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.
From a first conversation about cladding to the day the site is cleared, homeowners in Livingston deal with us directly. We come out to measure up at no cost, explain the choices in plain terms and send a written quote. For context, comparable work in Scotland usually falls within £4,800–£11,500 including VAT, and it is available across EH53 and EH54.
- Guide price
- £4,800–£11,500 inc VAT
- Time on site
- 3 days to 3 weeks depending on area
- Postcodes
- EH53 and EH54
- Planning rules
- Scotland
- Local area
- West Lothian
- Survey
- Free, with a written quote
How much does cladding cost in Livingston?
The table below shows guide prices for cladding in Livingston. They are based on rates in Scotland, which run about 4% below the national guide, giving an overall range of £4,800–£11,500. All figures include VAT and are firmed up after a free site survey.
| Type of job | What it usually involves | Guide in Livingston |
|---|---|---|
| Feature area or dormer | A gable, dormer, bay or small feature wall in uPVC, timber or composite. | £1,450–£4,800 |
| Extension or upper storey | About 40–60m² of timber, composite or fibre cement with membrane and battens. | £4,800–£11,500 |
| Whole house | Cladding most elevations of a house, often with added insulation. | £11,500–£29,000 |
What moves the price up or down:
- Cladding material and board profile
- Insulation behind the cladding
- Window reveals, corners and roof junctions to detail
- Scaffolding, access and distance from boundaries
What’s included?
- 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
Local housing and cladding
Edinburgh's New Town is a planned Georgian sandstone townscape within a World Heritage Site, and districts such as Marchmont and Leith have Victorian tenements. Bungalows and villas fill the suburbs, Midlothian has former mining villages, Livingston was built as a new town, and East Lothian villages often have red pantile roofs.
Listed and conservation-area homes need careful window and stone repairs. Bungalows commonly suit loft conversions and dormers, and suburban semis take extensions and garage conversions.
For cladding in Livingston, this means checking things like wall construction, roof structure and existing services before we put a figure on paper.
Planning and building rules in Livingston
As Livingston is in Scotland, read the following with that system of planning and building control in mind. We check what applies to your house with the council before you receive a quote.
In Scotland, changing the external finish of a house in a conservation area or on a listed building needs consent; elsewhere, like-for-like re-rendering is usually treated as repair.
Large-scale re-cladding or external insulation can need a building warrant; like-for-like render repairs normally do not.
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
We look at the job
First, someone visits your home in Livingston to see the space, take measurements and note anything that could affect the work, such as access or the condition of what is there. There is no charge for this visit.
Price and scope agreed
You get the price in writing, itemised so you can see where the money goes. As long as the specification stays the same, that is the price you pay for cladding.
Booking the work
We handle the paperwork side: checking whether planning permission or building control approval is needed, submitting applications where they are, and scheduling the trades and materials around your dates.
On site to finish
The work is carried out to the agreed specification, with floors and furniture protected and the site kept tidy. At the end we clean up, walk through the finished job with you and hand over any certificates.
What you can expect from us
Frequently asked questions
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.
Do I need planning permission in Livingston?
It depends on the work, the size of the project, your property type and whether the building is listed or in a conservation area. Livingston is in Scotland, so Scotland'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.
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.
Also covering areas around Livingston
Homes across EH53 and EH54 in Livingston are within our coverage, as are those in Broxburn, Bathgate and Grangemouth. If you are just outside these areas, ask anyway, because we work right across the UK.