If you are planning exterior cladding work on your home in Attleborough, here is exactly what the process involves from the first inspection to the final clean-up.
Exterior cladding is not a one-day job on most properties, and the quality of the finished result depends on what happens at each stage - not just the visible installation of panels. Thetford Roofers carries out cladding work on homes in Attleborough and nearby. This is a plain account of how a proper job unfolds, so you know what to expect and what questions to ask any installer you speak to.
Before any material is specified or any price is agreed, the wall needs looking at properly. That means more than a glance from the pavement. A thorough inspection checks the condition of the existing wall surface or cladding, the presence and condition of any existing breather membrane, whether the substrate is sound enough to take the new fixing system, and whether there are any areas of damp, rot or structural movement that need dealing with first.
If you already have cladding and it is being replaced, we need to understand why the existing system has failed. Was it the material, the installation, water ingress at a specific point, or general age? The answer affects what we specify for the replacement.
Windows, doors and any penetrations through the wall - pipes, cables, vents - all need to be looked at too. These are the points where water most often finds a route behind the cladding, and the detailing around them is as important as the panels themselves.
Once we understand the condition of the wall and what you want to achieve, we can put together a specification. This covers the cladding material and product, the batten or carrier system, the breather membrane (if required), fixings, trims, and how the base, top and sides of the clad area will be finished.
A proper specification matters because it sets out exactly what is being installed, not just a material category. There is a meaningful difference between a basic uPVC board and an engineered system with designed fixing centres and tested weatherproofing details. Getting this agreed before work starts means there are no surprises on site.
On the day work starts, the first task is access. Depending on the height and extent of the work, that means scaffolding, a tower or a ladder system. Scaffold is slower and more expensive to set up, but it is the right choice for anything above a single storey or any job that involves working at height for more than a short time.
If existing cladding is being removed, it comes off carefully - checking what is behind it as each section is stripped. This is the point where hidden problems, such as rotten battens, missing membrane or damp sheathing boards, become visible. Any findings should be discussed with you before work continues, because they may affect the scope and cost of the job.
Waste from strip-out needs to be disposed of correctly. uPVC and timber cladding are generally taken to a licensed waste facility.
A sound substrate is the foundation of a long-lasting cladding installation. Any areas of damp, rotten timber, crumbling render or failing masonry need to be repaired before the new system goes on. If you install cladding over a compromised wall and seal moisture in, the problem will continue behind the new panels and you will be back to the same situation in a few years.
Where a breather membrane is required, it is fixed to the wall at this stage. The membrane is a water-resistant but vapour-permeable sheet that lets any moisture vapour escape from the wall construction while preventing liquid water from getting through if any penetrates the outer cladding layer. It laps correctly at joints and is taped at penetrations.
The battens create a ventilated cavity between the wall and the back of the cladding. This cavity is important: it allows air movement and any moisture that gets past the panels to drain away rather than sitting against the wall. Battens are fixed into the masonry or timber frame at centres appropriate to the cladding product being used, using fixings long enough to anchor securely.
Treated timber battens are standard for most residential installations. Metal furring systems are used on some products, particularly heavier fibre cement boards. The choice is driven by the cladding specification.
Installation starts at the base of the wall, with a starter strip or first course set level. Every course above it is fixed at the correct centres with the correct fixing type for the material - stainless steel or hot-dipped galvanised fixings resist corrosion. Fixings that rust will stain the panel face and eventually fail.
Joints between panels are lapped or profiled to shed water outward. Vertical joints where panels meet at corners, around windows or at the edge of the clad area need specific trim sections or correctly formed returns to prevent water entry at these vulnerable points. Sealant is used where it is specified - not as a substitute for correct detailing.
Panels are cut to fit around windows, doors and any penetrations using appropriate tools for the material. Cut edges on fibre cement, for example, need to be sealed. uPVC panels need expansion gaps at horizontal joints to allow for thermal movement.
The finishing details are often where cheaper installs cut corners. The base of the cladding needs a stop bead or starter profile that prevents water from tracking back behind the bottom course while still allowing the cavity to drain. The top of the clad area needs a correctly formed flashing or trim to prevent water running down the wall above from getting behind the cladding at the top edge.
Around windows and doors, trims and sealant need to be applied carefully. These junctions are the points of highest risk and need to be watertight.
Once the installation is complete, the whole elevation should be walked and checked - fixings, joints, trims, sealant lines, any areas where water could find a route in. Any adjustments are made at this stage before scaffolding comes down.
The site should be left clean and clear. Off-cuts, packaging, fixing debris and any stripped-out material should all be removed. Scaffolding is struck once the work is signed off.
Before you agree to any cladding work, ask the installer to walk you through what they will do at each of the stages above. Ask specifically about how they will handle the base detail, what fixings they are using and why, and what they will do if they find problems behind the existing cladding. A clear, confident answer to those questions tells you a lot about the quality of the work you are going to get.
Call Thetford Roofers to arrange a survey on your property in Attleborough - we will assess the job properly before we give you a price.
No obligation · We usually respond within 2 hours
Storm damage, active leak, damaged ridge - we aim to be on-site within 24 hours.
