Cladding gives your home an extra coat of insulation. It protects the brickwork from the rain and reduces the risk of water penetration and damp as well as enhances the appearance of your home.
Cladding costs differ depending on the type of material you choose and the size of the walls.
In this guide, we tell you about the costs of stone cladding, the types you can choose from, how to find cladding specialists in your area, what you need to ask them and how you can save money on the cladding project.
Finally, we answer some frequently asked questions to help you get a good idea about how cladding works.
Topics
How Much Does Stone Cladding Cost?
The table below you the average costs of each different type of stone per square metre. It also gives you an approximate cost for labour and the total cost for cladding an average three-bedroomed house.
| Stone Type | Price per m2 | Estimated Labour Costs | Total Estimated Price (three bedroomed semi) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Limestone | £30-£50 | £450-£750 | £1,950-£2,250 |
| Slate | £35-£60 | £450-£750 | £2,200-£2,500 |
| Cast stone | £20-£30 | £450-£750 | £1,450-£1,750 |
| Marble | £45-£75 | £450-£750 | £2,250-£3,000 |
| Granite | £30-£50 | £450-£750 | £1,950-£2,250 |
| York stone | £35-£55 | £450-£750 | £2,200-£2,500 |
| Portland stone | £45-£75 | £450-£750 | £2,700-£3,000 |
You will see that we have included cast stone as it is a very popular choice, but it is not a natural stone. It is rather a mixture of aggregates made to look like stone which explains its cheaper price.
When you need to find a cladding specialist, there’s no need to spend hours trawling the internet. Use HouseholdQuotes and let us do the hard work for you!
Simply fill in our online form and tell us a bit more about what you need. We’ll then find cladding specialists in your area to give you no-obligation quotes.
Click To Get QuotesWhat is House Cladding?
Cladding is a facing material attached to your exterior walls to cover whatever material you had originally. It also supplies insulation and protection from the wind and rain.
The table below breaks down the types of stone cladding materials you can choose from.
| Stone Type | Advantages |
|---|---|
| Limestone (Sedimentary rock) | -Attractive mosaic patterns -Light colouring -Rustic -Weather resistant -Durable |
| Sandstone (Sedimentary rock) | -Good colour range -Durable -Classic appearance |
| Portland stone (Sedimentary rock) | -Durable -Traditional appearance -Weatherproof |
| Cast Stone (Mixture of rock) | -Extremely durable can last 100 years or more -More affordable than other stone options -Low maintenance |
| Slate (Metamorphic rock) | -Durable -Low maintenance -Weather resistant -Environmentally friendly -Doesn’t fade |
| Marble (Metamorphic rock) | -Strong -Durable -Requires maintenance -Vulnerable to staining |
| Granite (Igneous rock) | -Strong -Durable -Resistant to erosion -Perfect for extreme weather conditions |
What Affects the Cost of Stone Cladding?
Stone cladding is affected by several factors which we will talk about below.
Size and Shape of Your House
If your house is a standard shape, then cladding will be easier to apply.
It will be cheaper than a house with a bespoke design that includes corners and unique shapes.
New Guttering, Soffits and Fascias
New guttering, soffits and fascias will add to the cost of your new cladding.
If you have an average three-bedroomed house, you can expect to pay between £1,850 and £2,050 for the supply and installation of guttering, soffits and fascias.
The costs are an estimated £2,650 and £3,100 in an average-sized detached house.
Any Preparation Work Beforehand
Your walls will have to be clean from dust and dirt. Any holes should be filled, and any broken bricks replaced.
If your walls are in poor condition, you may have to have them repointed before you go ahead with the cladding. The part you can see between the bricks is called the pointing and if you have the pointing repaired that is ‘repointing.’
Builders use either lime or cement mortar. The mortar seals the bricks and then you have a watertight barrier.
Whether You Use Panels or Slips
Cladding panels are quicker to install than slips. The cost between the two isn’t much different, but you will probably pay more in labour costs for slips.
If you need your current wall repointing before cladding
Back in the 70s cladding was used to hide bad workmanship or crumbling and broken brickwork.
These days people want to maintain their homes, especially if you intend to live the rest of your life in the house you own now.
Therefore, if you have broken bricks and crumbling mortar your cladding specialist may advise you to have your walls repointed before the cladding is installed.
This will incur extra costs, but it does mean your home is in good condition. Repointing costs for an average three-bedroom house is likely to be between £2,700 and £4,800, or between £31 and £55 per square metre.
Scaffolding
Unless you live in a bungalow then you will need scaffolding to install the cladding up to your roof. You can hire scaffolding if it isn’t included in your quotation.
Expect to pay between £650 and £900 a week.
Hiring on a daily basis will cost between £50 and £130, depending on which part of the country you are living in. You’ll pay more if you live in London and prices will be lower in the north of England.
Cladding takes approximately two to five days depending on the size of the house and the design of the structure.
How Can I Save Money on Stone Cladding for My House?
If you are competent at DIY, then you could do your own cladding which will save on labour costs. You will need the following tools and materials:
- A diamond cutting saw or angle grinder with a diamond blade
- Gloves
- Eye protection
- A rubber mallet
- A paintbrush
- A mastic gun
- A spirit level
- A bucket
- Beading
- The cladding glue
- The cladding panels
If you need to hire an angle grinder, they are about £40 for a day or £50 for two days. If you live in London, you might pay more.
When you want to contact a cladding expert, you can use HouseholdQuotes. All you need to do is fill in the online form and we’ll contact cladding specialists to give you no-obligation quotes.
Click To Get QuotesIs Stone the Best Choice for Exterior Cladding?
Stone is an attractive material, and it will last longer than any other type of cladding. Have a look at the table below to see the advantages and disadvantages of each cladding type.
| Cladding Type | Advantages | Disadvantages |
|---|---|---|
| Brick | -Low maintenance -Durable -Long-lasting -Choice of colours -Porous -Fireproof | -Labour-intensive to install -More expensive than most other cladding materials |
| Stone | -Strong -Attractive -Natural material -Long-lasting | -Expensive -Can crack if not installed properly -Difficult to repair |
| uPVC | -Cheaper than other materials -Some colour choices including ‘wood’ look -Minimal maintenance -Easy to fit -DIY friendly | -Can discolour unless it’s treated -Another choice that’s not very environmentally friendly |
| Timber | -Attractive appearance -Softwood like spruce and pine cheaper than hardwoods like oak, chestnut, and cedar -Hardwoods don’t need staining | -Not cheap -Requires maintenance -Must be weatherproofed |
| Aluminium | -Lightweight -Easy to install -Resistant to corrosion -Lasts around 40 years | -Will dent easily if something hits the wall -Joints need to be sealed well to avoid water penetration |
Natural Cladding Stones
There are four different types of stone used for cladding and they are:
- Coursed stone – These are individual pieces that are cut into uniform sizes for height and length. They are fixed very tightly together and don’t often need mortar joints.
- Straight cut stone – These straight cut stones come in uniform heights and lengths. You can install them with or without mortar joints.
- Split-faced stone – Although they are cut at an equal height, they all have random lengths. They are also easy to install.
- Random Stone – As the name suggests, these pieces of stone are cut at ransom heights and lengths. When they are attached to the wall there’s no particular pattern or uniform shape.
They have to have mortar joints because of the random way they are laid.
What’s Involved in Stone Cladding?
When you want to fit your cladding or you have a cladding specialist to do it for you, these are the steps they may go through to install stone panels:
Firstly, check the surface of the wall is smooth and free of dust. If it isn’t then repairs will be carried out.
They will then fix timber battens across the length of the wall.
The stone slabs will then be cut.
The special cladding adhesive will be applied to the wall and the slab pressed into the adhesive. Any excess adhesive will be scraped off or wiped with a wet cloth.
A spirit level is used to check levels are correct. The rest of the cladding will be installed in the same way.
If you want to install individual stones instead of panels then a professional stone cladding installer will first make sure the wall is smooth and clean.
They will hand-cut or machine-cut the stone (this might already have been done by the manufacturer).
The next step is to mix the mortar needed to apply the stones to the wall.
The mortar will be spread onto each stone and pressed into the wall and any excess mortar removed.
When the stones have been fixed to the walls, mortar is applied in between each stone (the pointing). Excess mortar is removed by raking out
The wall is then swept to remove any excess mortar or dust.
How Do I Find and Hire a Professional Installer?
You can seek recommendations from family or friends. Ask work colleagues or keep an eye around your neighbourhood for anyone having cladding installed.
If you can’t find any personal recommendations, don’t worry. You can use HouseholdQuotes. Fill in the online form (it’s easy and will take less than a minute).
We’ll then find cladding installers to give you no-obligation quotes for cladding your house.
Click To Get QuotesEnsuring the Professional Is the Right Fit
Use the below questions to make sure the professional you’re hoping to hire is the right fit for you:
- Always ask about their experience, it’s useful to know if they have been in the business a long time or they are just starting out.
- Find out if they have a website. A website isn’t necessary. But if they have one you will usually find case studies, photographs, and testimonials from previous customers.
- f they don’t have a website, ask them if they have a portfolio of photographs and customer recommendations.
- Talk to them about any professional associations they belong to and if they have any accreditations.
- Ask to see proof of their public liability insurance. All tradesmen should have this insurance. If the installer had an accident or someone working for him his insurance would cover any claims. It also covers you if a visitor to your home is injured due to the work being carried out.
- Finally, you should always get a quotation in writing. Having the quote in black and white will reduce the risk of any discussions at a later stage if you feel something has been missed out.
When you are collecting more than one quote, make sure each quote has exactly the same things so that you can compare the costs easily.
Final Checklist
The checklist below will help you map out each step to having stone cladding installed:
- Inspect the condition of your walls
- Have them repaired or repointed if necessary
- Decide on your cladding type, colour, and design
- Use HouseholdQuotes and find a cladding installer
Click To Get QuotesFrequently Asked Questions
What Are the Benefits of Cladding?
That extra layer protects your home from the damage that can be caused by the weather.
Are There Other Ways to Stick the Stone to the Walls?
You apply adhesive only to certain places on the stone panel. This creates more gaps in the material for the rain and the wind to pass through.
Another method is mechanical bonding. This uses embedded metal anchors, but it is more labour intensive.
Another way is to fix aluminium panels to the walls first and then install cladding stone with runner clips.
Can I Paint Stone Cladding?
Mineral paint is breathable and recommended for stone cladding.
How Do I Maintain My Stone Cladding?
Don’t use a pressure hose or you could damage the material. A standard hose is recommended.
A cladding cleaning company will charge between £20 and £50 per hour.
Can Stone Cladding Be Removed?
A professional will know how to remove the cladding while causing the least amount of damage to the brickwork below.
Once it is removed, any damaged brickwork (and there will be some), will have to be replaced or repaired.
The cost for stone cladding removal is around £2,500 and then you will have skip hire and scaffolding costs to consider too. That could bring the costs up to around £3,100.
Can You Install Stone Cladding in the Winter?
The adhesive for the cladding though should be kept in a warm place the night before. It won’t be as effective if it is too cold.
How Long Does Stone Cladding Last?
- Timber will last between 40 to 60 years if it is well-maintained
- Natural stone will last a lifetime and beyond as long as it’s not damaged
- Stone veneer will last between 30 and 60 years
- uPVC doesn’t last as long as other cladding materials unless you pay a premium price. Standard uPVC will last around 20 years
- Aluminium can last up to 40 years
- Brick will last between 50 and 60 years although it will need to be maintained