Facade insulation and plastering: how to order at a good price
Where to start: what do you want to do with the facade
Facade work is not one service but several different ones. Insulation with polystyrene or mineral wool, decorative plaster, cladding with panels or stone, painting. Often it is a package: first the insulation, then mesh reinforcement, primer and a finishing coat.
The choice affects both the price and the life of the work. Polystyrene is cheaper and lighter. Mineral wool lets vapour through better and does not support burning, so it is often chosen for timber and framed walls or where fire safety matters. The final choice depends on the walls, the budget and the design, so ask the providers directly what they recommend for your building.
How it works on BlaBlaPrice
Instead of hunting for crews in ads and calling each one out to measure, you write one request in your own words and add one photo of the building. The request is checked, and you are told which details the tradesmen still need.
Then facade crews in your region reply in chat: the price per sq ft or what it depends on, materials, timelines. They all compete for your request, so terms often improve. The best offer by content is shown first, with reviews next to each. Your phone stays hidden until you decide to share your contacts with the crew you choose.
What to put in your request
- What to do — insulation, plaster, cladding, painting or a package.
- Area — in sq ft of wall without windows and doors, or the approximate dimensions of the building.
- Insulation — polystyrene or mineral wool, the thickness and density needed.
- Finish — textured plaster, silicone or mineral plaster, cladding, exterior paint.
- Floors — how many, whether scaffolding or rope access is needed.
- Site — private house, a flat's wall, a commercial building; what the walls are made of.
- Materials — yours or the contractor's.
- Address, timing, budget — city or village, when to start, the amount if you want to state it.
Example: “Durban, a two-storey house of AAC blocks, about 2,000 sq ft of walls. I need 10 cm polystyrene insulation and textured silicone plaster. Scaffolding is needed, materials by the contractor. To be finished before the rainy season.”
How to compare offers
A price per sq ft with no breakdown tells you nothing. Find out whether it includes scaffolding, adhesive, fixing anchors, reinforcing mesh, primer, the finishing coat and removal of debris. One crew counts only the labour, another the labour and materials together, so the sums can't be compared directly.
Ask about the make and density of the insulation, how it is fixed and the number of layers. Ask for photos of jobs the crew has already done, and for a warranty on the work.
What affects the price and what to avoid
- Height and complexity: windows, reveals, plinth, bay windows, the need for tall scaffolding.
- Wall material and the state of the base: it often needs levelling before insulation.
- Season: wet facade work depends on the weather, so before and after the rainy season crews are busy, and it is best to book the season in advance.
A typical mistake is saving on the plinth and the reveals, where cold or heat bridges appear. Another is agreeing verbally with no quantities and materials. If the facade is only part of a larger project, look at turnkey renovation or window, door and balcony installation. More about the service is on the page How it works.
