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.
We offer cladding across Dorset, and Bournemouth is one of the places we cover, along with nearby Christchurch, Poole and New Milton. Before anything is agreed we visit, check the existing structure and talk through your options. You then receive a written quote setting out the full scope; for most homes in the South West it sits within £5,100–£12,000 including VAT.
- Guide price
- £5,100–£12,000 inc VAT
- Time on site
- 3 days to 3 weeks depending on area
- Postcodes
- BH1, BH2, BH3, BH4 and BH8
- Planning rules
- England
- Local area
- Dorset
- Survey
- Free, with a written quote
Cladding prices in Bournemouth
The table below shows guide prices for cladding in Bournemouth. They are based on rates in the South West, which run about 2% above the national guide, giving an overall range of £5,100–£12,000. All figures include VAT and are firmed up after a free site survey.
| Type of job | What it usually involves | Guide in Bournemouth |
|---|---|---|
| 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’s included?
- Survey of the wall, boundaries, damp and window details
- Scaffolding or access towers as needed
- Breather membrane and treated battens fixed to the wall
- Insulation behind the cladding where agreed
- Corner trims, window reveals and ventilated top and bottom edges
- Waste removal and a clean site on completion
Building in Bournemouth
Dorset's older villages use Purbeck and Portland stone, chalk and flint, and thatch on cob or brick cottages. Bournemouth and Poole have Victorian and Edwardian villas, large interwar suburbs and plenty of bungalows and flats, while Weymouth, Dorchester and Bridport mix Georgian and Victorian streets with newer estates.
Stone and thatched cottages may need lime repairs and conservation-area window choices. Bungalows around Bournemouth and Poole commonly suit loft conversions, and coastal homes often need roofline, rendering and window renewal.
None of this holds for every street in Bournemouth, which is why we look at your actual house before pricing cladding rather than assuming from its age alone.
Planning and building rules in Bournemouth
The notes below cover England, which is where Bournemouth sits. Rules change and every property is different, so we speak to the council before pricing your job.
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.
From survey to handover
A visit to your home
We begin by looking at the job in person. During the free survey we discuss options, materials and budget for cladding, and photograph or measure anything the quote needs to reflect.
Price and scope agreed
We put everything into a written, fixed-price quote: the specification, what's excluded, staged payments and the expected time on site. Take whatever time you need to decide; there's no pressure to commit.
Getting ready
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.
Working with SK Home Improvements
Cladding in Bournemouth: questions
Which postcodes in Bournemouth do you cover?
We cover BH1, BH2, BH3 and BH4, along with the rest of Dorset. If your postcode is not listed, get in touch anyway: our coverage is UK-wide, and we can usually arrange a survey wherever you live. Enter your postcode in the guide-price tool or contact form and we will confirm.
How much does house cladding cost?
Cladding around 40–60m² of wall, such as an extension or upper storey, costs £5,100–£12,000, 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.
Are there fire-safety rules for cladding?
Building regulations limit the fire-spread performance of cladding on walls close to a boundary and on taller buildings, which can rule out some timber or composite products in those positions. Cavity barriers behind the cladding also help stop fire spreading through the gap. Fibre cement is non-combustible. We check boundary distances and product data before recommending a material.
Can cladding improve insulation?
Cladding can improve insulation if insulation boards are fixed to the wall behind the battens, which reduces heat loss and can help with cold or damp internal walls. This adds thickness, so window reveals, sills and roof edges need careful detailing. Cladding alone, without insulation, adds very little warmth. We can price both options so you can compare.
Can you combine cladding with other work?
Yes. Because we manage several trades under one contract, we can plan cladding alongside other work on your Bournemouth home, such as new windows with rendering, or a kitchen refit with an extension. Combining jobs can reduce repeat set-up such as scaffolding, skips and access, and every element is listed and priced in the same written quote.
Nearby towns
From BH1, BH2, BH3 and BH4 to the edges of Bournemouth and on into Christchurch, Poole and New Milton, we can arrange a site visit and a written quote for your project, planned around dates that work for you.