Is Composite Cladding Expensive?

If you’re thinking about refreshing your home with cladding, you might well be asking the question, ‘Is cladding expensive?’ People get cladding for a number of reasons. It adds a unique aesthetic appeal but also has some practical benefits, such as adding insulation to your home to improve energy efficiency. It also protects the exterior of the home from weather and other damage. All this can potentially add to the value of your home, but it’s also a moderately big project that comes with an initial cost.

There are many different types of cladding available, but composite cladding is widely regarded as one of the best-value options. The upfront costs can be lower than other types of cladding, and composite cladding is also durable and weather-resistant, with a long effective lifespan. It also requires less maintenance, such as painting and treating, which can add to the lifetime costs for timber and other cladding types.

How Much Does Composite Cladding Cost?

So, is composite cladding expensive? When thinking about the composite cladding cost, you not only have to consider the cost of the material but also the installation and ongoing maintenance and potential repair costs.

According to MyBuilder, the average composite cladding price in the UK ranges from £20 to £60/m². At Dino Decking, composite decking is sold in 4m lengths, at £19.99 per length for flush cladding and £24.99 per length for slatted cladding. As the lengths are not a metre in height though, this does not mean that each length is 4 square metres. You can use our calculator to work out exactly how many lengths you will need and the total cost based on the dimensions of your home. 

For example, to cover 100 square metres of surface area with flush cladding, you would need 169 lengths at £19.99 each. This would cost a total of £3,378.31, working out at £33.78 per square metre.

Composite vs Wood Price Difference

There are a number of different types of cladding available, including vinyl, brick, stone and fibre cement. Timber cladding remains a popular choice, however. MyBuilder estimates wooden cladding to cost between £30 and £70/m². This means that the cheapest timber cladding costs less than the most expensive composite cladding, but in general is around £10 more per square metre. This can soon add up and you might be surprised at how many square metres of cladding you need for your project.

Installation costs are likely to be similar for composite and wooden cladding, but timber cladding tends to require a lot more maintenance. Cladding may need repainting or staining every five to 10 years, adding costs in both materials and labour if you do not do the job yourself. One provider suggests that maintenance costs, including treatments and occasional repairs, may amount to around £100 to £300 per year.

Timber cladding may also need to be replaced or refinished after 10 to 30 years, depending on factors including maintenance levels and the weather it is exposed to. Composite cladding, meanwhile, is estimated to last for 20 to 40 years – an average of a whole decade longer.

Composite vs UPVC Price Difference

uPVC cladding is a cost-effective solution. The average cost for the materials alone will tend to range from around £15 to £40/m². Because it is comparatively light, installation costs will also tend to be at the lower end of the range, certainly compared to heavier materials and more complex installation processes, such as brick or fibre cement cladding. Installation costs are more likely to be comparable to those for composite cladding.

Like composite cladding, uPVC is also low maintenance compared to wood and other types of material. Both composite material and uPVC require regular wipe-downs but do not need regular painting and other treatments. They are also both highly resistant to moisture and exposure to the British weather.

One potential issue with uPVC cladding is that it can be particularly prone to fading due to UV exposure from sunlight, whereas composite cladding is resistant to fading. Many people also prefer the aesthetic look of composite cladding compared to plastic, as well as composite cladding’s better sustainability compared to uPVC.

You can read our handy guide to find out more about composite vs PVC cladding.

What Are the Additional Costs of Composite Cladding?

There are a number of additional costs beyond the price of the composite cladding itself. The most important is generally the installation. You can install the cladding yourself, but it is generally advisable to get a professional in if you are not confident in your abilities to do it properly. 

The size of the property and project can vary widely, but Airtasker suggests that most jobs will take two to seven days with labour costs of:

• £150 to £250 per day for a cladding specialist
• £240 to £300 per day for general builders

Checkatrade says that you may expect to pay around £1,500 to £2,000 for cladding installation based on a two-day job. 

There may be extras such as skip hire and scaffolding, but these may also be included in any quote you get.

When purchasing the cladding materials, you should also account for any necessary extras, including fixings and trim screw clips, battens, and any equipment or products for wall preparation you might need if you’re installing the cladding yourself.

Ongoing maintenance costs should also be considered. For wood and some other types of cladding, this can involve regular painting, treating and inspections. Composite cladding is relatively easy to maintain and generally requires little more than regular cleaning.

Buy Affordable Composite Cladding Today

If you’re considering installing cladding, you’ll want to consider the cost but also the look and practical benefits of the material you choose. Dino Decking’s composite cladding is an affordable and cost-effective option, but it also has a number of other benefits compared to other types of cladding.

It looks great, and there are a wide range of colours and finishes to choose from. It’s also eco-friendly and durable, as the mix of recycled wood and recycled plastic provides superior resistance to moisture, rot, cracking and warping compared to timber alone. Check out our complete range of composite cladding to find out if it’s the right choice for you.