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.
If you have cladding on your list for a property in Horsham, we can help from the first measurements to the final clean-up. For a typical home, plan for 3 days to 3 weeks depending on area, though larger or more complex jobs take longer. We cover postcodes RH12 and nearby Crawley, Horley and Haywards Heath, and every quote we send is fixed for the scope described in it.
- Guide price
- £5,600–£13,500 inc VAT
- Time on site
- 3 days to 3 weeks depending on area
- Postcodes
- RH12
- Planning rules
- England
- Local area
- West Sussex
- Survey
- Free, with a written quote
How much does cladding cost in Horsham?
Every figure below is a guide for cladding in Horsham, inclusive of VAT. Regional pricing for the South East works out about 12% above the national guide, and the overall span is £5,600–£13,500. The survey costs you nothing, and after it we commit to a firm price for your specification in writing.
| Type of job | What it usually involves | Guide in Horsham |
|---|---|---|
| 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 |
Expect these to shape the final quote:
- 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 do you get?
- 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
- Corner trims, window reveals and ventilated top and bottom edges
Homes in West Sussex
Chichester has Georgian brick streets, Downland villages use flint and brick, and Horsham stone slabs cover some older roofs. Worthing and Bognor Regis have interwar and post-war bungalows and semis, Crawley was planned as a post-war new town, and Wealden villages to the north feature tile-hanging and timber framing.
Bungalows commonly suit loft conversions and extensions; new-town homes often take window, roofline and cladding renewal. Flint and stone properties need lime repointing, and coastal homes may need external decorating more often.
That mix of housing shapes how we approach cladding in Horsham: the age and construction of your home affect the materials, the method and, in the end, the price.
Permissions for cladding in Horsham
Because Horsham falls under England's rules, the guidance below is the version relevant to you. Before sending a price, we check your property's position with the council.
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?
A visit to your home
We arrange a free site survey on a date convenient to you. We measure up, look at the existing structure and access, and discuss your plans for cladding so the price reflects your home.
Quote in writing
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.
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 Horsham property.
On site to finish
The job proceeds in the order set out in the programme, with dust and debris kept under control. Finally we tidy away, inspect the work together and pass the finished project over to you with its paperwork.
Working with SK Home Improvements
Cladding in Horsham: questions
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.
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.
Do you cover Crawley, Horley and Haywards Heath?
Yes. As well as Horsham, we cover Crawley, Horley and Haywards Heath and the rest of West Sussex. Our coverage is UK-wide, so the process is the same wherever you are: a free site survey, a quote in writing that fixes the price for the agreed scope, and one point of contact while the work is planned and carried out.
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 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.
Nearby towns
We survey and quote throughout Horsham's RH12 postcodes and in surrounding places such as Crawley, Horley and Haywards Heath. The process and pricing approach are identical in each of them.