Nicola Sharkey, UK insights and research lead at Gleeds, advises on product costs for envelope and cladding materials
There are key considerations when selecting cladding to ensure compliance, safety, sustainability and aesthetics. With increasingly stringent regulations, particularly around fire safety, choices must align with legislation and best practice.
Building height is a critical factor: since 2018, combustible materials have been banned on the external walls of buildings over 18m, with a near-complete ban on facades of buildings above 11m from 2022. Restrictions apply to buildings that contain flats, hospitals, residential care premises, boarding school dormitories, student accommodation, hotels, hostels and boarding houses. Cladding must meet fire safety classifications, European Class A1 or A2-s1, d0.
The government has set a deadline of 2029 for the remediation of unsafe cladding, with legal consequences for non-compliance including fines or criminal sanctions. Buildings above 11m must be remediated or have an approved remediation plan with a confirmed timeline in place by this date, while all higher-risk buildings (18m and above) in government-funded schemes must be fully remediated within the set timescales.
Sustainability is also a critical factor. Cladding systems can lower energy consumption and reduce carbon footprints through better thermal insulation, reducing heating and cooling demand. Materials of high recycled content can reduce waste, while natural materials such as FSC-certified wood support responsible resource use. Some materials, for example metal, can be recycled at the end of their life cycle, supporting the circular economy.
The rates below cover the supply and installation of cladding. These rates are based on the UK average for Q1 2025, and represent typical pricing, although actual costs may vary depending on specific requirements.
- Standard panels £340-410/m²
- Reconstructed stone-faced panels £400-500/m²
- Brick-clad panels (prime cost £350/1,000 for bricks) £390-480/m²
- Natural stone-faced panels (Portland stone or similar) £750-1,100/m²
- Marble or granite faced panels £950-1,500/m²
- Concrete plain tiles, including battens and underlay £55-80/m²
- Clay plain tiles, machine-made, including battens and underlay £55-75/m²
- Fibre cement artificial slates, including battens and underlay £55-80/m²
- Natural slates, including battens and underlay £140-200/m²
- 25mm thick to walls £60-80/m²
- To walls £80-100/m²
- 26mm thick wall cladding, boards laid horizontally £140-160/m²
- 8mm thick panels £325-425/m²
- 400 x 200 x 30mm tile cladding, to walls £450-650/m²
- Flat system £450-525/m²
- High performance coating in lieu of low-e coating (to assist in solar control) £65-75/m²
- Inner laminated glass to be heat-strengthened laminated (to mitigate thermal fracture risk) £65-75/m²
- Outer glass to be heat-strengthened laminated in lieu of monolithic heat-strengthened £65-75/m²
- Ceramic fritting glass on surface £75-85/m²
- Flush glass finish without external face caps £75-85/m²
- Typical coping detail £400-450/m
- Typical sill detail £325-375/m
- Intermediate transom (per transom) £75-100/m
- Flat system £1,400-1,600/m²
- High performance coating in lieu of low-e coating (to assist in solar control) £65-75/m²
- Inner laminated glass to be heat strengthened laminated (to mitigate thermal fracture risk) £65-75/m²
- Flush glass finish without external face caps (often referred to as structural silicone glazing (SSG)) £90-100/m²
- Typical coping detail £400-450/m
- Typical sill detail £325-375/m