Ely Roofers installs and replaces exterior cladding for homeowners in Soham, helping you protect your home and make a confident, informed decision before any work begins.
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Exterior cladding is a layer fixed to the outside of your walls to protect the structure beneath from rain, wind and frost. It also improves the appearance of the building and, depending on the system, can add a degree of thermal performance.
The most common systems fitted to residential properties are uPVC or composite panels, fibre cement boards, and timber boards. Each material behaves differently over time, costs differently to install, and demands a different level of upkeep. A good contractor will explain those differences clearly before you agree to anything.
Exterior cladding is not a small job. It involves fixing directly to your external walls, managing moisture barriers behind the boards, sealing around windows, doors and soffits, and ensuring the system sheds water correctly at every junction. Done well, it will protect your home for many years. Done badly, it can trap moisture behind the boards and cause rot, damp and structural damage that costs far more to put right than the original job would have done.
That means your choice of contractor matters at least as much as your choice of material. The lowest quote is rarely the best value. Here is what to look at before you agree to anything.
A straightforward set of questions will quickly separate a contractor who knows what they are doing from one who is cutting corners or has little real experience with cladding. Ask these before you commit:
A written quote that itemises the work is far more useful than a verbal price or a single-line total. You want to see the material specified by name and grade, the area to be covered, the preparation work included, and how waste will be disposed of. If a quote does not break these things down, ask for a revised version that does.
Getting two or three quotes gives you a sensible basis for comparison, but compare them item by item rather than just on total price. A quote that leaves out the membrane, the trims or the disposal of old material will look cheaper until those costs appear as extras once work has started.
The problems that appear a year or two after a poor cladding job are predictable. Boards that were fixed too tightly will buckle as they expand in warm weather. Joints that were not sealed correctly allow water to track behind the panels. An absent or incorrectly lapped breather membrane lets moisture reach the wall beneath. Any of these faults can lead to damp inside the property, damage to the underlying substrate, or boards that need replacing far sooner than they should.
Asking the questions above before the job starts is the most effective way to avoid these outcomes. A contractor who gives clear, specific answers is demonstrating genuine knowledge of the work. One who is vague, dismissive or cannot explain the detail of how the system is built up should be treated with caution.
Upc panels are popular for their low maintenance and consistent finish. They do not rot, do not need painting, and are relatively straightforward to clean. The trade-off is that they can look less natural than other materials and, in cheaper grades, can fade or become brittle over time. Ask the contractor what grade they are specifying and who manufactures it.
Fibre cement boards offer a harder, denser finish that handles impact well and holds paint reliably. They are heavier than uPVC, which means fixings and the substrate behind them need to be assessed carefully. A good contractor will check the condition of your external walls before recommending this system.
Timber cladding gives a natural appearance that many homeowners prefer, but it requires regular maintenance. Unprotected timber will absorb moisture and eventually split, warp or rot. Factory-treated or pre-painted boards extend the time between maintenance cycles, but the treatment will eventually need refreshing. If you are considering timber, ask specifically what pre-treatment the boards have received and what maintenance schedule is recommended.
The condition of the wall behind the cladding affects how well the new system performs. Before fixing new boards, the wall should be checked for any existing damp, loose render, cracked masonry or rot in any existing timber framework. A contractor who starts fitting boards without assessing the substrate is skipping a step that matters.
If old cladding is being removed first, the exposed wall should be inspected before the new system goes on. This is the point at which any underlying problems are cheapest to fix. Once the new boards are in place, accessing the wall behind them means dismantling the job.
We work on homes across Soham and the surrounding area from our base in Ely. If you are considering new cladding or need to replace a failing system, ask for a survey of your property before committing to any work. We will assess the existing wall condition, explain which systems suit your building, and give you a clear, itemised quote so you know exactly what you are agreeing to before any work begins.
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Call any time. Calls are answered day and night and passed straight to our roofers.
