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What changes the cost of uPVC cladding?
The cost of uPVC cladding depends on the area of wall, the profile and colour of the boards, the battens and trims, whether old cladding has to come off, and how high the work is. This page does not print a price, because we could not find two dated public sources that agree on one.
Last reviewed:What uPVC cladding is used for
uPVC cladding is plastic boarding fixed to the outside of a wall, usually on timber battens, to protect it and change how it looks. On houses it is common on gables, dormers, bay window panels, porches, the walls of extensions and the areas between upper and lower windows. Many boards are made to look like timber shiplap or weatherboard, in white, cream, grey, black and wood-effect finishes.
It is related to, but not the same as, roofline work. Fascias, soffits and bargeboards at the edge of the roof are often uPVC too, and the same business may quote for both. If you want both, say so, because it changes the scaffolding and the price.
QuoteZila is starting in Cheshire, with Crewe, Nantwich and Sandbach among the first towns, and anyone in the UK can post a job. We have not put a price for uPVC cladding here. We could not find two dated public sources that agree on one. The rest of this guide explains what an installer is pricing and what to check.
What changes a uPVC cladding quote
| What changes | Why it matters | What to ask |
|---|---|---|
| Wall area | Boards, battens and labour all scale with area | Which walls are included, and what area have you measured? |
| Board profile | Shiplap, weatherboard and other profiles differ in look and fitting | Which profile and maker, and can I see a sample? |
| Colour and finish | Coloured and wood-effect boards may cost more than white | Which colour, and are matching trims available? |
| Battens | New battens give a flat, ventilated base | Will you fit new battens, and are they treated? |
| Old cladding | Removing old timber or tiles adds labour and waste | Will the old cladding come off, and is disposal included? |
| Condition underneath | Rotten timber or damp walls must be dealt with first | What will you do if the wall underneath needs repair? |
| Trims and corners | Corner trims, window trims and edge pieces finish the job | Are all trims included, and how will windows be finished? |
| Height and access | Gables and dormers often need scaffolding | Is scaffolding included, and for how long? |
| Roofline at the same time | Fascias and soffits can share the scaffold | Should the roofline be done at the same time? |
| VAT | Some installers are VAT registered [S5] | Does the total include VAT? |
When quotes differ, check the profile and colour, whether the old cladding comes off, and whether scaffolding is included. Those three lines explain most gaps.
Choosing boards and colours
Ask to see real samples in daylight, not only a brochure. Things to consider:
- Profile. Shiplap and weatherboard profiles look different on a large wall. Look at a neighbour's house or the installer's past work if you can.
- Colour. Dark colours absorb more heat from the sun. Ask the installer what the maker says about dark colours on a south-facing wall.
- Wood effect. Foiled boards imitate timber grain. Look at them close up and from the street.
- Trims. Corner and window trims should match the boards. Mismatched trims are one of the first things people see.
- Ventilation. A gap behind the boards lets air move and moisture escape. Ask how the installer will keep it.
Keep a note of the maker, the profile and the colour reference, so repairs can match later.
Planning permission
Cladding changes how a house looks, so planning can come into it. The Planning Portal says cladding the outside of a house may fall within permitted development if the materials are of a similar appearance to those of the existing house [S1]. It also says that in a conservation area, a national park, an area of outstanding natural beauty or the Broads, you need permission before cladding with stone, artificial stone, pebble dash, render, timber, plastic or tiles [S1]. Listed buildings need listed building consent for significant works [S1].
Replacing old timber cladding on a gable with similar-looking uPVC is a different case from cladding a whole brick front in a bold colour. If you are unsure which yours is, ask the council before you commit.
Building regulations
The Planning Portal says that if you want to re-render or replace timber cladding on external walls, building regulations may apply, depending on the extent of the work [S2]. Swapping old timber boards for uPVC is exactly that kind of job. Where they do, building control may want to see how the wall's insulation and moisture are dealt with as part of the job.
Ask your installer whether they have checked, and ask building control if the job covers a large part of a wall. Fire performance of materials near a boundary is another question to raise with building control for an extension or a wall close to a neighbour.
GOV.UK: find your local council for building control. QuoteZila is not affiliated with this organisation.
Wildlife behind cladding and soffits
Gaps behind old cladding, tiles and soffits can be used by bats and nesting birds. GOV.UK says all bat species, their breeding sites and resting places are fully protected by law [S3]. It says you may need a bat survey by an expert, and that if you cannot avoid disturbing bats or damaging their habitat, you can apply for a licence from Natural England [S3].
Tell the installer if you have seen bats or birds going in and out of the walls or roofline. If bats are found during the work, it should stop until advice has been taken.
Height and safe access
Most cladding is above head height: gables, dormers and the space between upper windows. Installers need a safe platform to work from, which usually means scaffolding or a tower for anything above the ground floor.
This page gives no steps for working at height. Ask each installer:
- Is scaffolding or a tower included, and who erects it?
- How long will it be up?
- Will it block a drive, a path or a neighbour's access?
- If roofline work is also needed, can it be done while the scaffold is up?
HSE: work at height. QuoteZila is not affiliated with this organisation.
For what businesses doing this work must plan for, see HSE's guidance on work at height.
Getting ready for quotes
Before you ask for quotes, gather:
- Photos of each wall to be clad, from the ground and from inside upstairs windows if helpful.
- Rough measurements, or the number of windows and the height of the house.
- What is there now: bare brick, render, old timber or tiles.
- The look you want: profile, colour and trims.
- Whether you want fascias, soffits or guttering at the same time.
- Anything that affects access, such as a conservatory, a garage roof or a shared drive.
Do not climb ladders to measure high walls yourself. Installers can measure on their visit.
Looking after uPVC cladding
uPVC needs less attention than painted timber, but a little care keeps it looking right:
- Wash it down with warm, soapy water and a soft brush when it gets grubby. Ask the installer or maker before using a pressure washer or strong cleaners.
- Keep gutters clear, so water does not spill over and streak the boards.
- Check after storms for boards or trims that have lifted or cracked.
- Keep the maker's name, profile and colour reference, so a cracked board can be matched.
If a board is damaged, ask the installer whether a single board can be replaced, or whether a whole run has to come off.
How to compare uPVC cladding quotes
Citizens Advice says a quote is a fixed price, and an estimate is a guess at the likely cost [S4]. It suggests getting written quotes from more than one trader and asking to see their insurance [S4]. Each cladding quote should state:
- The walls and area included.
- The board maker, profile and colour.
- Battens, ventilation and fixings.
- Removal of old cladding and waste.
- Repairs underneath, and how extra repairs will be priced.
- Trims around corners, windows and edges.
- Scaffolding or other access, and for how long.
- Any written warranty on the boards and on the fitting.
- Whether VAT is included. A business must register for VAT when taxable turnover goes over £90,000 [S5].
Jobs you might post
These are examples, not taken from real job posts.
- "Old timber cladding on the front gable is rotting. Would like it replaced with white uPVC shiplap."
- "Box dormer with tired felt and timber cladding. Looking for grey uPVC cladding and new trims."
- "Wood-effect cladding wanted on the panels under our upstairs windows. Fascias and soffits may also need replacing."
Say which walls, what is on them now, the look you want, and whether roofline work is needed at the same time.
Get quotes for uPVC cladding
Describe the walls and your postcode. Up to five matched local businesses can send you a quote [QZ2]. QuoteZila is free for customers and local businesses [QZ1].
Honest status: QuoteZila is new. We're starting in Cheshire, beginning with Crewe, Nantwich and Sandbach, and growing area by area. Anyone in the UK can still post a job or register a business. How fast you get quotes depends on how many local businesses have joined near you. Businesses can register and receive jobs straight away. We don't check insurance, qualifications or registrations, so please check these yourself before you hire.
Posting a job is not open yet
See builders, roofers, joiners and scaffolders for the trades involved. The roof repair cost guide covers work at the roof edge, and what changes the cost of rendering a house covers another way to finish a wall.
Questions about uPVC cladding prices
How much does uPVC cladding cost?
This page does not print a figure. The wall area, the board profile and colour, the battens and trims, removing old cladding, and the access needed to reach high walls all change the total. Ask installers for itemised written quotes for the same walls and the same product.
Do I need planning permission for uPVC cladding?
Often not if it looks similar to the existing house, but it depends where you live. The Planning Portal says you need permission before cladding with plastic, timber, render and other materials in a conservation area, national park, area of outstanding natural beauty or the Broads. Ask your council if unsure.
Does replacing cladding need building regulations approval?
It can. The Planning Portal says that if you want to re-render or replace timber cladding on external walls, building regulations may apply depending on the extent of the work. Ask the installer whether they have checked for your job, and ask building control if you are unsure.
Can uPVC cladding go over old timber cladding?
Sometimes, but covering rotten timber or damp battens can hide a problem. Ask the installer to check the condition of what is underneath, and to explain whether they will remove the old cladding or fix over it, and why.
What if there are bats behind my cladding?
GOV.UK says all bat species, their breeding sites and resting places are protected by law, and that you may need a survey by an expert and a licence from Natural England if you cannot avoid disturbing them. Stop work and get advice if bats are found.
Is uPVC cladding maintenance free?
It needs less upkeep than painted timber, but it is not free of care. It still gets dirty, and boards can be cracked by impact. Ask the installer how to clean it and whether spare boards in the same colour are available.
Does QuoteZila check the businesses?
No. We don't check insurance, qualifications or registrations, so please check these yourself before you hire. You can report a quote or a business from your job page.
This page is general information, not professional or legal advice. QuoteZila does not check Gas Safe, WaterSafe, NFRC, NICEIC or other registrations against the register on your behalf: look them up yourself.
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- 3 Metre Extension Cost in Cheshire: What to Ask. A 3 metre house extension in Cheshire is a planning depth, not a package price. Ask which houses that depth fits, and which lines a quote should compare.
- Asbestos removal: what the quote must say. An asbestos quote in Cheshire depends on the material, the licence question and the waste route. This guide prints no removal figure and no removal method.
Sources
- QZ1: QuoteZila product fact. QuoteZila home and jobs-for-tradesmen copy.
- QZ2: QuoteZila product fact. QuoteZila FAQ and app README.
- S1: External walls: planning permission, Planning Portal. Accessed 2026-10-27. https://www.planningportal.co.uk/permission/common-projects/external-walls/planning-permission
- S2: External walls: building regulations, Planning Portal. Accessed 2026-10-27. https://www.planningportal.co.uk/permission/common-projects/external-walls/building-regulations
- S3: Bats: protection, surveys and licences, GOV.UK (Natural England). Accessed 2026-10-27. https://www.gov.uk/guidance/bats-protection-surveys-and-licences
- S4: Before you get work done on your home, Citizens Advice. Accessed 2026-10-27. https://www.citizensadvice.org.uk/consumer/getting-home-improvements-done/before-you-get-building-work-done/
- S5: Register for VAT, GOV.UK. Accessed 2026-10-27. https://www.gov.uk/register-for-vat