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.
Anyone planning cladding in Dartford wants three things: a clear price, a realistic timetable and a tidy job. We publish a guide of £5,600–£13,500 including VAT for the South East up front, explain that work normally takes 3 days to 3 weeks depending on area, and confirm both in writing after a free survey of your property.
- Guide price
- £5,600–£13,500 inc VAT
- Time on site
- 3 days to 3 weeks depending on area
- Postcodes
- DA1
- Planning rules
- England
- Local area
- Kent
- Survey
- Free, with a written quote
How much does cladding cost in Dartford?
Use the table to gauge the cost of cladding in Dartford before we visit. Figures include VAT and are scaled for the South East, coming out about 12% above the national guide, which gives £5,600–£13,500 overall. After a free survey, you receive a fixed written price.
| Type of job | What it usually involves | Guide in Dartford |
|---|---|---|
| Feature area or dormer | A gable, dormer, bay or small feature wall in uPVC, timber or composite. | £1,700–£5,600 |
| Extension or upper storey | About 40–60m² of timber, composite or fibre cement with membrane and battens. | £5,600–£13,500 |
| Whole house | Cladding most elevations of a house, often with added insulation. | £13,500–£33,500 |
The main things that change the figure:
- Wall area to be clad and the height of the building
- Cladding material and board profile
- Window reveals, corners and roof junctions to detail
- Scaffolding, access and distance from boundaries
Scope of the work
- Survey of the wall, boundaries, damp and window details
- Breather membrane and treated battens fixed to the wall
- Insulation behind the cladding where agreed
- Cavity barriers and fire-stopping where regulations require
- Corner trims, window reveals and ventilated top and bottom edges
- Waste removal and a clean site on completion
Homes in Kent
Kent's older buildings include oast houses, weatherboarded cottages, Wealden timber-framed houses and Kentish ragstone walls. Medway towns have long rows of Victorian terraces, Margate and Ramsgate have Regency and Victorian seafronts, and Ashford, Maidstone and Dartford have seen large new estates alongside interwar and post-war housing.
Victorian terraces suit loft rooms and rear extensions; weatherboarded and timber-framed buildings may need cladding repairs and lime work. Newer estate homes often take garage conversions, porches and landscaping.
With that background in mind, here is how we typically handle cladding for homes in Dartford, from the first visit to the finished result.
Do you need permission in Dartford?
England, Wales, Scotland and Northern Ireland each handle planning a little differently. Dartford comes under England, covered below, and we raise any questions with the council before your quote is finalised.
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
Survey and measure
First, someone visits your home in Dartford 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.
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.
Dates and permissions
With the quote agreed, we book the work in and handle preparation: permissions where needed, building control notifications, material orders and access arrangements for your Dartford property.
Finish and handover
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.
Working with SK Home Improvements
Questions about cladding in Dartford
How much does house cladding cost?
Cladding around 40–60m² of wall, such as an extension or upper storey, costs £5,600–£13,500, 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.
Do I need planning permission in Dartford?
It depends on the work, the size of the project, your property type and whether the building is listed or in a conservation area. Dartford 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.
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 clad over existing render or brick?
Cladding is usually fixed over existing render or brick using battens, as long as the wall is sound and dry. Loose render may need removing first so the fixings hold. The battens create a ventilated gap so any moisture can drain and dry. We check the wall during the survey and explain any preparation needed before cladding.
Can I stay at home during the work?
In most cases, yes. Most people can live at home throughout, and we plan the work to keep disruption down by protecting floors, agreeing working hours and keeping access routes clear. Bigger jobs affecting kitchens, bathrooms or heating may mean a short spell with reduced facilities, and we talk this through with you at the survey.
Near Dartford
If your address falls within DA1, we cover it. The same goes for neighbouring Bexley, Swanley and Welling, which we include alongside Dartford when arranging surveys and quotes.