Rendering: What You Need to Know Before Getting Your Home Rendered

A concise guide to render types, when rendering makes sense, what affects cost, and how to avoid common mistakes. ## Why Render a Property? Rendering protects external walls from weather penetration, improves thermal performance (when combined with insulation), and transforms the visual appearance of a property. It is particularly effective on older brick or blockwork that has become porous.

## Main Render Types **Sand and cement** — the traditional option. Affordable but requires painting and is prone to cracking if the substrate moves. **Silicone render** — self-cleaning, flexible, and available in a wide colour range. The most popular choice for modern domestic projects. **Monocouche** — a through-coloured cement render applied in one coat.

Durable but less flexible than silicone. **Lime render** — essential for older solid-wall properties. Allows moisture vapour to pass through ("breathable"), preventing trapped damp. **Acrylic render** — flexible and crack-resistant but less breathable. Suitable for newer cavity-wall constructions. ## What Affects the Cost?

- Scaffold access requirements (height, obstructions, conservatories) - Substrate preparation (old render removal, crack repair, dubbing out) - Insulation inclusion (EWI adds cost but transforms thermal performance) - Number of colours and detailing (quoins, banding) - Property size and shape complexity ## Common Mistakes 1.

Applying non-breathable render to solid-wall properties (traps moisture) 2. Skipping proper substrate assessment 3. Choosing the cheapest quote without checking specification 4. Not budgeting for scaffold and preparation 5. Expecting render to fix underlying damp problems --- ### What to do next If you are thinking about rendering or specialist coatings, EvoHome Improvements can help you understand the right system for your property, plan the project sensibly and, where appropriate, connect it with suitable independent installers or specialists.

EvoHome does not carry out the works directly. Start here: [/start](/start). You can also read more about how this service works at [/services/rendering](/services/rendering).