Ductwork Fabrication Finance

Spread the cost of ductwork fabrication and installation from £8,000 to £200,000+ with flexible finance options. HP, lease, or refinance

Can you finance a ductwork fabrication?

Yes, ductwork fabrications are financed as a standard asset purchase, usually on hire purchase or a lease, with the machine itself acting as the security. UK prices typically run £8,000 to £200,000, and most deals are written over 12–60 months with a deposit of around 10–20%. Decisions typically take 24–72 hours. Used machines are financeable too, usually with a shorter term.

Typical Cost

£8k – £200k

Approval Speed

24–72 hours

Faster once the project quote is confirmed

Rates From

4.9% APR

What would a ductwork fabrication cost per month?

Ductwork Fabrication price (ex VAT) £40,000

Deposit 10%

Agreement term 60 months

Annual interest rate 9%

Balloon payment £0

Your estimate

Indicative only. Not a quote and not an offer of finance.

Pre-filled with a typical ductwork fabrication price. Indicative only, not a quote.

Finance options

Hire Purchase (HP)

Rate: From 5.2% APR
Term: 12–60 months
Deposit: 10–20%
Ownership: Yours at the end
Best for: M&E contractors financing a fabrication package

Finance Lease

Rate: From 4.9% APR
Term: 12–60 months
Deposit: None required
Ownership: Return or buy (balloon payment)
Best for: Tax-efficient, claim 100% of payments against profit

Operating Lease

Rate: From 5.5% APR
Term: 24–48 months
Deposit: None required
Ownership: Return at end
Best for: Rarely used, since ductwork is fixed in place once installed

Representative example

On a purchase price of £40,000: a 10% deposit of £4,000, then 48 monthly payments of £844 at 5.9% APR representative (fixed). Total amount payable £44,512, including the deposit. The rate you are offered depends on your business and the asset.

What buyers actually specify

Guide prices for sizing a finance agreement, not quotes. Manufacturers in this market mostly price on application, so where a current UK list price could not be confirmed the row describes a specification class rather than naming a model. Your supplier quote is what the agreement is written against.

Machine or specification	Guide price	Type
Galvanised sheet metal ductwork package, single-floor fit-out (specification class)	£15,000 – £60,000	Spiral & Rectangular Ductwork
Stainless steel extract ductwork, commercial kitchen (specification class)	£20,000 – £70,000	Grease Extract Ductwork
Fire-rated ductwork, multi-floor riser (specification class)	£40,000 – £150,000	Fire-Rated Ductwork
Insulated distribution ductwork, AHU to diffusers (specification class)	£10,000 – £45,000	Insulated Ductwork Distribution

Tax benefits

Ductwork typically qualifies for the Annual Investment Allowance, so the fabrication and installation cost can usually be set against taxable profits in the year the works complete. Because ductwork is fixed into the building fabric once installed and cannot practically be removed and reused elsewhere, it is more likely to be treated as a fixture than as moveable plant for capital allowances, which is worth confirming with your accountant before agreeing the finance structure.

Market context

Ductwork fabrication is bought by M&E contractors as part of a wider fit-out or refurbishment, and by building owners commissioning kitchen extract or fire-rated riser upgrades to meet a change of use or an insurer's requirements. Because the material and labour cost is usually invoiced as one line within a larger project, contractors often finance the fabrication package alongside the associated AHU or ventilation plant rather than as a standalone item. Replacement or extension of an existing system is generally driven by a change in the building's layout or use, such as a new kitchen tenant, rather than the ductwork itself wearing out, since well-installed sheet metal ductwork has a long working life. There is no meaningful used market, since ductwork is fabricated and formed to fit a specific building.

Frequently asked questions

Can ductwork be financed separately from the AHU or extract fan it connects to?

Yes, though it is more commonly financed as part of the same package, since the ductwork, the air handling unit or extract fan, and the controls are usually installed together as one project. Financing them together can simplify the paperwork and may unlock a slightly better rate than financing several smaller invoices separately. Ask your broker to quote both ways before committing, since the better option can depend on how the wider project has already been structured.

Why is ductwork usually treated as a fixture rather than moveable plant?

Once ductwork is formed, hung and sealed into a building, it cannot practically be removed and reinstalled elsewhere without being effectively rebuilt. That permanence is why it is more often treated as part of the building fabric for tax purposes than as a standalone asset, unlike a packaged rooftop unit that can be unbolted and relocated. It is worth flagging this distinction to your accountant early, since it affects how the cost is treated for capital allowances compared with the plant it connects to.

Does grease extract or fire-rated ductwork cost more to finance?

The finance rate itself does not change, but the equipment cost does: stainless steel grease extract ductwork and certified fire-rated systems use heavier gauge material and specialist fire-stopping details, which pushes the fabrication cost above standard galvanised ductwork of the same size. Lenders size the facility to the invoice, so the larger project simply draws a larger facility. Getting an accurate specification from the fabricator before applying avoids the facility being sized too low for the finished job.

What deposit do I need for a ductwork fabrication package?

Hire purchase typically asks for a 10-20% deposit, while finance leases are often available with no deposit. Because ductwork is usually one part of a larger contract, some lenders prefer to see the full project quote, including the AHU or fan it serves, before confirming deposit terms. Repeat customers financing a second or subsequent piece of equipment with the same lender often find deposit requirements ease over time as a trading relationship builds.