The main types at a glance
| Render | Colour | Painting | Suits | Watch out for |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Sand and cement | Grey; painted | Needs painting and repainting | Many modern masonry walls | Hard and not very breathable; can crack if the wall moves |
| Monocouche | Coloured all the way through | No painting needed | Modern masonry walls | Colour choice is fixed once applied |
| Silicone thin-coat | Coloured through | No painting needed | Modern walls with a suitable base coat | Needs the right base and preparation underneath |
| Lime | Natural; often limewashed or painted | Breathable finishes | Older solid walls, period and listed homes | Slower to apply and cure; needs skilled work |
| Decorative and coloured finishes | Wide range | Depends on the system | Where appearance is the priority | Check the system suits the wall |
Sand and cement
The traditional modern render: a mix of sand, cement and usually lime or additives, applied in coats and then painted. It's familiar and widely used, but it's hard and less breathable than lime, so it's not the right choice for older solid walls. See our sand and cement rendering.
Monocouche
A one-coat render coloured all the way through, so it doesn't need painting. Small chips and scratches don't show a different colour underneath. See monocouche rendering.
Silicone thin-coat
A thin, coloured finish applied over a prepared base coat. It's designed to repel water and stay clean-looking. Because it's thin, the preparation underneath matters a great deal. See silicone rendering.
Lime render
The traditional render for older buildings. Lime is breathable, so moisture can leave the wall, and it's slightly flexible, so it copes with some movement. On solid-walled period homes, it's usually the right choice and modern cement render usually isn't. We work with lime render.
Decorative and coloured finishes
Textured, coloured or decorative finishes, chosen mainly for appearance. Some historic areas restrict textured coatings, so check before choosing one. See coloured and decorative render.
Homes near the sea
Coastal homes, from Shoreham Beach to the Brighton seafront, take salt-laden wind and driving rain. A few points matter more there:
- Preparation and detailing matter as much as the product: beads, edges and junctions are where water gets in first.
- Small cracks let in water and salt, which can make render break up. Repair them early.
- Check the side facing the weather every year or so.
Before you choose
- Find out what your walls are. Solid old walls usually need lime; modern block or brick walls have more options.
- Decide whether you want to paint. If not, a through-coloured render saves repainting.
- Check permission. Changing the type or colour of render, or rendering brick, usually needs planning permission. See our guide to planning permission for render.
- Check building regulations. The Planning Portal says building regulations normally apply when 25% or more of an external wall is re-rendered, and the wall's insulation would normally need improving at the same time.
Frequently asked questions
Which render lasts longest?
It depends more on preparation, the wall underneath and exposure than on the product alone. A well-applied render that suits the wall will outlast a better product put on the wrong wall.
Can you render over pebbledash?
Often, yes, once it's checked and prepared. See our pebbledash page.
Is lime render better than cement?
For older solid walls, usually yes, because it's breathable and copes with movement. For modern walls, other renders are often more practical.
Do I need to paint render?
Sand and cement render usually needs painting. Monocouche and silicone renders are coloured through and don't.
Not sure which render suits your house?
Send us photos of the walls and tell us roughly how old the house is. We'll recommend a render and give you a free quote. See our main house rendering service.
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