How Much Does Cladding Cost per Square Metre?

As a broad UK guide, supply-and-install rates for common facade systems typically fall in these indicative ranges per square metre of facade area:

• uPVC cladding: roughly £40 to £90 per m2
• Timber cladding: roughly £60 to £150 per m2
• Render and insulated render systems: roughly £70 to £150 per m2
• Fibre cement panels: roughly £100 to £200 per m2
• High-pressure laminate (HPL): roughly £120 to £220 per m2
• Aluminium and metal rainscreen: roughly £150 to £300 per m2
• Terracotta, stone and specialist systems: £250 per m2 and above

These are indicative supply-and-install figures only. They are a starting point for comparing systems, not a budget for any specific building.

What a per-m2 rate usually includes#

A quoted square-metre rate for a rainscreen or cladding system normally covers the support framing, insulation within the system zone, cavity barriers, the panels or boards themselves, and standard fixings and flashings. It usually assumes reasonable access and a straightforward substrate.

What a per-m2 rate usually excludes#

This is where budgets go wrong. Per-m2 rates commonly exclude:

• Scaffolding or other access - which can rival the cladding cost on tall buildings
• Removal and disposal of any existing system
• Remediation of the substrate, structure or fire-stopping behind the old cladding
• Complex detailing around windows, balconies, corners and penetrations
• Design, surveys, testing and professional fees
• Building control, warranty and certification costs

On a real project these excluded items can add 50% or more to the headline rate.

Why cheaper per m2 is not always cheaper#

A lower headline rate can mean thinner panels, fewer fixings, simpler finishes or shorter design life. Whole-life cost - maintenance, cleaning, repainting and expected service life - often reverses the ranking of systems that look far apart on day-one price. Fire performance requirements on residential buildings also rule out the cheapest options entirely in many cases.

How facade area is measured#

Rates are applied to the measured facade area, which includes window and door openings in some pricing conventions and nets them out in others. Two quotes measuring differently are not comparable, so the measurement basis should always be confirmed.

Getting from a rate to a real budget#

The dependable route is a survey to measure the facade accurately, a performance specification that fixes the system build-up, and then tendered rates against that measured schedule. Our guides to recladding costs and replacement costs show how square-metre rates fit into a whole-project budget. Contact us to arrange a survey of your building.