External plastering and rendering
External rendering in London
Rendering that protects and refreshes the outside of a building, from full re-renders to patch repairs and render painting.
- Sand and cement, lime, silicone
- 2-year guarantee
Rendering London
Rendering to protect and refresh the outside of a building
Good render keeps the weather out and transforms how a house looks. Our external plastering team strips back failed or hollow render, repairs the wall behind it and fits beads and stop ends for clean, straight edges, then applies the right render system for the building. We render houses, extensions, garden walls and commercial buildings across London and Surrey, and repaint existing render too.
- Three render systems
- Sand and cement, lime, silicone
- Clean, straight edges
- Beads and stop ends fitted
- Render painting
- Breathable masonry finishes
- Render repairs
- Cracks and blown patches blended in
Render types
The render systems we use
Compare the options. We will recommend the right one for your walls at the survey.
Sand and cement render
The traditional choice for modern brick and block walls: two coats, finished smooth or textured, then painted with masonry paint.
Best for
- Modern cavity walls
- Extensions
- Garden walls
Lime render
Breathable and flexible, lime render lets old solid walls dry out, preventing damp. Finished with limewash or a breathable mineral paint.
Best for
- Period and listed buildings
- Solid brick and stone walls
Silicone and through-coloured render
Thin-coat silicone and monocouche renders are coloured all the way through, repel water and dirt, and never need painting.
Best for
- Modern homes
- New builds
- Insulated render systems
Render repairs and patching
Cracked, blown or hollow render cut out, the wall repaired and new render blended in to match the texture and colour around it.
Best for
- Cracks and blown patches
- After window or door changes
Render painting
Painting rendered walls
Render painting is about more than colour. We wash down and treat algae, fill cracks, stabilise chalky surfaces and then apply a breathable masonry paint system suited to the render, so the finish lasts and the wall can still dry out. We repaint existing render and paint new render once it has cured. See more of our exterior painting.
- Smooth and textured masonry paints
- Silicate and limewash for lime render
- Algae and mould wash treatments
- Crack repairs before painting
Our process
How we render a wall
Survey
We check the wall, test old render for hollow areas and recommend a system.
Preparation
Failed render removed, wall cleaned, repaired and treated.
Beads and mesh
Corner, bell-cast and stop beads, with mesh over weak spots.
Render coats
Scratch coat, then the top coat, applied in the right conditions.
Finishing
Smooth, textured or through-coloured finish, painted if needed.
FAQ
Rendering questions
How much does it cost to render a house in London?
As a guide, rendering costs from £55 to £90 per square metre for sand and cement and from £70 to £110 per square metre for silicone or lime render, including preparation and beads. The front of a terraced house is often £3,000 to £6,000 plus scaffolding. Patch repairs start from a few hundred pounds. We give a fixed quote after a free survey.
How long does render take to dry?
Each coat of sand and cement render needs a day or more before the next, and around four weeks before it can be painted. Lime render cures more slowly. Through-coloured silicone render needs no paint, so the job is finished as soon as the final coat is on.
Can you render in winter or wet weather?
Only in dry weather above about 5°C, day and night. We plan rendering for spring to autumn wherever possible and protect fresh work from rain and frost.
How long does render last?
Well-applied sand and cement render lasts 20 to 30 years with repainting every 8 to 10 years. Silicone render lasts 25 years or more and stays clean, and lime render can last generations on the right building.
Which paint should I use on render?
A breathable masonry paint suited to the render. Smooth or textured acrylic masonry paint works on sand and cement, silicate or limewash on lime render, and silicone render does not need painting. Read more about exterior painting.
Which render is best for my house?
It depends on the walls. Modern cavity walls suit silicone or monocouche renders, while older solid brick or stone walls usually need breathable lime render. We advise at the survey.
Free quotes
Get a rendering quote
Send us photos of the walls and we will arrange a free survey and a fixed, itemised quote.
- 07852 371651
- Monday–Saturday: 07:00–18:00