Rendering can revitalise your home’s exterior walls. Here’s how to find rendering companies near you to give your home a facelift.
How to find rendering companies near you
Finding reliable and experienced rendering services in your area is quick and easy with Checkatrade.
You’ll only find trades who meet our high standards and pass our quality checks on Checkatrade.
Short on time? No problem. Request a quote and let our members contact you.
Your questions answered about rendering companies near you
House rendering is a form of exterior cladding applied to external walls to make them smooth or textured. Local rendering companies can advise what finish, style and colour is best for your home.
What is the best rendering for a house?
House rendering is a coating that goes on top of your home’s outer walls. This external rendering can come in many styles and materials, from traditional pebbledash and cement options to contemporary acrylic house rendering.
Silicone renders are easy to apply, hydrophobic, and flexible (which makes them less likely to crack). However, lime render is a better option for older properties that need to breathe.
What rendering materials are available?
Some of the best house rendering ideas combine materials to achieve stunning and contemporary designs. Not only that, they will also protect your home from external weather conditions, stop rainwater penetration, and increase insulation.
Additionally, rendering your home’s exterior walls can even add value to your property.
Monocouche render
- French for ‘single layer’ or ‘bed’, monocouche is a dry powdered render available in a range of colours
- Combines the traditional benefits of lime render such as texture and breathability (which helps stop cracking) with a hardwearing, weather-resistant, and low-maintenance finish
- Has a white or sandy chalk-like finish and is quicker and less labour intensive than other renders
Lime render
- A must for period properties, lime offers a breathable finish which is flexible and stops moisture being trapped within the wall
- It is trickier to apply so we recommend hiring a professional rendering service near you
- Lime render is slightly more expensive than other materials and does need regular lime wash coatings to keep it looking good
Cement render (scratch coat render)
- Cement render is a straightforward house render that uses easy-to-access materials (sand and cement)
- The base layers are scratched in preparation for the final coat, which is applied smoothly and ready for painting
- However, cement-rendered houses will need some repair or maintenance down the line, mainly because this render tends to crack
Silicone house renders
- Silicone render contains silicone, which is a rubbery polymer that boasts more excellent resistance to high temperatures
- Silicone can be one of the best render for houses because it is hydrophobic – it’s essentially waterproof, but with a render system that allows for better breathability within the surface
- Silicone house renders are easily applied and provide a flexible finish that is less prone to cracking, is self-cleaning and requires less maintenance
Stone cladding renders
- Stone render is one of the most visually impressive house rendering ideas that creates a striking balance between modern and traditional
- Dry stack sandstone cladding is a popular option – this house render is applied with strips of sandstone cut to the same height but a random length
- Natural stone comes in many forms that look stunning on a modern home; these include – granite, limestone, marble, slate and granite
- Combining timber and stone cladding is one of the best house rendering ideas for rural houses needing a modern facelift
How much does it cost to render a house?
Rendering walls is popular because it creates a subtle, uniform finish, keeps the rain out and can be cost-effective. It can also be coloured to match your style.
Poorly done rendered walls can be a high-maintenance problem – and cracks, bubbles, and mould can appear within months. That’s why you should always hire a professional.
When budgeting for your project, renderers will usually work out your quote based on rendering prices per m2. This will be a simple calculation matching your house size to the type of rendering preferred.
You should allow £30 - £80/m2 (of facing wall) for a rendered wall (which includes painting). So a typical three-bedroom semi-detached home with around 90m2 of walling might cost in the region of £2,700 - £7,200. The job might typically take up to two weeks, and you should allow £1,000 for scaffolding costs.
A smaller bungalow, which has less wall area and will require less scaffolding, will cost £1,500 - £4,000.
Using a monocouche render will be more expensive, but there are long-term savings on maintenance to be enjoyed. Typical costs (including labour) are in the region of £80/m2.
Head to our comprehensive cost guide to find out how much it costs to render a wall. You’ll find out more too in our monocouche rendering cost guide and silicone render cost guide.
Does rendering a house stop damp?
Penetrating damp is the process of moisture moving from the exterior wall of a building to the interior. It occurs when outside moisture like wind-driven rain impacts a building’s wall.
Rendering alone will not stop existing damp. In the short term, it will fix the symptoms. In the long term, dampness will remain and eventually destroy the render. Dampness can seriously damage the fabric of buildings.
If you want to prevent penetrating damp, the best solution is to treat exterior walls using a water repellent and breathable treatment.
What time of year is best for rendering?
One of the greatest challenges for renderers is the UK climate. Rendering can be done all year round, however there are important factors to consider.
- From October through to spring, rain, frost and limited daylight threaten the quality of the job
- Spring and summer are the best times to render. However, if the weather is over 30°C can the render can dry out too quickly, leading to an uneven finish
- Above all else, the weather has to be dry. This means that’s rendering cannot be done when it is raining
- Additionally, the weather cannot be too cold. This means during the winter the temperature can’t be when there is a risk of fog
How long should it take to render a house?
Rendering should take around 2-3 weeks for a standard detached home and 1-2 weeks for a semi-detached or bungalow. Moreover, a single house wall should be rendered within 3-5 days.
However, this will vary depending on the complexity of the project and what preparation needs doing. For instance, does the property have pebble dash or old render that needs to be removed before the new render is applied?
Do you need to repoint before rendering?
Generally, you do not need to repoint prior to rendering as any holes or cracks will help to key the render to the structure.
That said, in older properties where brickwork is cracked and damaged it is recommended to level out the surface with a special levelling mortar. This will ensure a quality surface to render onto.
If the damage is severe, but not structural, a strengthening metal mesh is fixed to the brickwork. This holds the bricks together and ensures a stable surface to render onto.
How do I find the best rendering companies near me?
Keen to go ahead? All that’s left to do is find rendering services near you. Follow our top tips to make the right hire.
1. Search a professional directory
Our leading directory is the go-to resource for homeowners looking for quality tradespeople and suppliers for home improvement projects.
You’ll only find trades who meet our high standards and pass our quality checks on Checkatrade. On average our trades score 9 out of 10 on everything from workmanship and reliability to tidiness.
We’re so confident in the quality of the trades on Checkatrade that if you book through us, we guarantee their work up to £1,000. Guaranteed for 12 months – Eligibility criteria and T&Cs apply.
2. Check online reviews
Reading online reviews is a great way to see the quality of a tradesperson’s work and reputation.
At Checkatrade, we only show real, verified reviews, so you can trust in their authenticity.
3. Ask for recommendations
Lastly, ask around. Have friends or family hired house rendering companies near you? Would they recommend their rendering company? If you’re given any names, don’t forget to cross-check them on Checkatrade!
Ready to find approved rendering companies near you? Just add your postcode to the box below to get started.