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 take on cladding throughout Finchley and the surrounding N2, N3, N12 and NW4 postcodes, as well as in Golders Green, Muswell Hill and Cricklewood. The guide range for this work in London is £6,500–£15,500 including VAT; where your project falls depends on its size, the materials you pick and how easy the site is to reach. A free survey turns that range into a fixed figure.
- Guide price
- £6,500–£15,500 inc VAT
- Time on site
- 3 days to 3 weeks depending on area
- Postcodes
- N2, N3, N12, NW4 and NW7
- Planning rules
- England
- Local area
- Greater London
- Survey
- Free, with a written quote
Cladding prices in Finchley
These are guide costs, not quotes. For cladding in Finchley the range is £6,500–£15,500, VAT included, reflecting prices in London that are about 30% above the national guide. Once we have visited for a free survey, you get a firm figure for the scope you approve.
| Type of job | What it usually involves | Guide in Finchley |
|---|---|---|
| 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
- Insulation behind the cladding
- Scaffolding, access and distance from boundaries
What’s included?
- 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 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.
For cladding in Finchley, this means checking things like wall construction, roof structure and existing services before we put a figure on paper.
Planning and building rules in Finchley
As Finchley is in England, 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 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.
How does the job run?
Survey and measure
A free survey comes first. It gives us what we need to price cladding properly, including dimensions, existing materials and access for deliveries, and gives you the chance to ask anything you like.
Quote in writing
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.
Plan and prepare
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 Finchley 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.
How we work
Cladding in Finchley: questions
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.
Who do I deal with during the job?
One point of contact manages your project from survey to handover. They schedule the trades working under our contract, keep you updated on progress, and are the person to call with any question. You don't need to coordinate builders, electricians or decorators separately, because that is part of what we do.
How much does house cladding cost?
Cladding around 40–60m² of wall, such as an extension or upper storey, costs £6,500–£15,500, 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 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 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.
Near Finchley
Finchley and its N2, N3, N12 and NW4 postcodes are part of our coverage. Homeowners in Golders Green, Muswell Hill and Cricklewood can also book a free survey with us and receive a written price for their job.