
How long does rendering last on walls?
This can depend on the smoothness of the job and how clean the walls were prior to its application. With the more common cement-based renders, the lifespan can be significantly shorter, as the render is more liable to shrinkage or cracking. Cracking could occur anywhere from 7 to 15 years.
How long does sand and cement rendering last?
In this case, a sand and cement render would not last very long as it would crack with the ever-so-slight movement. Rendering over existing render is also one that requires a particular type of render.
What are the pros and cons of modern render?
that modern renders are especially useful on older buildings that are not appropriate for cavity wall insulation. that an acrylic render may last for many years as do lime renders.
What is the lifespan of a BBA-CERTified Render?
Any BBA-certified render that goes on your wall will have to have a 25 year lifespan as a minimum (subject to suitable maintenance). Some will far exceed this, whilst others will only meet the target longevity rather than exceeding it.

How often should render be replaced?
between 20-30 yearsHouse rendering should last between 20-30 years on average. Many professional renderers offer a guarantee on your render job of up to 25 years, so look to this for peace of mind.
How long does sand and cement render last?
Taking into consideration the flexibility, technology and how it can be maintained (a light jetwash every now and then) means a self-coloured render system can last around 5-10 years whilst a sand and cement or lime render system may only last a couple of years when you take into consideration the weather, movement of ...
How long does outside render last?
They can crack anywhere from 7 to 15 years. But again, it depends on the underlying conditions. If you have brickwork that is laid with cement-based mortar than there are fewer chances of early cracking. The rigid cement mortar will not let cement render to cope with movement.
Does render need maintenance?
Render offers a clean, modern, and attractive finish for your home which will last for more than 20 years if properly maintained. You'll need to wash it down from time to time to prevent noticeable buildup of algae, mould and other environmental contaminants.
How often should render be painted?
Most experts say that you'll need to paint every five to ten years, depending on factors such as where you live, climate and weather, and the previous paint job. Also, keep in mind that every surface will be a little different. For example: Wood siding - every 3-7 years, or every 4 years if it's stained.
Is it normal for render to crack?
In short, any traditional plaster or render, without proper supporting materials will always crack. Sometimes these cracks will be insignificant enough to be covered with paint, at other times they will look disastrous, suggesting structural insecurity.
Does render need to be sealed?
Do you need to seal the render before painting? You don't necessarily need to seal your new render before you start to paint over it. You should apply at least a thinned first coat as a mist coat. You should then apply the appropriate number of coats on top of it to finish the project.
Can you render over render?
Additional coats of render can only be applied safely when the existing work is sound and has satisfactory adhesion over the whole area involved. Further rendering coats should not be applied over soft, friable material, or where the existing render is greater than 15mm thickness.
How much does it cost to re render a house UK?
How Much To Render A House?House TypeAverage Area (m2)Total Rendering Cost Estimate (£)Small mid terrace house40 to 50 m2£3,000 to £4,000Large mid terrace house70 to 180 m2£3,000 to £5,000Three bedroom detached house100 to 160 m2£4,000 to £5,500Four/five bedroom detached house180 m2 minimum£6,500 minimum
Can you pressure wash render?
High pressure can damage the render by penetrating behind the skin & blowing it away from the wall. Using steam under low pressure from a specialist system such as Doff or Thermatek machine will gently remove organic material, deposits of atmospheric pollutants & other types of grime.
Does render add value to house?
In the same way as rendering protects against damp, the barrier it provides improves the insulation of your home and therefore its energy efficiency. So, does rendering a house add value? Absolutely it can, both financially for the homeowner and for potential buyers.
How often should you clean render?
every 6-12 monthsUnlike many other cement-based products, the maintenance of rendering systems is quite easy and often only requires household products. With regular upkeep, the rendered coatings will have a longer and more trouble-free life! Here at RSA, we recommend periodic cleaning of the area every 6-12 months.
Is sand and cement render any good?
Sand and cement render is a very outdated, low-performance solution to creating a decorative finish on your property; these days, thin coat, through-coloured renders and breathable scratch renders are a more popular alternative for installers and homeowners alike.
Is sand and cement render waterproof?
Sand & Cement Render vs. Many are waterproof but breathable, self-cleaning, through-coloured, algae/fungi resistant, and UV resistant. Each type of render has its pros and cons, but every one of them is an excellent investment.
Do you have to paint sand and cement render?
Yes you can leave it as it is but will need to be sealed with a masonry sealer. Perfectly ok to leave it just the way it is.
Is cement render waterproof?
Waterproof cement, commonly known as render or mortar, is polymer modified and is a specifically designed cementitious mortar/plaster, high-strength wall render/repair coating. Our waterproof cement slurry is weather resistant and incorporates shrinkage compensating (non-shrink) and adhesive components.
Why use lime render?
One of the reasons that lime has been used to render old cottages is because it can stand up to excessive weather conditions and will protect the substrata underneath i.e. lime/ calcium oxide (CaO) is dissolved by water molecules forming aqueous calcium hydroxide (Ca (OH)2). This aqueous compound can be turned into solid calcium hydroxide once the rain has abated and the rendered surface is dry.
Why is lime used in old cottages?
One of the reasons that lime has been used to render old cottages is because it can stand up to excessive weather conditions and will protect the substrata underneath i.e. lime/ calcium oxide (CaO) is dissolved by water molecules forming aqueous calcium hydroxide (Ca (OH)2).
Can renders be used on older buildings?
that modern renders are especially useful on older buildings that are not appropriate for cavity wall insulation.
How long does a render last?
Taking into consideration the flexibility, technology and how it can be maintained (a light jetwash every now and then) means a self-coloured render system can last around 5-10 years whilst a sand and cement or lime render system may only last a couple ...
What is a render system?
A sand and cement render system (also known as a traditional render system) is the early version of rendering.
What is an overhang in a render?
An overhang is an extension that prevents water running down the render and prevents water from getting through any gaps in the top of it. The most common overhang is an extension to the roof so that when water runs down, it is driven away from the render meaning it would last longer and not get damaged when it rains.
Can you render over existing render?
The substrate that the render is applied on is also very important. The most common of these are brickwork, blockwork and a timber frame although render can sometimes be applied over existing render. A timber frame would have more movement that the brickwork or blockwork of a house so would require a more flexible render. In this case, a sand and cement render would not last very long as it would crack with the ever-so-slight movement. Rendering over existing render is also one that requires a particular type of render. It’s always suggested to render with a thin coat modern render system onto existing render as other render systems are far too heavy and would simple pull the new render off the wall after a matter of months or years.
How long does a render last?
But like many other finishing materials, external renders have a life. You can expect some modern acrylic or plastic-based renders to last between 20 to 40 years. In most of the cases, the property doesn’t need a redo work for almost 50 years.
What factors affect the lifespan of a render?
Prevailing conditions and weathering. Another important aspect that factor in the lifespan of your render is the prevailing conditions that the render may get exposed to. If you’re living in an area where there is a significant amount of rain and the bad weather conditions are common, the render will not stand that long.
How long does it take for brick to crack?
They can crack anywhere from 7 to 15 years. But again, it depends on the underlying conditions. If you have brickwork that is laid with cement-based mortar than there are fewer chances of early cracking. The rigid cement mortar will not let cement render to cope with movement.
Is render breathable?
Modern renders with an adhesive base coat and mineral, silicon or acrylic topcoats are much more flexible and breathable. So, they are less liable to cracking. Such renders are like those things which you fit and forget.
Do renders last longer?
For all the types of renders to perform and last a longer, you need good quality to rend system from a reputable renderer like Your External Rendering. You can expect to increase the longevity of renders when you apply it correctly and with proper preparation of the wall surface.
Do you need to replace cement renders?
Many modern acrylic renders and silicon-based renders tend to have a long lifespan and if done correctly will need not to replace sooner. Cement renders may need to be replaced sooner because they tend to crack and break off early as compared to some modern acrylic renders.
How long does rendering last?
If the render was applied to a clean wall by a skilled professional, it should perform well and last for many years, if not decades. The type of render, as well as the underlying type of mortar used in making in the brickwork, plays a big role in how long rendering lasts. Any type of render can be vulnerable to cracking if water or salt crystallisation occurs. So how long does each type of render last?
How long does cement render last?
Cracking could occur anywhere from 7 to 15 years. A cement-based render will perform best in situations where the brickwork underneath was built using a cement-based mortar, since they’re fairly rigid. Softer lime-based mortars mean that the render has to cope with more movement, and the rigidity of the cement render makes this difficult, resulting in cracks, bumps, hollow spots, and even breakage.
What is house rendering?
House rendering is generally done by an experienced plasterer, and refers to the process of covering walls with gradual layers of cement mortar or other types of render mixes. It can be one of the quickest and easiest ways of updating a home, and it can increase the market value of a property significantly. Put simply, people choose ...
How to tell if render is a red flag?
Firstly, note the appearance of the render and look for any imperfections. Does it appear to be an even, smooth job throughout the wall? Can you see any obvious cracks or bumps in the render? Is there any separation of the render from the wall? What about hollow spots – can you notice any indentations where the render seems sunken? Finally, look for places where windows might overhang. If the render doesn’t have enough clearance from these overhanging places, it can be a massive red flag.
What to do if you notice imperfections in rendering?
If you notice any of these imperfections in the rendering job, on any walls of the property, it is worth thinking again about buying the property. You could be looking at potentially thousands of dollars in repairing the job, and hundreds of hours of labour. It could be a huge financial investment, and since they’re supposed to last decades, you need to be sure that it’s right for you and your home.
Why do people render their houses?
Put simply, people choose to render their houses because it’s an easy way to refurbish an old property or give it a much-needed face-lift. A rendered finish to the walls of a home is elegant, cleaner, and more sophisticated than bare brick or bagged finishes.
Is rendering a house good?
There are also many practical benefits to rendering your house. It can add waterproofing to the walls of your home, as well as improve on your home’s overall fire-rating.
shootyz
It looks like my pebble dash rendering is letting in water and I suspect that its blown in places, ie sounding hollow.
roughcaster
Any external wall coating, be it render, tyrolean, roughcast etc, done correctly, using the correct mixes, working in the right weather conditions, should last as long as the property itself. It's a "major part" of the property ..... Sounds to me as if you have a definite argument....
shootyz
The render doesn't appear to be coming off at the moment but I suspect that its coming away due to hollow sounds in some areas, I take it that any sort of gap is unacceptable.
roy c
Usually dashing / harling (I think you call it up North) was put on house's in "exposed" areas as it dis-spells water better than flat render and like RC said should last the house out... (If done by spreads who know what and when and how to do it!!!)
JohnD
I used to live in a house where the pebbledash went loose and flaky and had to be replaced after 70 years.
DIYnot Local
If you need to find a tradesperson to get your job done, please try our local search below, or if you are doing it yourself you can find suppliers local to you.

How Long Does Render Last?
Biological Influence on Renders
- Even though a warranty may suggest a lifespan of 25 or 30 years, vegetation growing on walls can greatly reduce that. Vines, Ivy fungi and moss can all cause damage to the render, as well as staining to the top coat. As part of our warranty, we always ask that the walls be kept free of all vegetation. This will help ensure a full lifespan for your render. Furthermore, some renders will c…
Maintenance
- Whilst some renders will have inherent lifespans that are longer than others, the important thing to note is that unless the system is maintained according to the manufacturers instructions, the lifespan may be diminished, and the warranties may no longer apply. EWI Pro has several important stipulations that cover their warranty – one being that the walls should be painted onc…
Pebbledash and Durability
- Whilst it may look out of date and uncool, pebbledash is still great for areas where a hard-wearing render is required. Pebbledash 100 years of age or older can still be seen on many a UK property, and the reason is that it that is so hard wearing and resistant to damage that it really can last that long. Having said that, most of these older pebbledash renders are cracked and not working quit…
It Is How You Install, Not Just What You Install
- Whilst the materials you use are obviously important, you also need an installer who knows what they are doing. A bad installer can take the right materials and produce a poor finish, which won’t last the test of time. If you combine quality and correctly specified materials with an experienced and good quality installer, you will end up with a render that will last generations. Remember tha…