Rendering is one of the most popular types of cladding on modern homes, and for good reason. There are several varieties of render, each of which lends itself to certain applications. Ensuring that there is a render ideal for practically every form of property – from lime renderings that enable ancient buildings to breathe to contemporary.
Rendering is frequently employed as part of a variety of materials to produce dwellings in current house concepts.
However, with so many different types of render and so many different uses for your home’s exterior design. It can be difficult to know where to start when looking for the proper render for your project.
Read on for our comprehensive guide to rendering, which includes information on things like planning approval, upkeep, and cost. In addition, we’ve included some fantastic self-build and remodelling ideas to demonstrate the versatility of render as an exterior finish.
What is Rendering of a House?
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There are two basic reasons to render your home:
- Weatherproofing and rainfall penetration protection for the underlying home walls
- To give the house a more appealing appearance
The visual value of house rendering is a major consideration. It’s a simple texture that can be applied in any colour, making it a versatile option for mixing and matching on a property or using alone.
It is, however, not a low-cost solution for your house, especially if you have a large property. Make sure you buy the correct sort of render for your purposes and preserve it from the elements to ensure it lasts as long as possible. You’ll wind up spending more money to remove it or fix it. This is especially true with cement renders, which have a proclivity for cracking and can lead to damp problems if water gets into the crevices.
Is House Rendering Effective in Preventing Damp?
External home rendering is frequently employed as a rapid repair for penetrating damp, particularly when the culprit is water trapped between the render and the brickwork. It should, however, be used in conjunction with actions to address the sources of the moisture. This might include roof problems, as well as damaged guttering and fascia boards. In certain cases, repointing brickwork before rendering is a good idea.
How much does it cost to render a house?
The cost of house rendering varies depending on the location of your renovation, the size and experience of your tradesperson, and, in some cases, the house itself.
External house rendering with a finer topcoat, using a sand and cement method, costs around £35-60 per m2, including two coats of external masonry paint.
Monocouche rendering can cost up to £40 per m2.
Lime render is more time-consuming to apply, thus it costs a little more to begin with. Expect to pay between £45 and £50 per square metre.
If you want to install outdoor insulation with a render finish, expect to pay around £70-90+ per m2.
Is it Possible for Me to Do My Own Rendering?
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It’s not a good idea. Rendering a house is a job best left to the pros, as you’ll want the render to have a beautiful, flawless finish.
It requires a lot of ability to do it quickly and precisely enough to make it seem beautiful, and it takes time and competence, just like plastering walls.
Do I Need Permission from the Planning Department to Render My House?
If you live in a terraced or semi-detached property, you won’t require planning permission to render your home, but you should consider how the new look may impact your neighbours.
Permitted Development covers the majority of external upgrades such as render, cladding, stone, pebble dash, and wood.
Permitted Development does not apply to any dwelling home located on Article 1(5) territory, which includes designated places such as an AONB, National Park, World Heritage Site, or Conservation Area.
Before beginning any work, it’s usually a good idea to check with your local planning department.
Rendering Types
The following are the many types of home render to consider:
- Cement render is often prepared on-site and coated in two or three layers. Cement render is inexpensive in terms of supplies, but labour is a little more expensive owing to the several applications.
- Modern cement renders are famously inflexible. They’re prone to developing microscopic fractures over time that let rain through. This allows frost to blow hollow holes beneath the surface and break the connection.
- Polymer render is often offered in bags that have been pre-mixed with either white cement or lime as a basis. To make the render less prone to cracking, polymers and other plastic-based compounds were added to it. They come in a range of colours and are frequently through-coloured, eliminating the need for painting.
- Acrylic renderings are often used as a thin finish layer to seal and improve the look of the underlying coat. They also provide texture and colour. Fibres are added to the mix to prevent cracking and provide a long-lasting finish.
- Silicone render is also utilised because it has a longer lifespan and the ability to self-clean – some believe that when it rains, the silicone will wash away any dirt!
- Monocouche renders (French for “single layer” or “bed”) are a relatively new addition to the field of home rendering. Many of the main brands in this industry are European, like Sto, Knauf, Marmorit, and Weber.
- Monocouche renders have the texture and flexibility of typical lime renders, which helps to prevent cracking, but they also offer a hard-wearing, low-maintenance surface that is weather-resistant and attractive.
These characteristics are most likely why popular house developers are now adopting through-coloured renderings, which are generally finished in a conventionally white or sandy lime colour.
