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House rendering is a very common cladding solution, typically used on more contemporary homes, though there are lots of different types of render out there, so it’s possible to find the right type for pretty much any property.

There are lots of reasons you might consider rendering the facade of your house, whether that’s to improve its appearance or make it more resistant to the weather.

So, if you’re thinking about rendering your house in the near future, then this guide can help.

Below, we’re going to look at what rendering is, the different types of render available and the process of applying cladding to the exterior of your property.

Read on to find out more.

What is house rendering?

House render is a type of cladding that is applied to the exterior of your home, much like plaster might be on the interior walls. It is often textured or coloured, though it can be painted after application.

The main materials used to create render are cement, sand, lime and water, though there are different types. More on this in the next section.

Different types of render

Modern renders are a big improvement on the old materials; they can be applied for a smooth, textured or even patterned finish. Some of the most common types of render include:

• Lime render – This is the best option for an old home. As it is breathable, it is better suited to period properties and those hoping to alleviate damp
• Cement render – A standard choice for exterior walls, this is a budget-friendly option though it might need to be repainted frequently
• Polymer render – This is typically cement or lime-based with additional polymers to prevent cracking. This can be coloured so it doesn’t need painting
• Monocouche render – This means ‘single bed’ or single coat in French and, as the name suggests, only requires one coat. It is based on cement render and can be bought ready to be mixed with water

The type of render you choose for your property will depend on your reasons for cladding your home. It will also depend on the look and finish you want for your house.

The main reasons for rendering a house

As we said, there are multiple reasons you might consider rendering your house; some of the key reasons include:

• Improving the external appearance of the building
• Keeping water out and stopping penetrating damp
• Increase resistance to all weathers (not just rain)
• Blending new parts of a building with existing parts
• Protecting the underlying house walls
• Adding value to your property

The process of rendering a house

Though you can render the walls yourself, you should only attempt this if you are confident in your abilities and have at least a little experience or help. In most cases, hiring a contractor is going to be your best option.

Either way, the process will look a little something like this:

Preparing the walls

Before anything can be added to the walls, they need to be prepared. This means fixing any structural damage and ensuring the walls are stable.

External details

Any external obstructions will need to be removed, such as bargeboards, pipes and gutters. You may also need to extend external details, such as window sills and alarm boxes, so these still fit around the new layer of render.

Adding insulation

If insulation is being added, this needs to go on before the render coat, the type of insulation and fixing will depend on the type of wall underneath.

Create a foundation for the render

A fabric render mesh is applied to the insulation, often bedding into the first coat of render. This mesh is to reinforce and stop cracking.

Building the layers

After this, more layers are added to build up the render. Of course, this doesn’t apply to single coat render. The final layer will depend on the desired finish; this could include polymer cement, silicone and acrylic.

Finishing the render

Some renders are already coloured; in this case, they don’t need painting. Others might need to have a coat of paint applied; this will need to be weatherproof external paint.

The last thing to do is to put back the external details you removed earlier, such as pipes and guttering.

And there you have it; your house will be newly rendered, stronger and more weatherproof than ever.