Two cedar cladding quotes for the same elevation can look very different once you get past the headline price, because the board profile, fixing method and what's built behind the timber all move the cost independently of the cedar itself.
Here's what to check when comparing quotes.
Profile and board width
Narrower boards with more visible joints take longer to fix per square metre than wider boards, and certain profiles — shiplap, tongue-and-groove, board-on-board — each carry different material and labour costs.
Wider boards move more with seasonal changes in moisture, so the profile choice also has a durability dimension, not just a cosmetic one.
Fixing method: face fixed or secret fixed
Face fixing, where the fixing is visible on the board surface, is quicker and cheaper to install than secret fixing through a tongue-and-groove edge, which hides the fixings for a cleaner look but adds labour time.
Fixing material matters too — stainless steel fixings cost more than galvanised but avoid the tannin staining that cheaper fixings cause within a few years.
Batten and membrane build-up
The ventilated cavity behind the boards needs a breather membrane, treated battens and counter-battens set out correctly for drainage and airflow — skimping on this build-up is invisible once the cladding is up but decides how the wall performs for the next twenty years.
Detailing at openings, corners and the top and bottom of the cavity where it needs to breathe adds labour that a simple square-metre rate for the boards doesn't capture.
Access and scaffold
Height and complexity of the elevation determine scaffold need, and on a two-storey extension this can be a significant part of the overall cost, just as it would be for any other exterior wall finish.
Reading a quote and spotting shortcuts
A proper quote for cedar cladding should specify board profile and width, fixing type and material, and the full cavity build-up as separate items, not lump the whole wall into one rate.
A cheaper competing quote has usually substituted galvanised fixings for stainless — invisible on day one, but responsible for the tannin staining that shows up within a couple of years — or reduced the cavity ventilation detailing to save labour time.
Common questions
Is secret fixing worth the extra cost?+
It gives a cleaner finish with no visible fixings, which matters more on some elevations than others. It's a legitimate reason for a quote to cost more, as long as it's stated clearly rather than assumed.
Why does fixing material matter so much to the price?+
Stainless fixings cost more than galvanised but avoid tannin staining running down the boards. A quote that's gone with galvanised to save money is setting up a cosmetic problem within a few years.
Can I reduce cost by using narrower or cheaper boards?+
You can, but narrower boards and cheaper profiles take longer per square metre to fix, so the labour saving is smaller than it looks — the material saving isn't always a net saving.
Get an itemised cedar cladding quote
Profile, fixing type and cavity build-up all specified in writing, so you can compare properly.