Types of Housing Rendering: What Types of Rendering Are There & Which One is Best For You?

Planning a house rendering project? The external rendering experts, here at AB Drylining, have compiled a comprehensive list of the most commonly used types of rendering you can choose from. We’ll explore the differences between them, as well as their pros and cons to help you find the right option for your building exterior. 

The Main Types of Render

When it comes to housing rendering, we can categorise the primary options into three distinct groups:

• Mineral Renders: These renders are crafted from natural materials, including components like sand, cement, or lime. They have their foundation in the Earth’s resources, making them eco-friendly and suitable for various applications.
• Acrylic Renders: In contrast, acrylic renders incorporate synthetic elements into their composition. These man-made additions enhance the render’s properties and make it a popular choice for specific purposes.
• Silicone Renders: Silicone renders also feature artificial components, designed to provide unique characteristics and advantages. They are known for their water resistance and durability, which makes them ideal for certain situations.

The 6 Different Types of Housing Rendering

Let’s begin by explaining what house rendering is. Simply put, house render is a protective coat applied to the external walls of a building to protect it from deterioration due to various factors, such as the weather, algae growth and general wear and tear. You can read all about house rendering and its benefits in our house rendering guide.

Traditionally, render is a cement-based mixture but nowadays, the construction industry has been seeing the introduction of more and more advanced solutions, which help strengthen the performance of the rendering coat. Here are the most popular ones: 

1. Cement Render

Cement render is the ultimate classic option available. It’s also the cheapest in terms of materials, which makes it a preferred choice for homeowners who are doing house renovation on a budget. This type of rendering requires multiple layers, which makes it rather labour-intensive. Also, it requires the wall to be painted once the rendering is dry. 

One of the major downsides of cement render is that it isn’t flexible, so it’s prone to tracks, unlike acrylic render and most other newer rendering types. That being said, it is quite durable, so it can last a long time, given the right climate conditions. If you don’t mind repainting the house from time to time, a traditional cement mixture might be a good option for you. 

2. Acrylic Render

If you are looking to improve the external look of your house by adding a vibrant colour or a beautiful textured finish, then acrylic render is an option you should consider. The mixture for this type of render uses acrylic or polymer ingredients as the binding agent, hence the name. There are plenty of pre-coloured acrylic render options available. They come in tubs, pre-mixed and all you have to do is apply them to the wall to get the colour you want, saving you time, money and the hassle of painting over render. 

Acrylic render is lacking a bit when it comes to waterproofing and it isn’t the best at preventing algae  (the green, moss-like growth you see on older houses) from infesting your walls, so if you are struggling with moisture already, you may want to explore the upper-end options. That being said, acrylic render is amongst the most durable and reliable types of rendering and it shouldn’t be easily dismissed. 

3. Silicone Render

This type of render can be twice as expensive as standard cement render but there is a good reason why. Silicone render is what the experts call a “self-cleaning” option – the mixture is designed to keep the wall dry, which means less moisture and fewer algae. Also, silicone render is arguably one of the easiest to apply, which makes it a preferred option for both professional and DIY renderers. 

So, if you don’t mind spending a bit more on your house rendering project and you want to enjoy both the aesthetic choices and the flexibility of acrylic render, combined with better waterproofing qualities, silicone render is a great option. 

4. Mineral Render

Mineral render might not be as fancy as some of the other renders out there but it’s a tried and tested solution with an affordable price tag. It’s a breathable type of rendering that works very well for buildings with permeable mineral wool external wall insulations.

The application of mineral render requires old-school, manual mixing of the dry powder mixture with water on the spot but on the bright side, it’s a one-coat top layer render, so there’s less work to be done when it comes to the actional rendering of the wall. Also, you should bear in mind that since the mineral render doesn’t have the same waterproofing qualities as some of the more expensive types of rendering, you should apply a coat of paint over it to better protect your house from water damage. 

5. Lime Render

If you have an old house, especially one of those stunning, British, 17th-century country houses dating back to the Elizabethian era, lime render might be the best render for you. It’s a flexible, breathable option with a pleasing finish designed to enhance the natural beauty of a period house, which makes it perfect for restoration projects. 

Lime render is a little bit trickier to apply than other more modern types of render and classic lime render requires a lime wash coat to have a complete finish. However, the current market offers monocouche lime render mixtures which are a great way to bring the classic lime render into the 21st century. 

6. Monocouche Render

Going back to the upper end of the price range, we have a monocouche render. It falls in the same price bracket as silicone render but it is arguably one of the most durable and versatile house rendering solutions with an impressive life span of more than 25 years. 

With a thickness of 15mm, it offers great protection against the elements and it has better thermal qualities than most renders. In terms of application, it can be applied directly on brickwork and it usually requires just one layer, so it’s a very practical solution. Plus, monocouche render comes in different colours and finishes so it gives you flexibility with the aesthetics too. 

 

What Is a Self-Coloured Render and Is It Worth It?

Self-coloured render is one of the perks of modern construction work. Thanks to the latest advances in rendering production, you can now simply pick your colour and have your rendering mixture come pre-coloured, saving you the trouble of having to worry about applying an extra coat of paint on top. Of course, there are some limitations to the painting abilities of pre-coloured render. For the best results, you should pick a colour that complements and doesn’t stray too far away from the colour of the material used on the wall underneath. 

Another reason to love self-coloured render is that it’s easy to maintain and keep clean. As we said, it doesn’t require painting afterwards and with self-cleaning options available, you can rely on rain and wind to get rid of any accumulating dirt. Knowing all of the above, it’s not hard to understand why coloured render is one of the pricer rendering types out there. Yet, it’s well worth the investment.

Which Housing Rendering is Best For You?

Choosing the best type of render for your home or commercial building depends on various factors, including your budget, priorities, and specific needs. Here’s a breakdown of different render options based on their key qualities:

Cost-Effective Render

If cost is your primary concern, cement render is a cost-effective choice. While budget-friendly options save money upfront, they may incur higher long-term costs for repairs and maintenance. Instead, you may wish to consider lime render; while slightly more expensive, this render offers increased durability over cement. For a more textured look, pebble dash is a common choice for a relatively affordable render that offers a distinctive appearance.

Water-Resistant Render

For long-lasting water resistance, consider silicone or acrylic renders. These options protect your walls from harsh weather conditions, including wind-driven rain, preventing water ingress and internal damp issues.

Breathable Render

Houses with permeable walls require breathable renders to allow moisture to escape. Silicone render, along with the more budget-friendly cement, lime, and pebble dash finishes, offer breathability.

Flexible Render

To prevent render cracking and accommodate natural building material movement, consider acrylic and silicone renders as these options have improved flexibility over more rigid mixes.

Eco-Friendly Render

While most renders have environmental drawbacks, SprayCork is a sustainable and eco-friendly option. It not only reduces your building’s carbon footprint but also contributes to improving tree health by using cork-rich bark from oak trees.

Style-Oriented Render

Personal preference is definitely a big factor when selecting a render style. Traditional cement render can provide quite a clean and minimal appearance, whereas, monocouche offers a textured and unique look that some may appreciate.

Ultimately, the best render for your project depends on your specific needs and priorities, whether it’s budget, durability, water resistance, breathability, flexibility, eco-friendliness, or style. Consider all these factors to make an informed decision for your home or building.

Looking for a Renderer in Bristol & South West?

Whether you are after a traditional, affordable cement render or an up-scale, self-coloured monocouche rendering solution, the rendering experts at AB Drylining are here to help. Working with clients across the South West, we are in charge of many house rendering projects in Bristol and the surrounding areas. Get in touch with us today for a free consultation and we can help you choose the best option for your house from all available types of rendering.