« Isolation de la toiture et des combles. Différence ressentie dès l'hiver suivant. Petit retard de planning, mais résultat à la hauteur. »
Thomas R.Mons
Facade insulation · Ventilated cladding
Cladding insulation: insulate from the outside and give your facade a brand-new look
A timber or metal frame fixed to the wall holds the insulation, then a ventilated air gap and a finishing skin. You eliminate thermal bridges, manage damp in older walls and completely redesign the facade — timber, fibre-cement, composite or metal, the choice is yours.
- R ≥ 4.5
- m²K/W to qualify for grants
- Dry installation
- fast, in any weather
- 0 thermal bridges
- continuous envelope
Ventilated air gapmoisture escapes freely
Facade transformedtimber, fibre-cement…
Technical specifications
What ventilated cladding really delivers
The hard facts of exterior insulation finished with cladding, installed by our teams. Useful numbers, not marketing.
- Thermal performance R ≥ 4.5 m²K/W
Continuous insulation (wood fibre, mineral wool, PIR) wipes out the thermal bridges across the facade. We aim for an R value above 4.5 m²K/W, the usual threshold for renovation grants in Belgium, and often higher depending on the thickness installed.
- Ventilated air gap 2–4 cm
The ventilated space between insulation and skin lets moisture and water vapour escape. That is what makes cladding ideal on older damp walls: the wall breathes and dries out, with no trapped condensation.
- Added thickness 16–24 cm
Frame + insulation + air gap + skin add an average of 16 to 24 cm to the facade. To anticipate around roof overhangs, sills and property boundaries — checked during the survey.
- Choice of skin 5 families
Timber, fibre-cement, composite, metal (zinc, aluminium), PVC or stone facing: cladding offers the widest aesthetic choice for redesigning a facade, fitted vertically, horizontally or open-jointed.
- Uneven walls Levelled out
The frame is adjusted to compensate for an old, out-of-true or damaged wall, where a render demands a sound substrate. Cladding dresses up even the most run-down facades.
- Dry installation Any weather
No drying time as with render: the mechanical fixing works in any weather, short of hard frost, and stays quick to carry out. The job does not depend on the forecast.
* Indicative values for a standard cladding-based exterior insulation system. Exact performance depends on the insulant, the thickness and the skin — confirmed during the survey.
Total transparency
The strengths & limits of cladding
No solution is perfect for every facade. Here, honestly, is where ventilated cladding shines and where you are better off looking elsewhere.
Where it shines
- Manages damp in older wallsThe ventilated air gap lets the wall dry out: ideal on old or damp masonry.
- Very wide aesthetic choiceTimber, fibre-cement, composite, metal: you radically change the look of the facade.
- Levels out uneven wallsThe adjustable frame dresses up out-of-true or damaged facades, with no patching.
- Fast dry installation, any weatherNo drying time: a mechanical job, barely affected by the weather.
What you should know
- Pricier than renderThe frame and skin cost more than render over bonded insulation.
- Significant added thicknessUp to ~24 cm: to anticipate around roof overhangs, sills and property boundaries.
- Planning permissionChanging the look of a facade often requires a permit or a planning declaration.
- Technical detailingWindow reveals and overhangs demand particular care, by an experienced installer.
For which project
Is ventilated cladding right for you?
It comes into its own whenever you want to insulate from the outside while managing damp or transforming the facade. A few cases where it stands out:
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Older or damp walls
The ventilated air gap lets an old wall breathe and draws moisture out. The go-to solution when bonded render would risk trapping water.
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Changing the look of the facade
Warm timber cladding, contemporary fibre-cement, design-led metal: you completely redesign the look of a dated home while insulating it.
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Out-of-true or damaged walls
When the facade is uneven or run-down, the adjustable frame levels out the defects with no heavy patching beforehand.
Sound, flat facade, or a tighter budget?
If your wall is sound and even, exterior insulation finished with render costs less and keeps the look of a rendered finish. And to compare every facade solution, see the facade insulation range.
Glissez la poignée pour comparer
Real case · detached house, Namur
A damp facade dried out and insulated with ventilated cladding
The house suffered from cold walls and damp coming through the brick. Rather than bonded render, we fitted a frame, 18 cm of wood fibre, a ventilated air gap and a fibre-cement skin. The facade now dries out, the thermal bridges are gone and the house has a whole new face.
- R 5.0with 18 cm of insulation
- −40%on heating through the walls
- Dry wallsmoisture drawn out by the air gap
Customer reviews
They chose wendows
4.5/5 · 2verified reviews
« Insufflation des murs creux, rapide et sans dégât. La prime régionale a couvert une bonne part. Maison nettement moins froide. »
David K.Huy
Compare the options
Cladding, render, or another solution?
Cladding wins on damp, uneven walls and looks. Compare it point by point with render-finished exterior insulation and the facade range, then open the solution that interests you.
| Critère | Cladding insulationVous êtes ici | Render insulationVoir la gamme → | Facade insulation (range)Voir la gamme → |
|---|---|---|---|
| Indicative fitted price | €€€ — higher | The gentlest | Varies by solution |
| Moisture management | Excellent (air gap) | Limited (bonded render) | Depends on technique chosen |
| Uneven walls | Levelled by the frame | Sound substrate required | Depends on technique chosen |
| Aesthetic choice | 5 families of skin | Render colours | Several finishes |
| Added thickness | 16–24 cm | 12–18 cm | Varies |
| Speed of installation | Dry, any weather | Render drying needed | Depends on technique chosen |
| Ideal for | Damp walls, facade to redo | Sound walls, set budget | Comparing every option |
Indicative benchmarks for standard ranges. The right choice depends on the state of your walls — we fine-tune it together during the survey.
- vs cladding
Facade insulation
An overview of exterior insulation solutions: cladding, render, performance and grants on one page.
Compare the solutions → - vs cladding
Render-finish insulation
Bonded then rendered insulation: cheaper and thinner, ideal on a sound, even wall you want to keep looking rendered.
Discover render → - alternative
Internal wall insulation
When working from the outside is impossible (listed facade, party walls), you insulate from the inside. Cheaper, but it reduces floor space.
See internal insulation → - alternative
Cavity wall injection
For a cavity wall, the insulation is blown into the cavity: fast, low-impact and without touching the facade.
See cavity injection → - to combine
Insulation materials
Wood fibre, mineral wool, PIR: compare the insulants used behind cladding by performance and eco-credentials.
Choose your insulant → - ↑ category
All insulation
An overview of our insulation solutions in Belgium: walls, facade, roof, floor, grants and materials.
Back to the insulation guide →
Indicative 2026 pricing
How much does facade insulation with cladding cost?
The price depends on the insulant, its thickness, the skin chosen and the state of the walls. Cladding sits above render but transforms the facade. Here are some benchmarks for fitted cladding-based exterior insulation.
See the facade insulation price guide →* Indicative ranges per m² of fitted facade, excluding scaffolding and special configurations. A firm figure is given with your free quote.
- Timber / composite cladding 150 to 230 €/m²frame, insulation and skin, fitted
- Fibre-cement cladding 140 to 200 €/m²contemporary skin, fitted
- Exterior insulation grant up to 35 €/m²depending on region and income
- Reduced VAT 6%on renovation (home over 10 years old)
Cladding insulation FAQ
Your questions about ventilated cladding
What is the ventilated air gap for? +
It is the 2 to 4 cm space left between the insulation and the skin. It lets air circulate and draws out the moisture and water vapour coming from the wall. The wall stays dry and traps no condensation — which is what makes cladding particularly suited to old or damp walls.
How does it differ from render-finished exterior insulation? +
Render bonds the insulation to a sound wall then renders it: thinner and cheaper. Cladding fixes a frame, holds the insulation, leaves a ventilated air gap and takes a separate finishing skin. Cladding handles damp better, levels out uneven walls and offers a far wider aesthetic choice.
Which finishing skins are possible? +
Five main families: timber (warm, needs upkeep), fibre-cement (contemporary, durable), composite, metal such as zinc or aluminium (design-led), PVC (economical) and even stone facing. Vertical, horizontal or open-jointed installation, depending on the style you are after.
Do I need permission to fit cladding? +
Often yes: changing the exterior look of a facade falls under planning rules and usually requires a permit or a declaration, especially in a protected zone or on a street-facing facade. We check your municipality’s rules and put the file together with you before the job.
Is cladding suitable for damp or damaged walls? +
It is its best use case, in fact. The ventilated air gap lets a damp wall dry out, and the adjustable frame levels out an out-of-true or damaged wall with no heavy patching. Where bonded render would demand a sound substrate, cladding dresses up the facade as it is.
What grants are available for facade insulation with cladding? +
Exterior insulation grants depend on the performance achieved, with a minimum R generally set at 4.5 m²K/W. Depending on your region and income, you combine a renovation grant per m² with 6% VAT for homes over ten years old. We calculate it and put the file together for you.
Get your free cladding insulation quote within 48h
Free on-site survey, exterior insulation grants calculated, a single point of contact. Describe your project in under a minute.
- Free and no obligation
- Exterior insulation grants & 6% VAT handled for you
- Fitted by our certified installers