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.
In Lancashire, we price cladding against our guide for the North West, £4,800–£11,500 including VAT, then adjust it once we have surveyed your home. We work across Preston, Burnley, Blackburn and Blackpool and the rest of the county or region. Planning and building control requirements follow the rules for England, and we look into your property's position before a written quote is sent.
- Guide price
- £4,800–£11,500 inc VAT
- Time on site
- 3 days to 3 weeks depending on area
- Planning rules
- England
- Price level
- About 5% below the national guide
- Towns listed
- 19
- Survey
- Free, with a written quote
Cladding prices in Lancashire
In Lancashire, guide figures for cladding sit at £4,800–£11,500, VAT included. We set them using rates for the North West, currently about 5% below the national guide. The table shows what pushes a project towards either end of the range; your own price is set after a free survey.
| Type of job | What it usually involves | Guide in Lancashire |
|---|---|---|
| Feature area or dormer | A gable, dormer, bay or small feature wall in uPVC, timber or composite. | £1,400–£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–£28,500 |
The main things that change the figure:
- 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?
- Scaffolding or access towers as needed
- 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
- Waste removal and a clean site on completion
Housing across Lancashire
East Lancashire mill towns such as Burnley, Blackburn and Accrington have long rows of stone and brick terraces, while Preston is mostly red brick. Lancaster uses sandstone for its Georgian centre, Blackpool and the Fylde coast have guest-house terraces and many bungalows, and interwar and newer estates surround most towns.
Mill-town terraces commonly suit attic conversions, kitchen extensions and repointing. Bungalows on the coast often take loft rooms and porches, and stone properties may need lime pointing and roof repairs.
Westerly winds and high rainfall are the norm, with gales on the Fylde coast and wetter, colder conditions on the Pennine side.
Do you need permission in Lancashire?
Which rules apply depends on where you live. For Lancashire, the answer is England, and the points below reflect that; we verify them with the council before quoting.
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
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.
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
Once you accept, we agree start dates, order materials and deal with any planning, building control or neighbour notices the job needs. You'll know who is coming and when before work begins.
Finish and handover
Work goes ahead as scheduled and you deal with one contact throughout. When the last trade leaves, we clear and clean the site, talk you through what has been done and pass on any certificates and care instructions.
How we work
Frequently asked questions
How long will cladding take?
On a typical home, allow 3 days to 3 weeks depending on area. Larger projects, older buildings and extra work found once things are opened up can extend that, while simpler jobs may be shorter. Your quote includes an estimate of time on site, and your point of contact keeps you updated on the programme as the work progresses.
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 Lancashire 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.
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 £4,800–£11,500, 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.
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.
Towns in Lancashire
Below is our list of Lancashire towns for cladding. If yours isn't shown, we may still cover it, so it is worth asking us directly.