How Much does It Cost to Reside a House? Average Price Guide (2026)

“Re-siding” is the American term for replacing a house’s exterior cladding — in the UK we usually say re-cladding or re-rendering, but the question is the same: what does it cost to give your home’s exterior a complete new skin? Whether your render is blowing, your pebbledash is tired, or you want the insulation benefits of a modern cladding system, this guide covers real UK costs for 2026.

What Does Re-Siding Mean in the UK?

British houses typically have one of these exterior finishes: brick, render (smooth or textured), pebbledash, hanging tiles, or timber/uPVC cladding. “Re-siding” usually means either:

• Re-rendering: hacking off failed render and applying a new system (sand/cement, silicone or monocouche).
• Over-cladding: fixing a new cladding system (uPVC, fibre cement, timber, composite) over or in place of the old finish, often with added insulation.
• Replacing cladding: removing failed timber or uPVC cladding and fitting new.

Each has very different costs, lifespans and looks — and the right choice depends on your wall construction, budget and whether the house is in a conservation area.

Cost by Material (3-Bed Semi, 2026)

• Sand/cement re-render: £4,000–£8,000 — the traditional option; needs painting every 5–10 years.
• Silicone render (K-rend/similar): £6,000–£10,000 — through-coloured, low maintenance, huge colour range.
• Monocouche render: £5,500–£9,500 — one-coat, through-coloured; popular and durable.
• uPVC cladding: £5,000–£9,000 — cheapest cladding, virtually maintenance-free, but can look plasticky on period homes.
• Fibre cement board (Cedral/similar): £8,000–£14,000 — premium look, 50-year life, excellent for contemporary updates.
• Timber cladding (cedar/larch): £9,000–£16,000 — beautiful but needs periodic treatment (unless you like the silvered look).
• Brick slips: £10,000–£18,000 — real brick appearance without full re-bricking; pricey but transformative.

Detached houses typically run 40–70% more; terraces 15–25% less. London and the South East sit at the top of every range.

What Is Included in the Price?

A proper quotation should itemise:

• Scaffolding: £800–£1,500 for a semi — essential, non-negotiable.
• Removal of old finish: hacking off blown render is labour-intensive (£1,000–£2,500).
• Wall repairs: repointing, crack stitching or dealing with damp found underneath (£500–£2,000 commonly).
• Insulation upgrade: external wall insulation (EWI) beneath new cladding adds £5,000–£10,000 but transforms energy bills — and may qualify for grant funding.
• New finish: the material and its fixings, trims, corner beads and sealants.
• Waste removal: skips at £200–£350 each; render removal fills them fast.

The wall underneath is the wildcard. Until the old finish comes off, nobody knows what is behind it — budget a 10–15% contingency for repairs.

Render vs Cladding: Which Is Right?

Choose render when…

You want a crisp, modern masonry look; the existing walls are solid and sound; budget is a factor; or the house is rendered already and you are simply renewing. Silicone renders are the current sweet spot — flexible, breathable, water-repellent and available in hundreds of colours.

Choose cladding when…

You want to add external insulation (the best single upgrade for solid-wall homes); you like the aesthetic; or the existing finish is so poor that covering it is cheaper than repairing it. Cladding over sound walls is faster and less messy than hacking off render.

Many of the best results combine both: render on the front for kerb appeal, cladding on sides and rear. If the roof needs attention too, see roof replacement costs. There is no rule saying a house must have one finish everywhere.

Insulation: The Hidden Opportunity

Re-siding is the perfect moment to address insulation, because the scaffolding is already up. Solid-wall homes (most pre-1920s stock) lose around a third of their heat through walls. Adding 90–100 mm of external wall insulation beneath new render or cladding typically costs an extra £5,000–£10,000 on a semi but can cut heating bills by 25–40%.

Check current grant schemes before committing — UK energy-efficiency funding changes frequently, and EWI has been supported under various schemes. The Energy Saving Trust’s solid wall insulation guide explains the options and current funding landscape.

Planning and Building Regulations

Like-for-like render renewal does not need planning permission. But changing the external appearance materially — especially in conservation areas or on listed buildings — can require consent. Always check with your local authority if the finish, colour or material will change noticeably.

Under Building Regulations, re-rendering or re-cladding more than 25% of the wall area triggers thermal upgrade requirements — in practice, this means considering insulation at the same time — often planned alongside an extension project. Your contractor should advise; non-compliance can cause problems at sale time. The Planning Portal has the definitive guidance.

How Long Does It Take?

A straightforward re-render on a semi: 1–2 weeks. Full cladding system with insulation: 2–4 weeks. Brick slips: 3–5 weeks. Weather matters enormously for render — it cannot be applied in frost or driving rain, and each coat needs proper curing time. Book render work for late spring or summer for the smoothest programme.

Choosing a Contractor

• Get three itemised quotes from specialists (renderers or cladding installers, not general handymen for whole-house work).
• Ask for addresses of recent local jobs — drive past them.
• Check guarantees: reputable render systems carry 10-year manufacturer warranties when installed by approved applicators — using an approved installer matters.
• Agree the full specification in writing: preparation, materials (brand and product), insulation thickness if any, trims and finishes, and snagging process.
• Stage payments, never large upfront sums.

Maintaining Your New Exterior

A new exterior is an investment worth protecting. Rendered walls benefit from a wash-down every couple of years to remove algae and grime — a soft brush and garden hose does the job; avoid pressure washers on render, which can force water behind the finish and damage the surface. Inspect sealant joints around windows and doors annually and renew any that have cracked or pulled away.

Cladding needs even less: an annual visual check for damaged boards, secure fixings and clear ventilation gaps is usually enough. Timber cladding should be re-treated to the manufacturer’s schedule if you want to keep its colour; left alone, cedar and larch silver gracefully and need no treatment at all. Keep plants and soil away from the base of walls — a 150 mm clear gap prevents splash-back staining and gives airflow that keeps everything dry.

Frequently Asked Questions

How much does it cost to re-render a house in the UK?

£4,000–£8,000 for sand/cement on a 3-bed semi; £6,000–£10,000 for silicone render systems. Scaffolding and wall repairs are the big variables.

Is cladding cheaper than render?

uPVC cladding can be comparable to basic render; premium cladding (fibre cement, timber, brick slips) costs significantly more. But cladding often includes or facilitates insulation, which changes the value calculation.

Can you clad over pebbledash?

Often yes, if the pebbledash is sound and well-adhered — battens go over it and cladding fixes to the battens. If it is blowing or hollow, it should come off first. A tap survey (listening for hollow spots) tells you which.

How long does new render last?

Sand/cement: 20–30 years with repainting. Silicone and monocouche: 25–30+ years, often with 10-year manufacturer guarantees. Fibre cement cladding: 50 years.

Will re-cladding add value?

Done well, with insulation, it improves EPC rating, kerb appeal and saleability — particularly for dated pebbledash houses. Like most exterior work, you may not recover every pound, but you remove buyer objections and cut energy bills from day one.

Do I need planning permission to change my house’s exterior?

For like-for-like renewal, no. For material changes of appearance — especially in conservation areas — check first. When in doubt, a quick call to the local planning department is free and avoids expensive mistakes.