What is a Monocouche Render, and Is it Worth it?
If you are thinking about rejuvenating the look of your home and strengthening its insulation simultaneously, external house rendering is the first step. Once you start looking into rendering, you will come across various types of render. One of the most popular choices nowadays is monocouche render, so we decided to take a more in-depth look at monocouche to find out what it is and if it is worth using for your home.
What is Monocouche Render?
Let’s start with the basics, what is Monochouche? The render, monocouche, is a popular type of external house render used to protect the house from the elements and give it a beautiful decorative finish.
The Name Monocouche
As you may have assumed by the sound of the name, the term ‘monocouche’ originates from French and means ‘single layer’ or ‘single bed’. This type of render originated in mainland Europe and has been growing in popularity in the UK ever since.
This popularity comes from the fact that it requires only one coat, lasts longer than traditional renders, and does not need masonry paint to be applied afterwards as it is a coloured render. These factors make monocouche render a practical, high-quality choice for many professional renderers in the UK.
How is Monocouche Applied?
Just like a normal rendering mix, monocouche render comes in bags, ready to mix with water before applying to the wall. You can use a hand trowel or spray it on, and it takes between 5 and 36 hours for the monocouche render to dry completely (depending on the weather conditions and humidity).
One layer of monocouche render is usually applied in two passes. Smoothness on the first pass is vital before you apply the second. To do that, your mixture has to be the right workable consistency for easy spreading. Here, a professional’s experience dramatically influences the overall quality of the result.
What are the Benefits of Monocouche Render?
As we mentioned above, monocouche renders are recommended by specialists because of their thickness, longevity and range of stylistic options available when it comes to the finish. Here are some of the benefits you can enjoy after choosing a monocouche render for your home:
You Can Pick Any Colour You Want
Monocouche renders are mixed on the base of white cement, so they come pre-coloured in a wide range of shades. Therefore, there is no need to paint on top of it. Once the render is dry and the work is complete, your property is left with a finished look you can be proud of.
It’s Less Time-Consuming
The main reason why conventional rendering takes a few days and sometimes even weeks is that each layer of render has to dry completely before the next one can be applied. You won’t have to worry about that with monocouche – it’s a thick render that only requires one layer.
Strong Insulation in One Layer
As a layer of monocouche is about 15mm thick, it’s enough to protect your house from bad weather and the elements.
Less Likely to Crack
Monocouche render is one of the best modern solutions for rendering because of its flexibility. Due to certain additives used by professionals, you can reduce the risk of cracks. You can even opt for a high-end, self-cleaning option, which requires even less maintenance to look the part.
Lasts 25+ Years
Monocouche render typically lasts over 25 years with no cracks or need for repainting. It is one of the most durable types of render on the market.
Better Energy-Efficiency
Due to its thickness, monocouche render has superior thermal qualities, making your home warmer during the colder months and reducing your heating bills.
It Can Be Applied Directly to Bricks
Monocouche render can easily be applied directly to brickwork, which means you can render older houses and add extensions to your property while keeping a smooth, identical finish across the walls.
Is Monocouche Render Breathable?
Breathable materials are permeable; they can transfer and evaporate water efficiently. Transmitting water prevents mould development, cracking and discolouration, making your rendering last longer. Monocouche is breathable, allowing water to pass through. However, it still offers additional heat insulation.
What is the Cost of Monocouche?
Modern, high-quality products often come with a higher price tag, and monocouche makes no exception. Monocouche render comes in bags of 25kg, costing between £10 – £25, depending on the brand and the colour. In comparison, basic cement render costs between £8 – £11 per bag.
What Affects the Cost of Monocouche Rendering?
As with every form of construction, multiple factors affect the cost of monocouche rendering. It is never just the cost of the materials. You need to consider:
- The number of walls you need to render
- The size of your walls
- The quality of your materials
- The time required for necessary prep work
- The labour costs in your area
With that in mind, monocouche rendering materials cost significantly more than other types of render, and that is the only real disadvantage of using monocouche. However, you should remember that while monocouche is more expensive, the application is cheaper and faster, saving you money on labour costs and reducing the duration of the house improvements. Plus, factoring in that repainting is not necessary, the cost of monocouche rendering does not seem that high anymore.
Costs Per Square Metre
When calculating how much external rendering will cost, you should consider the area it will cover. In the UK, monocouche rendering typically costs between £55 and £75 per square metre, depending on the job’s complexity. This figure includes all the above factors.
What About the Cracks?
As great as monocouche render is, there is no rendering in the world that does not crack over time. Monocouche has a minimum life expectancy of at least a quarter of a century. Yet, cracks will eventually appear one day. If you find yourself in this situation, you would probably want to know how easy it is to fix those.
Small cracks are relatively easy to repair. They can be filled, and a well-done job leaves the texture and durability of the render as good as new. The only problem you may experience is getting the colours to match, particularly if a vibrant colour has faded over time. In this case, your renderer might offer an additional repainting service to recreate the external wall’s original look, colour and finish.
Large cracks shouldn’t appear unless the render has a severe defect or issue. If they appear, contact a specialist immediately to repair the damage and advise you on the work required, as well as the cost of the project.
Monocouche Render Colours, Finishes and Paint
As we’ve already established, a monocouche is a coloured render. You can choose from hundreds of colours and shades, with each brand offering a selection of colour palettes for every taste. Furthermore, monocouche comes in various smooth and textured finishes, allowing you to personalise your home’s appearance.
You do not need to paint over a monocouche render, as rending alone leaves your desired stylistic effect. However, if you want to refresh the outside of your house in a few years or decide it is time for a complete colour change, then yes – you can paint over the monocouche render. It is highly absorbent and can be painted over with any type of paint you choose, just like a normal render.
Monocouche Colours
Monocouche rendering offers a diverse palette of colours to cater to a wide range of architectural preferences and design aesthetics. These colours are carefully formulated to withstand the variable British weather while providing an attractive finish to buildings.
From the earthy tones of sandy beige and warm terracotta to the cooler shades of grey and blue, monocouche rendering offers a spectrum of colours that can complement traditional and contemporary structures alike. Homeowners and architects can choose from a selection that includes subtle pastels, vibrant reds, deep greens, and many more, enabling them to achieve the desired appearance for their buildings while benefiting from the practical advantages of monocouche rendering, such as weather resistance and low maintenance.
This extensive colour range ensures that monocouche rendering is not only a durable and functional choice but also a visually appealing one, contributing to the rich tapestry of architectural styles across the UK.
Cleaning Monocouche Render
Over time, monocouche can get dirty, and rust and algae build-ups are typical. Painting over this dirt can do more damage than good. Instead, professional cleaning is always the best option.
You should not clean the monocouche for 28 days after applying it, as it is still hardening, and cleaning could damage it. Don’t worry. It should not need cleaning this early into its lifespan.
Monocouche vs Silicone Render
Silicone render is a more expensive modern rendering solution. It is a thin-coat render that comes in buckets (similar to paint) and is more flexible than monocouche, which makes it even more crack-resistant. It is also more resilient to water.
However, silicone render is thinner, making it less energy-efficient in the long run. Also, its application is complicated, with four separate stages which take significantly longer than applying monocouche render. Silicone render also only comes in one finish, limiting your aesthetic options.
Choose Our External Rendering Service
If you would like to insulate your home with a cost-effective, resilient finish, choose our external rendering service. We have an impressive, experienced team with CSCS cards, and we are an IPAF and PASMA-accredited member, serving clients in the South West.
To learn more about our services and for a bespoke quote for your job, contact our team today. We are always happy to help.
FAQ
Does monocouche render crack?
All renders eventually crack. However, monocouche has a high level of flexibility that makes it less likely to show cracks.
How much does Monocouche render cost?
Monocouche render costs between £10 – £25 per 25kg bag.
How long does monocouche render last?
Professionally applied monocouche render can last for over 25 years.
How many coats does monocouche render require?
Monocouche rendering only requires one coat, making the application process far shorter than other types of external rendering.
What constitutes the whitest monocouche rendering?
The whitest monocouche rendering is typically achieved using a pure white monocouche render product, as it contains no added pigments or colourants.
Which paint is recommended for monocouche rendering?
Acrylic masonry paint is recommended for painting monocouche render due to its compatibility and durability in the UK climate.
Is it possible to apply monocouche directly onto brickwork?
Monocouche can be applied directly onto brickwork in the UK, provided the brick surface is clean, structurally sound, and properly prepared.
Can you paint the monocouche render?
Yes, monocouche render can be painted with suitable masonry paint to change its colour or refresh its appearance.
How does monocouche differ from traditional render?
Monocouche differs from traditional rendering in that it is a one-coat, through-coloured render system, eliminating the need for a separate rendering and painting process.
Is monocouche render considered a reliable choice?
Monocouche render is generally considered a reliable choice in the UK, offering weather resistance, durability, and a low maintenance finish.
What are the drawbacks of using monocouche render?
Drawbacks of monocouche render may include cost, as it tends to be more expensive than traditional render, and limited design flexibility due to its one-coat application.
What sets monocouche and silicone render apart?
Monocouche render is a single-layer, through-coloured system, while silicone render is a multi-layer system with added silicone for flexibility and water resistance.
