The walls on the front of your house have probably seen better days.
Just look at them – as shabby as a flea-bitten suit, chipped and cracked in all the wrong places, and peeling like a man who’s sat in the sun for too long.
In short, it’s a hot mess and it’s time you went to work and fixed it.
But how do you repair a wall that looks like it’s ready to crumble?
The answer is simple – rendering.
If you don’t know what rendering is, fear not. We’ve put together this handy guide on the ins and outs of rendering, and why you should try it on your exterior walls.
What exactly is rendering?
Rendering is the process of applying a coat of a dense mixture to your external walls to give them a particular texture.
While it shares similarities with plastering, as both use core materials such as cement, lime, gypsum, and water, the key difference is their application area—rendering is specifically intended for exterior walls. This process not only enhances the appearance of buildings but also increases their durability by protecting them against various weather conditions. If you are looking for professionals to handle this task in Australia, you can search online for Renderers Brisbane to find skilled service providers who can ensure a high-quality finish that beautifies your exterior while also enhancing its resilience against the elements.
What are the practical benefits of rendering?
Rendering your exterior walls will make them more durable in the long run, not least because it will make them water repellent, meaning it can prevent damp in your home.
The gypsum in the mixture will also add to the ‘breathability’ of your walls, improving their ability to let moisture escape, in turn stopping condensation build-up which could lead to rot and mould.
Make your rendering mixture correctly and your walls will also be hardier against the elements, decreasing the likelihood of cracking. Not only this, but a well rendered wall will be more fire resistant.
What are the decorative benefits of rendering?
While rendering is primarily intended to improve the durability of your home, there are plenty of ways to make a rendering effect look aesthetically pleasing.
Applying a finishing topcoat or a wash to your rendering will allow you to pick a colour of your choice for your home, or you could add special coloured pigments to your mixture to add a dab of style to the finished effect.
More than anything, your home will look cleaner and newer with this simple process – and could dramatically increase its selling price.
Can I render a wall myself?
In theory, yes, provided you have experience of plastering and mixing materials.
However, creating an effective rendering mixture requires a skilful hand, especially if you plan to add colour pigments. If you aren’t sure about your abilities, leave the process to the pros.
Where can I find rendering materials?
Rendering materials can be purchased from a number of places, although Direct Building Products comes highly recommend for its K-Rend silicone rendering mixture.
For general building materials like sponges, brushes, trowels, and sprays, your local hardware shop should do the trick.
So there you have it – all you need to know about rendering walls.
Have we given you the DIY bug? Then let us know in the comments below.
