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.
Homes across London vary a great deal, so we price cladding only after seeing the property. Our coverage takes in Brent, Islington, Westminster and Bexley and the surrounding districts. As a guide, expect £6,500–£15,500 including VAT in London; the final figure depends on size, materials and access. Any permissions are checked against the rules for England before we quote.
- Guide price
- £6,500–£15,500 inc VAT
- Time on site
- 3 days to 3 weeks depending on area
- Planning rules
- England
- Price level
- About 30% above the national guide
- Towns listed
- 90
- Survey
- Free, with a written quote
Cladding prices in London
Prices for cladding vary from house to house, but in London most projects fall within £6,500–£15,500 including VAT. That reflects costs in London, about 30% above the national guide. Treat the table as a budgeting aid; the written figure follows a survey we carry out for free.
| Type of job | What it usually involves | Guide in London |
|---|---|---|
| Feature area or dormer | A gable, dormer, bay or small feature wall in uPVC, timber or composite. | £1,950–£6,500 |
| Extension or upper storey | About 40–60m² of timber, composite or fibre cement with membrane and battens. | £6,500–£15,500 |
| Whole house | Cladding most elevations of a house, often with added insulation. | £15,500–£39,000 |
What moves the price up or down:
- 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
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
- Cladding boards fixed with suitable stainless or coated fixings
- Corner trims, window reveals and ventilated top and bottom edges
Housing across London
London's housing is dominated by Victorian and Edwardian terraces, often in yellow London stock brick, with Georgian terraces in central districts and mansion blocks across many inner areas. Outer boroughs have large belts of interwar semis, and there are extensive post-war council estates. Many houses have been split into flats, and conservation areas are widespread.
Terraces suit side-return extensions and rear dormer loft conversions; interwar semis commonly take hip-to-gable lofts. Shared party walls, restricted parking and conservation rules often shape the plans and the programme.
London Clay shrinks and swells with the seasons, and street trees close to houses can contribute to movement, which affects foundation design.
Do you need permission in London?
Homes in London come under the regulations for England, summarised below. We don't rely on general rules alone: we confirm the position for your address with the council before a quote goes out.
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
A visit to your home
First, someone visits your home in London 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
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.
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.
On site to finish
On site, the agreed plan is followed and any change is put in writing first. At completion we do a final clean, go through the snagging list with you and leave you with the relevant documents.
How we work
Frequently asked questions
Which postcodes in London do you cover?
We cover HA0, EC1, SW1 and DA5, along with the rest of London. 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 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.
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.
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.
Towns in London
Our coverage for cladding in London includes the towns listed here. Each page explains guide costs, typical timings and the neighbouring places we also serve.
- Acton
- Archway
- Barking
- Barnes
- Barnet
- Battersea
- Beckenham
- Becontree
- Bexley
- Blackheath
- Blackwall
- Bow
- Brent
- Brixton
- Camden Town
- Canary Wharf
- Canning Town
- Carshalton
- Catford
- Chalk Farm
- Chelsea
- Chessington
- Chingford
- Chiswick
- Coulsdon
- Cricklewood
- Croydon
- Dagenham
- East Barnet
- Edmonton
- Eltham
- Enfield Town
- Feltham
- Finchley
- Fulham
- Golders Green
- Greenford
- Greenwich
- Hadley Wood
- Hampton
- Hanworth
- Harrow
- Hayes
- Heston
- Highbury
- Holloway
- Hook
- Hornchurch
- Hounslow
- Ilford
- Isleworth
- Islington
- Kilburn
- Leytonstone
- Mitcham
- Morden
- Muswell Hill
- New Malden
- Northolt
- Notting Hill
- Peckham
- Pimlico
- Pinner
- Purley
- Putney
- Richmond
- Romford
- Ruislip
- Shepherds Bush
- Soho
- South Croydon
- Southall
- Stamford Hill
- Stratford
- Streatham
- Surbiton
- Sutton
- Thamesmead
- Tottenham
- Uxbridge
- Wallington
- Walthamstow
- Wealdstone
- Welling
- Wembley
- Westminster
- Willesden
- Wimbledon
- Wood Green
- Woodford Green