The first question almost everyone asks is what it costs to clad a house. The honest answer is that it depends, but that is not much use on its own. What is useful is knowing what actually moves the number, so you can read a quote properly and compare two of them fairly.
1. The size and shape of the house
Wall area is the starting point, but shape matters just as much. A simple rectangular home is quicker to clad than one with multiple gables, steps, dormers and returns, because every corner and junction is extra cutting, extra trim and extra flashing.
2. The material you choose
Fibre cement, reconstituted timber such as Weathertex, natural timber and steel all sit at different price points, and the finish adds to it. Products supplied primed need painting, which is a real cost that should be accounted for up front rather than discovered later.
The cheapest material is not automatically the cheapest project. Maintenance over the next twenty years is part of the true cost.
3. What is already on the walls
Removing and disposing of the existing cladding takes time. If the old sheeting is asbestos cement, it must be removed by a licensed removalist with compliant disposal, and that is a separate specialist cost that belongs in the quote rather than as a surprise later.
4. What is found underneath
Once the old cladding comes off, the frame is visible. Rot, previous water damage or poor earlier work sometimes needs repairing before the new cladding goes on. A good builder tells you what they find and prices the repair before doing it.
5. Access and height
Two storey work, steep or tight sites and anything requiring scaffold all add cost. Scaffolding is a safety requirement, not an optional extra, and it should appear as a clear line rather than being quietly left out to make a quote look sharper.
6. The detailing
Flashings, trims, corner details and the junctions with the roof, gutters and windows are where cladding either performs for decades or fails early. They also take time. A quote that comes in noticeably below the others is often light on exactly these items.
How to compare cladding quotes fairly
Check that each quote covers the same scope: removal and disposal of the old cladding, scaffold if it is needed, the specific product and profile, flashings and trims, painting, and making good around windows and the roof line.
Ask what happens if damage is found behind the old cladding, and get that answer in writing. Ask whether the installation follows the manufacturer's requirements, because most product warranties depend on it.
Getting a real number for your house
There is no substitute for someone standing in front of the building. We look at the property, talk through materials and confirm the scope, then give you a written price with no obligation. Quotes are free.
Call Clifton Roofing & Cladding on 0437 978 856 or send a message through the contact page and we will arrange a time.