, and cob walls must be kept dry at the base.
Do you need permission in Devon?
Each UK nation sets its own consent rules, and Devon is in England. What follows is a plain summary; we check the specifics for your property with the council before pricing anything.
In England, re-rendering or cladding a house is often allowed without planning permission, but stone, render, timber, plastic or tile cladding is not permitted development in conservation areas, and listed buildings need consent.
If you render or re-clad more than 25% of an external wall, Building Regulations usually require the wall’s insulation to be improved where that is practical, and building control should be notified.
Rules change and every property is different, so we check the planning history and constraints for your address before we quote.
The four stages
Survey and measure
Book a visit and we'll come to you. The survey covers measurements, the state of what's there now and any obvious constraints, so the price that follows is based on your actual home, not an average.
Your fixed price
Next you receive a written quote with a fixed price for the agreed specification. It lists what is included, what is not, and how payments are staged, so you can compare it properly.
Plan and prepare
Next comes planning the work itself. We set a start date that suits you, line up the right trades, and make sure any approvals for cladding are in place before the first day on site.
Build and hand over
During the work we protect the areas around it and tidy up at the end of each day. Once complete, we check the finish, remove our materials and hand over paperwork such as building control sign-off where it applies.
How we work
Frequently asked questions
Do I need planning permission in Devon?
It depends on the work, the size of the project, your property type and whether the building is listed or in a conservation area. Devon is in England, so England's rules apply. Many smaller jobs need no planning application, but some still need building control approval. We check what applies to your address before quoting.
Will timber cladding change colour?
Untreated timber cladding naturally weathers to a silver-grey over a year or two as sunlight breaks down the surface. The change can be uneven at first, especially under eaves where rain does not reach. If you want to keep the original colour, a UV-protective stain or oil is needed and must be renewed every few years. Pre-weathered and coated boards are also available.
How long does cladding take to install?
Cladding a small dormer or gable usually takes a few days, an extension or upper storey around one to two weeks, and a whole house two to three weeks or more. Scaffolding, insulation and detailing around many windows add time. Timber boards may need to acclimatise on site first. We give you a programme with the written quote.
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 you cover Plymouth, Exeter and Paignton?
Yes. As well as Devon, we cover Plymouth, Exeter and Paignton and the rest of Devon. Our coverage is UK-wide, so the process is the same wherever you are: a free site survey, a quote in writing that fixes the price for the agreed scope, and one point of contact while the work is planned and carried out.
Towns in Devon
Find your town below. Every place listed in Devon is covered for cladding, with the same survey, written quote and fixed-price process.