Start a solo house cladding installation business
Fit and repair timber, PVC or fibre cement cladding on homes, working alone or with a labourer.
- £2k-9k
- Part-time
- Out and about
Estimates for a small start in the UK, not guarantees.
What it is
Installing and repairing exterior cladding on houses, extensions, garages and outbuildings. You work on low-rise domestic jobs, usually with a mate or hired labourer for bigger walls.
Your first three steps
- Get a few jobs lined up, or ask local builders if they need a cladding subcontractor
- Price up your tools, tower or scaffold hire and insurance, then set a day rate and a per-job pricing method
- Photograph finished jobs and post them on a simple website, Google Business Profile and local Facebook groups
Who pays
Homeowners, landlords, small builders and extension firms who need a cladding specialist.
How it makes money
Fixed quote per job based on materials, labour and access costs. Some work is labour-only for builders, charged per day or per square metre.
Skills that help
- Carpentry or general building skills
- Accurate measuring and cutting
- Quoting and costing jobs
- Comfortable working at height
Watch out for
- Public liability insurance, and check whether your cover includes work at height
- Work at height rules: use a competent scaffolder or properly used access towers, and check HSE guidance
- Building Regulations and fire performance of cladding materials, check with building control, especially near boundaries
- Planning rules in conservation areas or listed buildings, check with the council
- Possible asbestos in older buildings, stop and get advice before disturbing suspect material
- If you subcontract to builders, check how the Construction Industry Scheme applies to you
🔒 Full research report for UK
Real cost breakdown with current prices, licences and registration checklist, local competition, pricing, break-even and a 30-day launch plan, with sources.
Coming soonQuestions people ask
How much does it cost to start a cladding business?
Estimates suggest startup costs typically around £2,000 to £9,000, depending on your tools, access equipment, vehicle and insurance. Check whether your public liability cover includes work at height before you quote.
What rules should I check before fitting cladding?
Check Building Regulations and fire performance of materials with building control, planning rules for conservation areas or listed buildings, work at height guidance from the HSE, and asbestos in older buildings. If you subcontract to builders, check how the Construction Industry Scheme applies.
How much can a cladding installer earn?
Estimates suggest monthly revenue typically around £2,000 to £9,000, depending on how many jobs you take, their size and whether you work alone or with a labourer. This is revenue before materials, tools and other costs.
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