If you are thinking about exterior cladding for your Cromer property, knowing exactly what the job involves - from the first inspection to the final clean-up - helps you plan properly and ask the right questions before anyone starts work.
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Before any cladding is measured, priced or ordered, the existing wall needs a thorough inspection. This is not a quick visual walk-round. A proper check means looking at the wall surface for cracks, blown render, loose pointing and any signs of water ingress. It also means checking gutters and downpipes that run alongside the elevation - a blocked or leaking gutter overflowing down the wall is a common cause of ongoing damp problems, and fitting cladding over a wet wall without fixing the source first is a mistake.
The condition of the substrate matters enormously. If render is hollow behind the surface, it needs to come off or be made good before battens are fixed. If there are significant voids or damaged areas in the brickwork, those need addressing. Any contractor who skips this stage and goes straight to measuring up should be questioned about why.
The inspection should also identify anything that affects access - how high the walls are, whether scaffolding or a tower will be needed, and whether neighbouring properties or boundaries will affect how the scaffold is positioned. This has a direct effect on the final cost and the programme of work.
Once the wall condition is understood, the material and fixing system can be confirmed. The main decisions at this stage are the cladding material (uPVC, timber, fibre cement or another option), the profile and colour, the batten arrangement, and how windows, doors and corners will be treated. The details around openings matter - how the reveals are finished, what trim profiles are used, and how the cladding meets existing window frames.
A written specification is useful here. It sets out exactly what material is being fitted, in what colour, with what trims, and how the key junctions will be handled. This protects both sides and gives you something clear to refer back to if there is any question later about what was agreed.
Most domestic cladding jobs require scaffolding or at minimum a mobile tower. For a single-storey extension or bungalow elevation, a tower scaffold erected for a day or two may be sufficient. For a full two-storey front or rear elevation, a full scaffold lift is more appropriate and safer for the operatives fixing the boards. Scaffold erection and striking typically add to the overall cost - this is normal and any quote that omits it should be queried.
Wall preparation follows once access is in place. Any hollow render is cut out, the wall is cleaned down, and any mortar repairs or repointing needed at fixing points is done at this stage. If there are areas of persistent damp, those need to be traced and resolved before boarding starts. Damp-proof treatments or breather membranes may be applied to the wall face before battening begins, depending on the specification.
Treated timber battens or metal channel are fixed horizontally or vertically to the wall, creating the framework the cladding boards will be fixed to. The depth of the batten creates a ventilated cavity behind the cladding - this gap is essential. It allows any moisture that gets behind the boards to drain to the bottom and dry out, rather than sitting against the masonry and causing damp.
Battens need to be fixed securely into the masonry, not just into render or loose pointing. The fixings need to go into sound brick or block, with the correct spacing for the load the cladding material will impose. Heavier materials like fibre cement require closer fixing centres and more substantial battens than uPVC boards.
The boards or panels go on from the bottom of the wall upwards. The bottom course needs a starter strip or trim that holds the first board at the correct angle and allows the cavity to drain at the base. Each subsequent board or panel overlaps or interlocks with the one below, depending on the profile.
Cutting is done as each board reaches a window or corner. The quality of the cuts and how they are finished with trims and sealant is where good work distinguishes itself from hurried work. Window reveals - the sides of the window opening back to the frame - need to be clad or trimmed neatly, with the joints between the reveal lining and the face board properly sealed. A gap or a poorly applied bead of sealant at this point is where water will eventually find its way in.
External and internal corners need proper corner trims or mitre-cut boards. Joints at the tops of elevations, under soffits or where the cladding meets different materials need to be finished with the correct trim and sealed. These details take time but are what make the difference between a job that looks right and weathers well, and one that starts to admit water within a couple of years.
Once all the boards are on and the trims are finished, the wall should be checked from ground level and, where possible, from close-up. Any gaps in the sealant, any trims that have not seated correctly, and any fixings that have been left exposed should be identified and put right before the scaffold comes down. Once the access is gone, small defects become expensive to go back and fix.
Waste material - off-cuts, packaging and any debris from the preparation stage - should be cleared from the site. Any sealant smears on window frames or surrounding surfaces should be cleaned off before they cure fully.
A single domestic elevation on a standard two-storey house typically takes two to four days of cladding work once access is in place, depending on the material and the complexity of the detailing. Larger properties or those with complicated elevations take longer. Scaffold erection and striking add time at either end of the programme. The exact programme depends on the job - ask your contractor for a realistic timeline when you are getting quotes.
We carry out exterior cladding work in Cromer and the surrounding area, including Aylsham and nearby towns and villages. If you want to understand exactly what a cladding job on your property would involve before you commit to anything, call us to arrange a site visit.
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Call any time. Calls are answered day and night and passed straight to our roofers.
