Rendering the exterior of your home can be a great way to liven up its appearance and it also serves many other practical purposes.
Rendering is a common solution for brickwork that needs repointing and for insulating properties whose structures aren’t suitable for cavity wall insulation.
It is a highly versatile home improvement option, as there are hundreds of colours, styles, and finishes available – it’s up to you which one you choose.
Cost of Rendering a Property
Depending on the size of your property, and how many walls you want rendered, the price will vary. In addition, the finish you decide on will directly influence the price you pay as each type of render is priced slightly different.
Click To Compare QuotesHere are the most common types of render, and what they could cost you:
- Cement
The most common render found on external walls. Mixed on site, applied in two or three coats. Cheap materials, expensive labour. Has a tendency to crack if the underlying structure moves.
Price per square metre – South: £35-45, Midlands: £25-35, North: £20-30 (not including painting). - Acrylic and Silicone
Usually applied as a thin finish coat. This enhances appearance and seals underlying coats. They can be colourful, and textured, and contain fibres to prevent cracking and increase durability.
Price per square metre – South: £60-75, Midlands: £50-60, North: £45-60 (silicone is more expensive than acrylic by around £1-2 per metre squared). - Monocouche
Single-layer render, produced by big-name companies. Comes in a bag ready to be mixed with water and can be applied using spray or a hand trowel. Uses white cement and come pre-coloured. Applied in a single coat, usually 15mm thick. Reduced labour costs, and increased durability of finish – many are self-cleaning and flexible.
Price per square metre – South: £50-70, Midlands: 35-55, North: £35-50 (common brands include Weber, K Rend, Parex, and Sto).
Houses vary in size, and it’s important to consider how may metres squared will need rendering when you apply for a quote. Rough guides for different types of house are shown below:
- Small, Mid-Terrace House
40-50 square metres - Large, Mid-Terrace House
70-170 square metres
- 3-Bedroom, Detached
110-160 square metres - 4/5-Bedroom, Detached
180+ square metres
Quotes
To get quotes from local plasterers click the button below:
Click To Compare QuotesRendering a House Cost FAQ
Why would someone want to render their house?
There are three main reasons for applying render to the exterior of a property:
- To improve the appearance of the building,
- To protect the existing walling material from weathering and damp penetration, or,
- To improve thermal insulation.
Rendering your property can make it stand out as there are many attractive colour options available. Additionally, covering up old or unattractive brickwork with a well-applied coat of render can increase the value of your home as it often makes older properties look more modern.
Although less popular in the UK due to its complexity, there is the option of applying an Insulation Render to the exterior of your property instead of installing cavity wall insulation. It can often be applied in one coat, which decreases labour costs, although doing so is more expensive than applying traditional render.
What are the disadvantages of rendering your house?
Rendering is expensive so it may not be worth the expense for some people. When deciding whether to render your home, it’s important to choose the type and functionality of the render carefully as it’s a lasting investment that will cost a significant amount to replace or remove.
If your home features an aesthetically unique brick finish, applying render on top of it can decrease desirability.
Additionally, new rendering on the exterior of a building must comply with Building Regulations for thermal insulation, which can push the price up further.
Are there alternatives to rendering your house?
If the exterior brickwork on your home needs repointing in a small area, it will likely be cheaper to pay for that than to render the entire exterior.
Often, rendering is a solution to ‘blown’ brickwork which could be leading to damp within the home. This is a sensible choice if the exterior of your home is in need of significant repairs to the brickwork but if the areas of concern are minor, you may be able to hire a contractor to replace them.
Finding bricks which match those used to build your home is simpler than you may expect, and a professional re-pointer will be able to advise you on the type of mortar necessary to repair the areas of your home most exposed to the elements.
Click To Compare QuotesWhat are the main benefits of rendering your house?
Rendering your house can give the exterior a much-needed facelift, especially if the existing brickwork is worn or mismatched.
If you’re looking at rendering to solve thermal insulation problems, it will be more expensive than having cavity wall insulation installed, but the result will be just as effective.
Plus, cavity wall insulation can only take place if existing brickwork is pointed correctly and there is no chance of damp penetration. By rendering your home will an insulative layer of render, you bypass the need to pay for two projects on your brickwork – rendering solves bad pointing and insulation issues in a single job.
Will I need planning permission to render my house?
Rendering your home will not require planning permission unless your property is:
- A listed building,
- In a Conservation Area,
- In a National Park,
- In an Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty, or,
- Located in the Broads.
Outside of these areas, rendering won’t require planning permission.
Who can render my house for me?
In the UK, there are many big-name rendering companies, known for their specialist approach, who can render the exterior of your property.
You will probably get great quotes from these companies, but by using the Tradesmen Prices form at the top of this page, you will be able to source some local competition.
Because nation-wide companies like those mentioned above pay significant overheads and high running costs, a smaller company may be able to render your home for a lower price.
Tradesmen Prices can give you 3-4 quotes from local companies who may be able to offer a more personalised rendering project, tailored to the requirements of your home.
Click To Compare QuotesShould my rendering company be a member of anything (trade body, government registration scheme, etc?)
Because rendering is a subset of plastering, a renderer from a smaller company may be British Gypsum Accredited or have completed relevant qualifications in a City and Guilds level plastering course.
Any contractor offering to render your home should be able to provide you with the details of their public liability insurance, as they will be making changes to a property that you own, and your insurance is unlikely to cover any potential damages.
How long does it take to render a property?
The time taken to render a property will depend on several factors, namely:
- The number of exterior walls to be rendered
- The type of render used
- The size and type of property
- Access to the property
Obviously, it’s going to take longer to render all four outer walls of a five-bedroom detached property than it is to render the facing wall of a bungalow.
When planning your rendering, consider the length of time it will take to put up and take down scaffolding, as well as the weather conditions – heavy rain will certainly impact workflow.
Here are estimated timescales for different property and project types:
Standard 2-bedroom bungalow – facing wall
4-6 days
3-bedroom semi-detached house – facing wall
5-8 days
4-bedroom detached house – all exterior walls
1-2 weeks
Choosing pebbledash render over smooth will add extra time onto any size rendering project, as it requires careful attention during painting. Applying pebbledash render to all exterior walls of an average sized detached home will take well over two weeks to complete.
Before I get my house rendered, what should I ask a potential contractor?
Since rendering is a significant investment with near permanent results, it’s wise to ask a few questions before the contractors start putting up the scaffold.
Here are a few suggestions:
- How long will the job take, provided the current weather conditions prevail?
- Will you need to repoint or repair existing brickwork before the render is applied?
- Are you using reliable products?
- Do you have public liability insurance?
Although this will likely have been decided pre-project, you may wish to ask your contractor for their supply price list and the names of the materials they’re using. If you’re getting Insulative Render applied, the job will be more complex, so you’ll want to check the materials used adhere to current Building Regulations.
Click To Compare QuotesWhy should I get house rendering quotes from Tradesmen Prices?
By filling in the Tradesmen Prices form here, you can access 3-4 rendering quotes from local companies, who we pre-check for credibility, history, and honesty.
Unfortunately, in this industry, there will always be ‘cowboy’ rendering and plastering firms you’ll want to steer clear of.
By sourcing quotes from reputable companies near you, we can deliver you competitive prices with confidence, both in the price you’ll pay and the standard of the work to be completed.
Click To Compare Quotes
Ben Hall says
Pebble dash removed at front of property. Replaced by cladding to be painted black. 3 bedroom semi-detached property.
Alan Howarth says
Brick Bungalow and singles storey extension rendered 125sq meters
Alec Wolinski says
I’m interested in having part of my house re-rendered. There are hairline cracks along the front wall of the property. I’m looking for quotes. I live in the midlands some 12 miles west of Birmingham