Cladding invoice template UK (2026): timber, rainscreen, CIS and VAT

A cladding invoice has to show what was measured, fixed, ventilated, flashed and finished - not a vague "cladding as agreed" or "external cladding works" line. "Clad elevation" does not tell a householder whether they received timber weatherboard, fibre-cement boards, composite panels, a rainscreen system with battens and breather membrane, flashings, or a mixed package that also includes insulation or render. It does not tell a main contractor's QS which elevation, purchase order or cladding package to release. It does not tell a CIS contractor how much is labour and how much is the direct cost of boards, battens, membranes, fixings and flashings you paid for.

This page is the timber / fibre-cement / composite / rainscreen / decorative cladding money page for UK cladding installers, carpenters who fix weatherboard, facade subcontractors, and builders who need readable cladding lines. It deliberately differs from sister guides you should open when the defined product is different:

• Render invoice template UK - render and EWI packages, not board or rainscreen cladding

• Builder invoice template UK - whole-build packages that may include cladding as a line, not a substitute for this guide

• Carpenter invoice template UK - joinery and carpentry generally; use this page when cladding elevations are the product

• Loft conversion invoice template UK - loft packages; use this page when external cladding on dormers or gables needs its own bills

• Extension invoice template UK - new extension packages; use this page when cladding stages need separate invoices

• Demolition invoice template UK - soft strip and take-down, not installing cladding

• Insulation invoice template UK - insulation packages; contrast carefully if your job mixes boards with insulation

• Cavity wall invoice template UK - cavity-wall insulation contrast, not external cladding boards

Who pays matters. Billing a private householder for cladding on their own dwelling: normal invoice, no CIS. The householder is not a CIS contractor - see CISR12030 and the public CIS overview. Billing a main contractor, developer or housing contractor for installing cladding as construction, alteration or finishing of a building: typically within CIS under HMRC's CISR14100 framing of FA04/S74(2)(a) - construction, alteration, repair or extension of buildings or structures is within CIS when a contractor pays a subcontractor. Soften absolute claims: InvoiceAdept does not decide CIS status; contract facts matter; ask your accountant on borderline jobs. Preparatory, integral and finishing operations can also sit under CISR14240 where cladding finishes a wider construction package. Mixed contracts need CISR14020 / CISR14030. Materials at direct cost: CISR15060 / CISR15090. Manufacture and delivery of boards alone is generally outside (CISR14220).

VAT needs careful wording. Ordinary decorative cladding on an existing dwelling for a householder is usually standard-rated at 20% if you are VAT-registered. Soften VAT Notice 708 and Notice 708/6 claims; do not invent 0% for ordinary decorative cladding boards. Qualifying insulation installations can sit under energy-saving materials rules in some cases - that is not the same as inventing zero-rate for weatherboard or composite cladding. Use the render and insulation sisters when EWI or insulation is the defined product. Never reverse-charge a householder. Domestic reverse charge, when it applies, is a contractor-to-contractor VAT-registered construction supply-chain issue - see our domestic reverse charge invoice guide.

This guide gives copy-paste fields, labour/materials splits for timber, fibre-cement, composite and rainscreen packages, deposits and stage payments, CIS and VAT scenarios, fire-safety / asbestos contrasts when removing old cladding (the invoice is not those certificates), late-payment pointers (Bank Rate + 8% where statutory interest applies between businesses), and a long FAQ. Figures are illustrative only, not UK market rates or a price list. InvoiceAdept does not decide CIS or VAT status and does not file CIS300, VAT returns, Making Tax Digital updates or Self Assessment to HMRC. It does not issue Building Control certificates, fire-safety certificates, asbestos licences or planning consents.

Related templates: render, builder, carpenter, loft conversion, extension, demolition, insulation, cavity wall, how to invoice a client, deposit invoice, domestic reverse charge, CIS explained, late payment rights, pricing.

Rules and links were checked for this guide on 11 September 2026. General information only, not tax, legal, Building Regulations, fire-safety, asbestos or planning advice. InvoiceAdept is from Tech Me Today Ltd, Companies House 15917255, ICO ZB944663.

In short

Start by identifying who pays you, whether the job is householder decorative cladding or contractor rainscreen / facade package, whether old cladding removal needs specialist asbestos or fire-safety input (not on your invoice as if you hold those certificates), and whether boards, battens and membranes must be ordered before fixing starts.

Private householder, own dwelling cladding: no CIS. The householder is not a CIS contractor (CISR12030 / public CIS guide). If VAT-registered, ordinary decorative cladding on an existing dwelling is usually 20% standard-rated. Do not invent zero-rate for ordinary decorative cladding. Show survey/measure refs (invoice is not the design certificate), substrate prep, battens/membrane, board type and elevation area in square metres (m2), flashings, sealants and snag. Never reverse-charge a householder.

Cladding / rainscreen package for a CIS contractor: typically within CIS when a contractor pays you for construction, alteration or finishing of buildings or structures (CISR14100; FA04/S74(2)(a)). Soften: finishing operations that render complete a wider construction package can also sit under CISR14240. Distinguish rainscreen / structural facade packages from purely decorative finishing where the facts differ - describe the system honestly. Mixed contracts need CISR14020 / CISR14030. Split labour from materials at direct cost (CISR15060 / CISR15090). Free-issue boards from the main contractor are not your materials line.

Supply-only boards / panels with no installation labour on the same contract: generally outside CIS when it is manufacture/delivery alone (CISR14220 framing). A mixed contract that supplies boards and includes fixing labour under one agreement needs mixed-contract analysis. Soften and check facts.

VAT: ordinary decorative cladding on an existing dwelling for a householder is usually standard-rated 20% if registered. Soften Notice 708 and Notice 708/6; do not invent 0% for ordinary decorative cladding. Qualifying insulation / EWI cases belong on sister pages - do not blur them into weatherboard invoices. Never reverse-charge a householder. Domestic reverse charge only when eligible contractor-to-contractor rules apply on standard-rated construction supplies.

Take a deposit before ordering boards, battens or membranes if your terms require one. Stage measure, prep, fix, flashings/snag. Keep variations separate. Use the invoice generator for a first invoice. InvoiceAdept Free is £0 for five invoices per month. Pro is £7.99 excl VAT and includes WhatsApp send. Pro+ is £12.99 excl VAT and includes CIS. Stripe's own fees apply (UK cards typically 1.5%+20p), but InvoiceAdept adds no platform fee. See pricing.

Who this cladding invoice template is for

This template is for UK cladding installers, timber weatherboard and fascia specialists, fibre-cement and composite cladding crews, rainscreen and facade subcontractors, carpenters who fix external cladding as a defined package, and main-contractor elevation packages. It covers the paperwork pattern, not a price list and not a Building Control, fire-safety, asbestos or planning certificate.

If your day job is mainly render or EWI, use the render guide and come back here for board / rainscreen bills. If insulation is the defined product, use insulation or cavity wall. If general carpentry dominates, use carpenter.

How this differs from render, builder, carpenter and insulation guides

Three cladding jobs, three invoices

Most "cladding invoice template UK" pages treat every customer as a name and a total. On site they are not.

A contractor working for a homeowner is still a contractor when you bill them. No reverse charge on a private customer. See HMRC's reverse charge supplier page. Homeowners only: skip CIS and reverse charge, still read elevation descriptions, the tax point, and what must appear on the invoice.

Product types: timber, fibre-cement, composite, rainscreen, decorative

Domestic versus commercial on the description

What cladding work belongs on the invoice

Weak versus usable descriptions

What a UK cladding invoice must include

Checklist you can tick in the van

• Unique invoice number and date

• Customer legal name and site address

• Elevation / plot / PO on every stage

• System type named (timber / fibre-cement / composite / rainscreen)

• Approx m2 or board count called out

• Flashings / trims called out if charged

• Old cladding removal referenced honestly if in scope

• Labour and materials split when CIS may apply

• Deposit credits shown on later stages

• VAT only if registered - usually 20% for ordinary decorative cladding

• No CIS decoration on householder bills

• Bank details and payment terms

• No claim that the invoice is a Building Control, fire-safety or asbestos certificate

Copy-paste cladding invoice fields

Use this block as a starting layout. Delete lines that do not apply. Soften CIS lines when the job is truly householder-paid.

Invoice number: INV-CLAD-2026-____
Invoice date:
Supply / tax point date (if different):
From: [Your name / company], address, phone, email
VAT number (if registered):
UTR (only if this invoice is under CIS):
To: [Customer legal name], address
Site address (if different):
PO / plot / elevation ref:

Description:
- Survey / measure ref: ...
- Substrate prep: ...
- Battens / membrane: centres, membrane type
- Board / panel system: timber / fibre-cement / composite / rainscreen
- Elevation and approx m2: ...
- Flashings / trims: ...
- Old cladding removal (if any): ...
- Variations: V01 ...
- Less deposit invoice INV-... allocated: ...

Payment terms: __ days
Bank: sort code / account / name on account
CIS (only if applicable): labour subject to deduction; expected rate 0 / 20 / 30
Reverse charge wording: only if domestic reverse charge truly applies

Householder tip: omit UTR, CIS deduction lines and reverse charge wording entirely.

Sole trader versus limited company

CIS and VAT are separate systems. Being under CIS does not remove a VAT registration duty once you cross the threshold. Passing through board and membrane purchases increases taxable turnover - monitor the rolling 12 months when commercial packages stack up. Current UK VAT registration threshold used in this guide: £90,000. Do not use the outdated £85,000 figure as if it were current. Confirm on GOV.UK before registration decisions. Deemed CIS contractor rules use more than £3 million of relevant construction spend - never present £1 million as the current deemed threshold.

Labour versus materials: boards, battens, membranes and flashings

CIS deductions (when CIS applies) are calculated on the payment after removing the subcontractor's direct cost of materials for that contract (CISR15060; CISR15090; CIS 340). Mark-up is not materials. Free-issue from the main contractor is not your direct cost.

Keep delivery notes and merchant invoices. On contractor jobs, free-issue panels are the classic bounce: if you list the contractor's rainscreen panels as your materials, accounts will query the CIS base and the goods-received notes will not match.

CIS deep dive: CISR14100 cladding as construction / alteration

This section restates CISR14100 in plain English for cladding installers. Soften every absolute claim: InvoiceAdept does not decide your status; ask your accountant; facts of the contract matter.

FA04/S74(2)(a): construction and alteration within CIS

Under the FA04/S74(2)(a) framing used in HMRC's CIS manuals, construction operations include the construction, alteration, repair or extension of buildings or structures. Installing cladding affixed to the fabric of a building typically falls within that framing when a contractor pays a subcontractor. Soften: status still depends on who the contractor is and what the contract covers.

Finishing and preparatory operations (CISR14240)

Operations that form an integral part of, or are preparatory to, or are for rendering complete, construction operations can sit within CIS under CISR14240. Soften: rainscreen and facade packages that finish a wider build often sit here; describe battens, membrane and panels honestly so accounts can map the work. Purely decorative finishing still needs a clear description - do not invent structural rainscreen language for a feature board bay if that is not what you fixed.

Rainscreen / structural cladding versus decorative finishing

What is typically within CIS (contractor-paid)

What is typically outside or needs care

Mixed contracts (CISR14020 / CISR14030)

If one agreement covers cladding labour and supply-only elements, or cladding plus other construction operations, mixed-contract rules in CISR14020 and CISR14030 can pull the package into CIS analysis as a whole. Do not invent a paperwork split your contract does not support. Where you can keep pure supply-only on its own paperwork, do so.

CIS rates when they apply (0 / 20 / 30)

Register and get verified if you regularly do CIS construction work. Householder-only cladding crews who never enter CIS construction ops still benefit from clear invoices - but should not invent CIS decoration.

CIS in / out summary table

VAT: ordinary decorative cladding, Notice 708/6 caution, reverse charge

VAT Notice 708 covers buildings and construction. Notice 708/6 covers energy-saving materials. Soften: most ordinary decorative cladding on existing dwellings remains standard-rated when you are registered. Do not invent zero rates for ordinary decorative cladding boards. Qualifying insulation installations can be different - see insulation and render sisters for EWI / insulation narratives. Confirm live GOV.UK notices and take advice - this page does not certify those reliefs.

Tax point and deposits: when you take a deposit, the tax point for that payment can arise on receipt if you are VAT-registered - issue a VAT invoice for the deposit when required. Allocate deposits clearly on later stage invoices. See deposit invoice template UK and Notice 700/21 invoice particulars.

VAT registration threshold in this guide: £90,000. Older articles mentioning £85,000 are outdated for current threshold wording. Soften: always confirm on GOV.UK. Deregistration threshold mentions of £88,000 appear only as a corrective warning that thresholds change - confirm live figures; do not treat this page as a registration calculator.

VAT rate table (illustrative framing)

Deposits and staged payments for cladding packages

Cladding jobs are materials-heavy before the last elevation is sealed. Align invoices with how you actually order boards and membranes.

Typical stage labels that match how cladding crews actually work: measure, prep / battens, fix boards / panels, flashings / snag.

Asbestos, fire safety and Building Control - the invoice is not those documents

Removing old cladding can raise asbestos and fire-safety issues. Soften: InvoiceAdept does not issue licences or certificates. Use specialists where required.

When removing old cladding that may contain asbestos, stop and use a specialist rather than inventing a licence number on your cladding invoice. Fire-safety remediation projects often need separate competent-person paperwork - your payment PDF is not that paperwork.

Variations, snagging and retention

Do not treat the invoice as a certificate of making good defects. Do not bury retention maths in an email without an invoice number.

Worked examples A-D

Figures below are illustrative only for layout teaching - not quotes, not market rates.

Example A - householder timber cladding, you are not VAT-registered (no CIS, no reverse charge)

Supply and fix timber weatherboard to rear elevation approx 36 m2; battens; stain finish; householder pays you directly.

No CIS. No VAT. No reverse charge. Do not invent zero-rate VAT language on a non-registered invoice.

Example B - householder, you are VAT-registered, ordinary decorative cladding (usually 20%)

Same job, VAT-registered cladding contractor.

Do not invent zero-rate VAT for this ordinary decorative cladding. Soften Notice 708 / 708/6 claims; InvoiceAdept does not decide VAT rates. Contrast: if the defined product were qualifying insulation or EWI, use sister pages - do not blur those reliefs into weatherboard lines.

Example C - contractor rainscreen package (CIS verified 20%)

Ventilated rainscreen under a main contractor PO; verified CIS 20%.

Show elevation / plot / PO on the description. Soften: InvoiceAdept does not decide CIS status. Materials at direct cost per CISR15060 / CISR15090.

Example D - supply-only boards contrast; or householder stages with deposit

D1 - supply-only boards (no fixing labour), illustrative: Supply composite cladding boards to site store; no fix labour. Generally outside CIS (CISR14220 framing). Usually standard-rated VAT if you are registered. If a later variation adds fixing labour under the same contract, revisit mixed-contract rules (CISR14020 / CISR14030).

D2 - householder fibre-cement with deposit stages, illustrative: Deposit to order boards and flashings; stage 1 prep and battens; stage 2 fix and snag with deposit allocated. No CIS. Usually 20% VAT if registered. Never reverse-charge the householder.

Short stage sketch: measure / prep / fix / snag

Householder versus contractor - CIS and VAT side by side

Free vs Pro vs Pro+ for cladding installers

Stripe's own card fees apply; InvoiceAdept does not add a platform fee on top. Start at the invoice generator or see pricing.

What the invoice is not

Late payment: contractor debts are not consumer debts

Between businesses, the Late Payment of Commercial Debts regime can allow statutory interest at Bank of England Base Rate + 8% plus a fixed sum, when the rules apply. With Bank Rate at 3.75% (held at the 30 July 2026 MPC decision; next MPC scheduled 17 September 2026), that points to statutory interest of 11.75% for qualifying B2B debts - confirm live Bank Rate and statute before you chase. Householder consumer contracts are different - do not assume statutory B2B interest against a consumer. Spell out your contractual interest and late fees clearly, and read late payment rights for UK tradespeople. Chase politely, then firmly; keep a paper trail of elevation completions and snag sign-offs.

Making Tax Digital: records, not filing

Keep digital records of invoices, credit notes and VAT where relevant. Making Tax Digital means digital records, not "InvoiceAdept files your return". InvoiceAdept helps you create and store invoice records; it does not file Making Tax Digital VAT returns, CIS300 returns or Self Assessment to HMRC. Your accountant or HMRC-recognised software handles filing.

How InvoiceAdept helps cladding installers

• Sequential invoice numbers and UK-ready fields

• Labour / materials (boards, battens, membrane, flashings) split when contractor packages fall under CIS

• Deposit and stage invoices with clear elevation and site references

• WhatsApp send on Pro; CIS-focused tools on Pro+

• Free tier: five invoices per month at £0

• Pro £7.99 and Pro+ £12.99 (excl VAT)

InvoiceAdept is built for UK trades - including cladding crews juggling householder weatherboard elevations and contractor rainscreen plots in the same week. It does not replace your accountant, CIS advice, Building Control process or fire-safety competent person.

Quote versus invoice versus retention on contractor cladding

Mistakes that bounce cladding invoices

Timber, fibre-cement and composite packages

Rainscreen packages and purchase orders

Contractor rainscreen work almost always needs a purchase order, elevation schedule and labour/materials split. Put the PO and elevation refs on every stage. If the main contractor free-issues panels or rails, say so - do not invent those as your materials for CIS. Soften mixed packages that also include insulation or render: bill defined products on the right sister pages when they are separate packages.

Working beside renderers, carpenters, builders and insulation crews

Payment terms, applications and cash flow for multi-elevation cladding

Record-keeping for CIS, VAT and Self Assessment

Keep invoices, credit notes, delivery notes, board/merchant invoices, PO emails and snag sign-offs. If CIS applies, keep verification evidence and labour/materials workings. If VAT-registered, keep tax-point evidence for deposits and stages. InvoiceAdept stores invoice records; it does not file CIS300, VAT, MTD or Self Assessment to HMRC.

Boards, battens and flashings on the invoice

Cladding on extensions, lofts and new-build plots

Partial cladding ahead of or beside extension and loft conversion packages should still name elevations and systems. New-build plot cladding under a contractor PO typically needs CIS analysis under CISR14100 / CISR14240 - soften and describe the system. Do not invent Notice 708 zero-rate for ordinary decorative cladding on these jobs without advice.

Checklist before you hit send

• Elevation, system and approx m2 named

• Householder vs contractor clear

• CIS lines only when they apply

• Labour / materials split when CIS may apply

• VAT 20% usual for ordinary decorative cladding if registered - no invented zero-rate

• Deposit allocated if taken

• Variations coded

• No fire / asbestos / Building Control certificate claims on the PDF

• Bank details and terms present

• Figures illustrative only if using template samples

FAQ

What should a UK cladding invoice include?

Your business name and address, customer name and address, unique invoice number, date, clear description of system type, elevation, approx m2, battens/membrane, flashings and stages, site address, quantities, net amounts, payment terms, and VAT details if registered. Add CIS UTR and deduction narrative only when billing a CIS contractor for in-scope work. Never reverse-charge a householder.

Is cladding installation inside CIS?

When a contractor pays a subcontractor for cladding that forms construction, alteration, repair or finishing of buildings or structures, the work is typically within CIS under CISR14100 (FA04/S74(2)(a) framing). Finishing operations can also sit under CISR14240. Soften: InvoiceAdept does not decide status; facts matter. Distinguish rainscreen / fabric-fixed cladding from supply-only boards.

Does a householder deduct CIS from a cladding installer?

No. A private householder paying you for cladding on their own dwelling is not a CIS contractor (CISR12030). Do not decorate the invoice with CIS deductions.

How do CIS deductions work on labour, boards and flashings?

When CIS applies, deductions are usually calculated on the payment after removing your direct cost of materials for that contract (CISR15060 / CISR15090). Keep delivery notes. Free-issue panels from the main contractor are not your materials. Rates when CIS applies: 0% (gross), 20% (verified), 30% (unmatched).

How should I invoice multi-elevation cladding in stages?

Use measure, prep/battens, fix and flashings/snag stages with the same site reference. Take a deposit before board orders if your terms require it. Allocate deposits on later stages. Keep variations separate.

Do I charge VAT on a domestic cladding invoice?

If you are VAT-registered, ordinary decorative cladding on an existing dwelling for a householder is usually standard-rated at 20%. Soften Notice 708 and Notice 708/6; do not invent 0% for ordinary decorative cladding. If you are not registered, do not add VAT - but monitor the £90,000 registration threshold.

When does domestic reverse charge apply to a cladding contractor?

Only when eligible contractor-to-contractor VAT-registered construction rules apply. Never reverse-charge a householder. See domestic reverse charge invoice UK and HMRC's reverse charge guidance. Soften: InvoiceAdept does not decide reverse-charge status.

What if I only supply boards with no fixing labour?

Supply-only boards with no installation labour on the contract are generally outside CIS under manufacture/delivery framing in CISR14220. If labour is later added under the same agreement, revisit mixed-contract rules (CISR14020 / CISR14030).

Is the invoice a fire-safety or asbestos certificate?

No. The invoice is a payment request. Asbestos surveys/removal, fire-safety certification, Building Control and planning consents are separate documents. InvoiceAdept does not issue those. When removing old cladding that may contain asbestos, use a licensed specialist - do not invent a licence on your PDF.

Can I charge statutory late-payment interest on a householder cladding job?

Statutory B2B late payment interest (Bank Rate + 8%) is not automatic for consumer householder contracts. With Bank Rate at 3.75% (held 30 July 2026; next MPC 17 September 2026), qualifying B2B statutory interest points to 11.75% where the Late Payment Act applies between businesses. Use clear contractual terms for consumers and read late payment rights.

Does InvoiceAdept file CIS, VAT or Making Tax Digital to HMRC?

No. InvoiceAdept does not file CIS300, VAT returns, Making Tax Digital updates, Self Assessment or court claims. It helps you create and store invoices. Filing stays with you, your accountant or HMRC-recognised software.

How does InvoiceAdept pricing work for cladding installers?

Free: £0 for five invoices per month. Pro: £7.99 excl VAT (includes WhatsApp send). Pro+: £12.99 excl VAT (includes CIS-focused tools). Stripe's own fees apply; InvoiceAdept adds no platform fee. See pricing.

Is the VAT registration threshold still £90,000?

This guide uses £90,000 as the current UK VAT registration threshold wording. Older posts using £85,000 are outdated for current threshold language. Confirm on GOV.UK before registration decisions. Mentions of an £88,000 deregistration figure are corrective context only - confirm live GOV.UK thresholds.

What is the deemed CIS contractor threshold?

Deemed contractor rules use construction spend of more than £3 million - never present £1 million as the current deemed threshold. Soften and confirm live HMRC guidance.

Should render or insulation work sit on this cladding invoice?

If you are rendering or installing EWI, use the render sister. If insulation is the defined product, use insulation or cavity wall. Use this page when timber, fibre-cement, composite or rainscreen cladding is the defined product. Do not invent Notice 708/6 zero-rate for ordinary decorative cladding.

How do I show retention on a contractor cladding package?

Show retention withheld on the stage/final invoice and issue a separate retention release invoice after practical completion / defects. Do not bury retention maths in an email without an invoice number.

Related guides

• Render invoice template UK

• Builder invoice template UK

• Carpenter invoice template UK

• Loft conversion invoice template UK

• Extension invoice template UK

• Demolition invoice template UK

• Insulation invoice template UK

• Cavity wall invoice template UK

• How to invoice a client UK tradesperson

• Deposit invoice template UK

• Domestic reverse charge invoice UK

• CIS explained UK subcontractors

• Late payment rights UK tradespeople

• InvoiceAdept pricing

About this guide

Last reviewed 11 September 2026. General information for UK cladding installers, rainscreen subcontractors and facade crews. Not tax, legal, asbestos, fire-safety, Building Control or planning advice. InvoiceAdept does not decide CIS or VAT status and does not file CIS300, VAT returns, Making Tax Digital, Self Assessment or court claims. Operator: Tech Me Today Ltd, Companies House 15917255, ICO ZB944663. Start a cladding invoice at invoiceadept.com.

Bottom line

Name the elevation and system, split labour from boards and flashings, keep free-issue honest, never invent CIS on a householder, usually charge 20% VAT on ordinary decorative cladding if registered, soften Notice 708/6 rather than inventing zero-rate for weatherboard, and never pretend the invoice is a fire or asbestos certificate. Use Free for five invoices, Pro for WhatsApp, Pro+ when CIS fields matter - and keep filing with your accountant, not the invoicing app.