One of the greatest doubts with regards to facade’s rendering is whether to apply cement render or acrylic render. Even though the final appearances of both renders are selfsame, their methods of execution and properties of material differ quite a lot. Therefore, prices can vary depending on substrates, finishes and specially the specific objectives of the rendering and its warranty.

Let’s take an overall look at these two types of rendering separately.

Cement Render

Loose / Raw materials mixed on-site (cement, sand and lime).

Application:

It’s recommended to be applied only to prepared coarse surfaces such as brick, cement block, stone, or porous stone.

Coats required:

It can vary depending on project specifications and quality of the wall/surface (alignment and plumb) – get in contact with Super Render for a free appraisal.

Finish looking: Rendering can be fine or coarse, textured or smooth, natural or coloured, pigmented or painted.

Advantages:

• Cost: Cement render is cheap being a great choice for tight budget projects.

Downsides:

• Limited range of substrates: Only brick and block;
• Mixed on site: Inaccurate ratio may occur;
• Loose material: Risks of contamination;
• Durability: Tend to crack over with time.

Acrylic Render

Can only be purchased pre-blended in bags (Euromix, MacRender, Sto, Ardex, Astec Paints; Rockcote; Unitex; Dulux Acratex).

Application:

Can be applied to prepared coarse surfaces such as brick, cement block, stone, or mud brick substrates as well as to prepared fibre cement, uneven concrete, plasterboard and painted masonry, PVC substrates (Rediwall; Dincel; Permaform), cement sheeting, and new high tech polymer exterior cladding (Uni-Base).

Coats required:

Base coat is a must. Other coats vary depending on project specifications and quality of the wall/surface (alignment and plumb) – get in contact with Super Render for a free appraisal.

Finish looking:

Rendering can be fine or coarse, textured or smooth, natural or coloured, pigmented or painted. There are also many various acrylic-bound pigmented ‘designer’ finishing coats that can be applied over acrylic render.

Advantages:

• Cure: 2 days to dry and cure (much faster than the 28 days for traditional render – scaffold economy);
• Wide range of substrates;
• Flexibility – material extends as temperature varies, making it far less likely to crack;
• It does not require a second coat of paint;

Downsides:

• Requires extra care during application.

To get the most from any rendering be mindful and always seek for professional advice and qualified workmanship. Super Render has the solutions and quality that your project deserves.

If you are unsure about which rendering is the right one for your project, feel free to contact our expert Super Render team to evaluate possible solutions to meet your needs.