HOW TO HIRE · TRADES & CONSTRUCTION · CHECKED OCTOBER 2026
How to hire a cladding installer in Ireland
The checks, the questions and the paperwork.
A cladding in Ireland costs €60–€250 per m², typically around €120. Here is how to check that in a minute, what to ask before you book, and what you must be handed when the job is done.
- Search and compare — no account needed
- Nearest to you first
- One score from Google, Trustpilot and Locufy reviews
THE 60-SECOND VERSION
Hiring a cladding installer in five steps
- Are you on the Construction Industry Register Ireland, and what is your number?A number you can look up yourself before you agree a price — insulation and Weatherproofing — cladding often serves as a weatherproof barrier and can be installed with insulation materials to improve energy efficiency.
- Will I get a Certificate of Compliance on Completion, and when?On the day the work is finished and tested, not posted on later — maintenance and Repair — regular maintenance of cladding includes cleaning and inspecting for damage or wear.
- How does size of the area to be covered change the price?The bigger it is, the more materials go into it. — ask before the quote rather than after.
- How does complexity of the installation change the price?An unusual brief takes longer to understand before it can be quoted. — ask before the quote rather than after.
- How does condition of the underlying structure change the price?Wear and tear adds repairs the job did not originally include. — ask before the quote rather than after.
BEFORE YOU BOOK
Check before you book
Construction Industry Register Ireland (CIRI)
CIRI is a VOLUNTARY register today. The Regulation of Providers of Building Works and Miscellaneous Provisions Act 2022 was signed on 5 July 2022 and S.I. 429/2022 commenced parts of it on 29 August 2022; the Construction Industry Federation was appointed registration body on 16 January 2023. Registration is NOT yet mandatory: the divisions regulations had not been drafted as of a May 2025 Dáil answer, and CIRI itself projects mandatory registration from 2027. So being absent from CIRI breaks no law in 2026 — and being on it is still the only independent check of a builder that exists here.
Search the Construction Industry Register Ireland for the name or the registration number before you agree a price. ciri.ie →
a Certificate of Compliance on Completion
Issued by the assigned certifier and the builder, where the work needed a commencement notice on completion, before the building is occupied. It matters because it is lodged on the statutory register and is what a buyer's solicitor looks for; work done without one surfaces on sale.
Agree before the work starts that you will be handed a certificate of compliance on completion, and keep it with the house papers.
Insurance
Expect public liability and, for anything structural, professional indemnity from whoever designed it. From a company, ask for the insurer, the limit and the VAT number, and ask who actually attends: the team that turns up may be employed, subcontracted or both, and only one of those is supervised by the firm you are paying.
Ask to see the current certificate of insurance — the insurer's name, the limit and the date it runs to.
Trader or private seller
Under the Consumer Rights Act 2022 a trader must tell you they are a trader, and your consumer rights — work carried out with reasonable skill and care, and a cooling-off period on a contract agreed in your home or online — apply to traders and not to private sellers. On Locufy the trader status is shown on the profile.
Look for the trader badge on the Locufy profile, and ask anyone else for it in writing before you agree a price.
VAT
VAT at 13.5%, the reduced rate Revenue publishes for this service. Ask whether the price you were given includes it. A trader under the €42,500 registration threshold does not charge it; one over it must, and must show it separately.
Ask whether the figure you were given includes it, and for the VAT number if they are registered — Revenue publishes the rate for this service. revenue.ie →
A good answer: A number you can look up yourself before you agree a price — insulation and Weatherproofing — cladding often serves as a weatherproof barrier and can be installed with insulation materials to improve energy efficiency.
A good answer: On the day the work is finished and tested, not posted on later — maintenance and Repair — regular maintenance of cladding includes cleaning and inspecting for damage or wear.
A good answer: The bigger it is, the more materials go into it. — ask before the quote rather than after.
A good answer: An unusual brief takes longer to understand before it can be quoted. — ask before the quote rather than after.
A good answer: Wear and tear adds repairs the job did not originally include. — ask before the quote rather than after.
A good answer: Installation Services — cladding installation typically involves measuring, cutting, and securing the chosen materials to the building's exterior — get the exclusions named in the quote, because a cladding installer job is priced on what was agreed and not on what was assumed.
A good answer: Expect public liability and, for anything structural, professional indemnity from whoever designed it — types of Cladding Materials — cladding can be made from various materials including wood, vinyl, metal, and composite panels.
Getting the quote right
- Size of the area to be covered — the bigger it is, the more materials go into it.
- Complexity of the installation — an unusual brief takes longer to understand before it can be quoted.
- Condition of the underlying structure — wear and tear adds repairs the job did not originally include.
- Choice of materials — the parts and products used are added to the bill.
- In writing before anyone starts — a message on Locufy counts
- What is NOT included, named
- Who actually attends, and whether they are employed or subcontracted
- The VAT number, and whether it checks out on the Revenue register
Walk away if
- They are not on the Construction Industry Register Ireland, or the number does not resolve to the name on the quote
- No a Certificate of Compliance on Completion is offered, or you are told you do not need one for work of this kind
- They will not talk about it: size of the area to be covered — the bigger it is, the more materials go into it
- They will not talk about it: complexity of the installation — an unusual brief takes longer to understand before it can be quoted
- They will not talk about it: condition of the underlying structure — wear and tear adds repairs the job did not originally include
- A price for the cladding installer before anyone has asked the size, the access or the condition of what they are working on
What a cladding installer costs: €60–€250 per m²
The figures are for the job, per m², and a quote for your own is the only number that binds anyone. Timber cladding and Vinyl cladding each carry their own band. Cladding price guide →
Guide prices compiled by the Locufy team from published Irish and UK provider price lists and 2026/27 cost guides. Updated 2026.
KNOW WHAT TO LOOK FOR? NOW FIND ONE
Cladding installers near you, with the badges that matter shown
ID checked, trader status and one score from every review — on the card, before you message anyone. Nearest first. No account needed to look.
Or post the job free and let them come to you.
- Look firstSize of the area to be covered — the bigger it is, the more materials go into it — that is what the cladding installer is judging on the first visit, and a price given without it is a guess.
- Agree what is being doneComplexity of the installation — an unusual brief takes longer to understand before it can be quoted — put in writing before anyone starts, because it is the document you both read back at the end.
- The work itselfCondition of the underlying structure — wear and tear adds repairs the job did not originally include — and anything found on the day that was not in that is priced before it is started.
- Check it togetherChoice of materials — the parts and products used are added to the bill — walked against the written scope rather than against the feeling of it, while the cladding installer is still there.
- What you are handedA Certificate of Compliance on Completion, the invoice and any guarantee on the workmanship and the parts, access difficulties — the more the brief departs from the usual, the more it costs.
- Types of Cladding Materials
- Cladding can be made from various materials including wood, vinyl, metal, and composite panels.
- Installation Services
- Cladding installation typically involves measuring, cutting, and securing the chosen materials to the building's exterior.
- Maintenance and Repair
- Regular maintenance of cladding includes cleaning and inspecting for damage or wear.
- Insulation and Weatherproofing
- Cladding often serves as a weatherproof barrier and can be installed with insulation materials to improve energy efficiency.
- Timber Cladding
- Involves the installation of wooden panels to create a natural aesthetic and improve insulation.
- Vinyl Cladding
- Utilises synthetic materials that are durable and low-maintenance, ideal for a variety of home styles.
AFTER
When the job is done
Hiring a cladding installer: questions people ask
The cost of cladding can be influenced by material choice, the size of the area to be covered, and the complexity of the installation. Additional factors include the location of the property and any necessary preparatory work.
Installation time for cladding can vary widely depending on the project's size and complexity. Generally, small jobs may take a few days, while larger or more intricate installations can take several weeks.
While general contractors can install cladding, hiring a specialist with experience in cladding systems is advisable for optimal results. This is particularly important for complex installations or when working with specific materials that require expertise.
Emergency cladding services may be available, particularly for urgent repairs after storm damage or similar incidents. However, availability can vary by provider, and it's best to contact local services directly for urgent requests.
Yes, many contractors offer bundled services, such as cladding installation along with insulation or exterior painting. This can often lead to cost savings and streamline the project timeline.
Out of scope work may include extensive structural repairs, electrical or plumbing modifications, or any work that requires permits not related to the cladding itself. Always clarify the scope of work with your contractor before starting the project.
MORE GUIDES
More hiring guides in trades & construction
Cladding installers near you
Sources — checked October 2026
- Regulation of Providers of Building Works and Miscellaneous Provisions Act 2022
- S.I. 429/2022 — Commencement Order
- Construction Industry Register Ireland
- Department of Housing — Building Control
- Consumer Rights Act 2022
- Revenue — BUILDING and CONSTRUCTION SERVICES (Private dwellings and Non-residential immovable goods) — Reduced rate
- Revenue — current VAT rates (effective 1 January 2026)
- Revenue — VAT thresholds: €42,500 for a person supplying services only