Are you considering house rendering for your house’s exterior walls? If so, you are in the right place! We will talk about everything there is to know about house rendering.
Read on to understand what house rendering is, its benefits for your house, the traditional house rendering methods, and the modern colored house renderings. Lastly, we will also discuss the factors you need to consider when choosing which house rendering to opt for.
Read till the end!
What is House Rendering
When you buy a house, you take care not only to decorate it but also to protect its interior so that your house does not look unpleasant to your eyes and the ones who visit your home. While you take care of the interior to such a degree, don’t you think the exterior of the house deserves just as much attention to give your house the best look it deserves?
House rendering does precisely this. House rendering – otherwise called external wall insulation – pertains to the application of a protective layer on the external walls of your house. This layer is a mixture of cement, sand, lime, or other materials.
While the main purpose of house rendering is protection of your house, it does come with a range of textures and colors so that you can achieve your desired aesthetic.
House Rendering Versus Plastering
People often tend to confuse the two terms – house rendering and plastering – and mix up their meaning. However, the two terms refer to two entirely different things and should not be used synonymously.
There are three distinct aspects in which house rendering and plastering differ from each other, namely their function, materials, and thickness. House rendering is used on the exterior walls of the house. Meanwhile, plastering is done on the interior walls of the house after they are painted, giving them a smooth finish.
Since house rendering is on the exterior walls, its materials are more robust and weatherproof than plastering. House rendering materials include sand and cement, lime, and synthetic options like acrylic or silicone. Plastering is a combination of gypsum, sand, and additives.
Lastly, the thickness for house rendering is relatively more to be able to withstand the harsh weather conditions. On the other hand, for plastering, thickness is relatively less.
| Function | Material | Thickness | |
| House Rendering | Used for exterior walls | Sand and cement, lime, and synthetic options like acrylic or silicone | Relatively more thickness |
| Plastering | Used for interior walls | Combination of gypsum, sand, and additives | Relatively less thickness |
Benefits of House Rendering
There are several benefits you will reap by having house rendering done on its exterior walls.
1. Protects Your House
There are different weather conditions in the environment, ranging from severe heat to severe cold. In addition to this are the seasonal weather conditions such as rain, wind and frost. Yet, this is not all. There are also UV rays to consider.
Your house braces all these situations and protects you from them. However, the house will not be able to withstand these weather conditions if the outer protective layer on its exterior walls is not robust and strong enough.
That is where house rendering comes into play. It equips your house with the necessary protection, allowing it to protect itself. Moreover, house rendering plays another critical role. It prevents damage to the underlying brickwork and reduces the chances of damp and mold growth.
2. Promotes the Value of Your House
Are you intending to put your house up for sale? Or do you intend to put half of its portion to rent? If you are, then it would be a good idea to do house rendering before calling potential clients to take a look.
The strategy being applied here is simple. People are immediately attracted to visual beauty. So, when they come to your house, they will be instantly pleased by just the outer look of your house, thereby increasing the chances of them buying it.
The interior of the house comes next; first is the exterior. Therefore, you need to visually appeal to your clients through the first thing they will see, i.e., the exterior. Having a nice and beautiful house rendering done will, thus, significantly add value to your house and promote its sale.
3. Aesthetic House
Who doesn’t love beauty? Not to mention for a space in which they will be living for the rest of their lives. Do you not wish for your home to have an alluring beauty not just within but outside as well?
When you come home after a tiring day of work, just the outer look of your house will lift your mood. Don’t you want that? If so, you should definitely consider getting a delightful house rendering done for your house.
Nowadays, there is not just one color or texture you can go with; there are hundreds of options available for you to choose from. You can, thus, customize the look that you want according to your taste, and have it applied.
4. Saves Electricity Costs
House rendering actually saves costs on air conditioning and the heating of your house. That’s right; you did not read wrong. A well-done house rendering aids in reducing your electricity bills.
As we mentioned earlier, house rendering is also called external wall insulation. As its name suggests, it essentially provides your house with great insulation. When your house’s exterior walls provide insulation to the interior, it will regulate the interior’s temperature.
In the extreme cold, your house will be appropriately warmed; in the extreme heat, your house will be appropriately cooled. This way, you will not have to turn on your air conditioning and heating system as much as you would do without house rendering. Ultimately, house rending saves money on your electricity bills.
Traditional House Rendering
Moving on to the actual methods of house rendering, there are four types of traditional house rendering processes.
1. Sand and Cement Render
As its name suggests, the Sand and Cement Render makes use of a sand and cement mortar mix. It is then applied to the walls and smoothened using a trowel. Then, it is left in its natural form until it dries into a grey color. It is the most popular option in the construction industry.
The Sand and Cement Render can be easily customized to your favorite color. You can have the color added in the sand and cement mortar mix before it is applied, and viola! Your house walls will be will have that tint.
Besides this, some other decorative elements – such as Tyrolean or Highbuild – can be added for additional protection and decorative purposes.
| Advantages | Disadvantages |
| Appropriately priced | Requires maintenance |
| Hides substandard brickwork | Requires painting |
| It is easy to repair | Relatively less weatherproof than modern house renderings |
2. Clay Render
Clay Render, as its name suggests, uses clay as the material to be applied to the exterior walls of the house. It is one of the oldest house rendering methods to be used; in fact, it is one of the very first ones. Clay is a natural material, thus its popularity.
In addition, it is an eco-friendly option, so developers who wished for an environmentally friendly house rendering sought it as well. While you cannot customize it to your favorite color, it has a unique earthen finish that is lovely in its own way.
One thing to note about Clay Render is that it should be used over timber or straw. It is so because otherwise, it not only attracts but also holds water.
| Advantages | Disadvantages |
| Eco-friendly | Requires maintenance |
| Easy to repair | Tends to hold water |
| Economically priced | Not resistant to erosion |
3. Lime Render
Is your house built on soft soil? Or perhaps, is your house near a fault line? If so, you must be aware that your building is prone to ground shaking. In such a scenario, if you want a house rendering done, go for the Lime Render.
Unlike the Sand and Clay Render, which cracks with movement, the Lime Render does not crack with movement and is flexible. Lime Render is also both durable (requires low maintenance) and eco-friendly. While you cannot customize it, its unique traditional look is worth the money.
| Advantages | Disadvantages |
| Does not crack with movement | It is on the expensive side |
| Environmentally friendly | Requires a longer time to be done |
| Requires relatively lower maintenance | Needs a proficient professional |
4. Pebbledash Render
There are two types of Pebbledash Render: dry dash and wet dash house rendering. Both are durable and, thus, quality options; your choice depends on your preference for its finish.
Dry Dash Render
In the dry dash render, there is first an application of a mixture of sand and cement or lime. After its application, while the mixture is still wet, pebbles are thrown at it. This gives it a beautiful finish, with the pebbles showing. It can then be painted if you want.
Wet Dash Render
On the other hand, in the wet dash render, the pebbles are mixed in with the sand and cement or lime mixture and then applied to the walls. This results in a finish with the pebbles not showing but it creates a textured finish attractive in its own way. It is preferred to paint it afterward.
| Advantages | Disadvantages |
| Economical | Requires maintenance |
| Weather resistant | Relatively less weather resistant than some modern house renderings |
| Repair is easy | Cracks with movement |
Modern Colored House Rendering
Besides the traditional house rendering processes, there are now some prominent modern house rendering systems as well.
Just as the evolution of technology has affected all other fields, the house rendering industry has also been affected. They are essentially an improved version of the traditional house renderings as they have overcome the previous problems. Further, the addition of colors has also become better.
These modern house renderings are called colored polymer renderings. In them, the colored tint is added during the manufacturing process itself. This is unlike the traditional house renderings where the tint was added to the mix.
It is also because of this that modern color renderings do not require painting on top and you have a variety of colors to choose from.
There are three types of modern colored rendering: Monocouche, Silicon, and Acrylic Render. Read on to learn about them in detail.
1. Monocouche Render
As already mentioned, Colored Renders come in a variety of colors, so needless to say, you will find a whole range of colors in Monocouch Render that you can choose from. It is, at the same time, a dry-powdered render, thus having a scraped finish.
It is durable and water resistant; however, it is a bit expensive compared to traditional house renderings such as the Sand and Cement Render. It is also not suitable for areas where the building experiences frequent movement because it will then crack.
| Advantages | Disadvantages |
| Water-resistant | Prone to cracking with movement |
| Requires lower maintenance | Expensive |
| Does not require paint on top |
2. Silicone Render
Silicone Render also comes in a variety of colors for your convenience and choice. Simultaneously, what really makes it stand out is the silicone technology used in it. Silicone is water resistant, making Silicone Render highly resistant to water, ensuring its durability.
It is also able to resist cracking and requires relatively lower maintenance. Nonetheless, it is a bit on the expensive side.
| Advantages | Disadvantages |
| Water-resistant | Expensive |
| Crack-resistant | Not eco-friendly |
| Requires lower maintenance |
3. Acrylic Render
Just like other modern colored house renderings, Acrylic Render also offers you a range of colors to choose from. Besides this, it also allows for a variety of textures and finishes, thus giving you different customization options.
A factor that makes Acrylic Render stand out is its flexibility; it is highly resistant to cracks from movement. This is made possible through the addition of acrylic resin to the manufacturing process. This also makes it water-resistant, offering durability.
| Advantages | Disadvantages |
| Does not crack with movement | Not eco-friendly |
| Water-resistant | Not breathable |
| Economical |
How to Select the Right House Rendering for Your House
We have learned about all the different types of traditional and modern colored house renderings available in the market. Now, it is time to decide which one you should opt for, depending on various factors you should keep in mind.
1. Evaluate Your Property
Where do you live? Is it an area close to a fault line and thus prone to earthquakes? Secondly, what is the weather condition of that area? Is it humid most of the time of the year? Thirdly, what is the condition of your house’s exterior walls? Is the existing brickwork fine, or are there cracks?
You will choose the type of house rendering based on your answer to these questions. If your house is prone to movement, choose a crack-resistant render such as the traditional Lime Render or the modern Silicone or Acrylic one.
If you live in a humid area, you need water-resistant render such as the modern ones. Lastly, if the brickwork is cracked, you need to get it fixed first or choose a house rendering that can hide it, such as the Sand and Cement Render.
2. Your Aesthetic Taste
The aesthetics that you want for your house are just as imperative as other factors. First, consider whether you like a traditional feel or a modern one. Do you want the color to be customized to your tastes?
Depending on the answers to these questions, you can opt for either the Lime or the Pebbledash Render, which offers a traditional finish. Other traditional and modern house renderings allow you to customize the color you want, so you can go with them according to your wishes.
3. Long-Term Advantages
Of course, your preferences and location alone are not enough; you need to keep in mind their durability as well. What would be the use of spending so much money on house rendering if it does not prove durable?
The modern colored house renderings are far more durable than the traditional ones owing to their water-resistant and crack-resistant capabilities.
4. Your Budget
You need to consider your budget as well. If you can afford the expensive house renderings, you can opt for them. If you can’t, there are economical options as well.
The traditional house renderings such as the Sand and Cement Render, the Clay Render, and the Pebbledash Render, and the modern Acrylic Render are economical than the others. At the same time, they do not compromise on the quality as well.
5. Professional Advice
Last but not least, if you are unsure about where to start, consult a professional. Show your house to them, explain factors such as your area, location, house walls’ condition, your budget, your requirements, etc., and get their advice.
A seasoned professional can direct you in the right direction accordingly. They can tell you which house rendering would be the most suitable for your house after analyzing everything.
Conclusion
Overall, we now know that house rendering pertains to the application of a protective layer on your house’s exterior walls. It is different from plastering because plastering is for interior walls.
If you get your house rendered, it will protect your house, promote your house’s value, make your house aesthetically appealing, and reduce electricity costs.
The traditional house renderings include the Sand and Cement Render, the Clay Render, the Lime Render, and the Pebbledash Render. Meanwhile, the modern ones include the Monocouche Render, the Silicone Render, and the Acrylic Render.
When considering house rendering, you should evaluate your property, consider your aesthetic taste, the long-term advantages of house rendering, and your budget. Seek professional advice if need be.
FAQs
Q. Can you do house rendering yourself?
DIY kits for house rendering are available. However, it is recommended that professionals do it because it is a complicated procedure requiring not only knowledge but experience and expertise as well.
Q. How long does house rendering last?
A well-done house rendering, with proper maintenance, can last up to 20-30 years. Modern house renderings last this long. Some traditional ones, such as the Sand and Cement Render, may only last 7-15 years.
Q. What is the best time of year for house rendering?
For house rendering, extremely hot and cold weather are avoided. Instead, dry and mild weather conditions, such as spring, summer, and early autumn, are preferable for house renderings.
