It's very easy to neglect the outside of your home; after all, we spend most of our time indoors, so we focus on the interior decor, but this can be a costly mistake. Dirt, pollution, lichen, and algae in Alne make the walls of our houses look awful and can also cause a lot of damage!
Besides this, grimy walls can negatively affect your home in terms of its value, kerb appeal and the overall tone of the neighbourhood.
One of the best ways to upgrade your home and give it a fresh, vibrant makeover is to apply a good-quality render.
To achieve the best results, it's advisable to hire a professional rendering specialist. And that's where the Render Hero Alne team can be of service.
With roots dating back to well before the Romans, rendering has long been a popular method for adding a decorative and protective finish to walls. Traditionally made from lime or cement, these early renders offered some weatherproofing but required frequent maintenance. Modern house rendering has seen a surge in popularity due to a wider range of options, including polymer-enhanced renders like silicone and acrylic. These advanced renders boast superior weather resistance, self-cleaning properties, and added flexibility, making them a clear improvement over their traditional counterparts.
Modern renders are also available in a wide range of colour options, opening up a whole new realm of possibilities when it comes to external decoration.
In recent times, modern rendering has taken a leap forward with the introduction of through-coloured renders. Unlike traditional methods where colour is added afterwards as a paint coat, through-coloured render integrates pigment directly during the manufacturing process.
Unmatched Colour Variety
These renders boast a significantly wider range of different colours compared to traditional options. This allows you to achieve any aesthetic desire, from classic creams and charcoals to vibrant contemporary hues, for a truly personalised look.
We offer all the standard colours, but if these aren't to your taste, we'll discuss your preferred choice and find the best match.
Superior Protection Throughout
The colour isn't just for aesthetics; it penetrates the entire render mix. This creates a crucial advantage – any minor scratches or scuffs on the surface won't show the bare render beneath, unlike traditional painted renders, where damage exposes the underlying material. This colour consistency enhances the render's overall resilience and visual appeal.
Reduced Maintenance Costs
One of the biggest advantages of coloured render systems is the elimination of the need for subsequent painting. Traditional renders require repainting every 3–5 years to maintain their colour and protect the underlying material. Through-coloured renders eliminate this ongoing cost and maintenance hassle, saving you time and money in the long run.
Enhanced Weather Resistance
The manufacturing process of through-coloured renders often incorporates advanced polymers like silicone and acrylic. These additions further enhance the render's weather resistance, making it even more adept at repelling water, dirt, and UV rays. This translates to a longer lifespan for your rendered exterior and a reduction in the risk of weather-related damage.
In essence, through-coloured renders represent a significant advancement in rendering technology. They offer an extensive range of colour choices, superior protection against the elements, and require minimal maintenance, making them a compelling option for homeowners seeking a beautiful and durable exterior finish.
There are four main choices at present, although this is certain to rise as technology advances.
For the moment, here are the four options open to you:
Monocouche render, derived from the French word for "single coat," is a revolutionary rendering system that simplifies the process while achieving stunning results. Here's what makes it an attractive option for your property's exterior:
Unlike traditional renders that require multiple layers, monocouche is a single-layer system. This translates to a faster application process, reduced labour costs, and a quicker turnaround time for your project. However, a thin base coat is sometimes applied to ensure optimal adhesion to the substrate.
Monocouche render eliminates the need for a separate paint coat. The pigment is incorporated directly during manufacturing, resulting in a uniform and long-lasting colour throughout the render's thickness. This not only simplifies the process but also ensures any minor scratches or abrasions on the surface blend seamlessly, maintaining the render's flawless appearance.
Whether your property boasts traditional brickwork or modern block construction, monocouche render is a perfect fit. It adheres exceptionally well to these surfaces, providing a strong and durable exterior finish.
Monocouche offers a smooth, flat finish that creates a clean and contemporary aesthetic for your home. This finish surpasses the visual appeal of traditional renders, instantly elevating your property's kerb appeal.
While monocouche typically offers a smooth finish, various finishes allow for the incorporation of texture during application. This can mimic the look of natural stone, such as ashlar stone, or even brickwork, adding a touch of character and visual interest to your exterior.
Monocouche render is formulated to be highly resilient and weatherproof. It withstands harsh weather conditions, including rain, wind, and UV rays, protecting your walls from cracking, chipping, and moisture ingress. This translates to a longer lifespan and minimal maintenance needs compared to traditional render systems.
With its ease of application, wide range of colours, and stunning finish options, monocouche render is a compelling choice for homeowners seeking a beautiful and long-lasting exterior for their property.
When it comes to protecting your home from the elements, mineral render stands out from the rest. Traditionally, this would be a cement render, a mix of cement, sand and water, perhaps with the addition of lime. Here's why this innovative system is particularly suited for colder or wetter environments:
Mineral render wins in terms of drying speed. As a dry-mix render, it requires minimal moisture content for application, allowing it to dry out considerably faster than other options. This rapid drying time is particularly beneficial in colder or wetter climates, where prolonged dampness can pose challenges for traditional renders.
Mineral render boasts a "thin coat" application, making it not only quicker to install but also less material intensive. Thin coat renders offer potential cost savings and a lighter weight on your walls, further enhancing structural integrity.
Unlike some render systems that can trap moisture, mineral render is inherently breathable. This allows your walls to naturally expel moisture vapour, preventing the build-up of condensation that can lead to mould growth and structural problems. This breathability is particularly important in colder climates where condensation is a common concern.
Mineral render possesses a remarkable degree of flexibility, making it highly resistant to cracking. This is especially beneficial in colder climates where temperature fluctuations can cause traditional render to contract and expand, leading to unsightly cracks. With mineral render, your exterior remains protected and visually flawless for years to come.
Mineral render offers a variety of grain sizes, allowing you to achieve a spectrum of textures on your exterior walls. From a smooth, contemporary finish to a more rustic, textured look, you can customise the aesthetic to perfectly match your vision and property style.
If you're considering external wall insulation (see below for details) with mineral wool, then a cement-based render is the perfect choice. The breathability of both materials allows for a healthy and efficient building envelope. Mineral render complements the insulating properties of mineral wool, creating a truly weatherproof and energy-efficient system for your home.
Mineral render's rapid drying time, breathability, flexibility, and customisable textures make it the ideal choice for properties in challenging climates. Contact Render Hero today and discover how mineral render can transform your home's exterior and enhance its resilience against the elements.
Acrylic render offers a compelling combination of strength, flexibility, and ease of application, making it a popular choice for homeowners in Alne seeking a beautiful and durable exterior.
The addition of acrylic resin to the render mix significantly enhances its strength. However, this added strength doesn't come at the expense of flexibility. Acrylic render remains flexible, making it highly resistant to cracking, a common concern with traditional render options. This translates to a longer-lasting and visually flawless exterior for your property.
Acrylic render offers a more user-friendly application process compared to some other examples. It can be applied in two coats using various techniques, including spraying, rolling, or traditional trowelling. This versatility allows for a smooth and efficient installation, regardless of your preferred method.
Acrylic render boasts an impressive drying time, typically taking only 2–3 days to fully cure. This rapid drying time stands in stark contrast to traditional sand and cement render, which can take up to a month to cure completely. The faster drying time translates to a quicker project turnaround and allows you to enjoy the finished look of your exterior sooner.
Unlike some render systems with limitations on application surfaces, acrylic render offers remarkable versatility. It can be applied to a wide range of substrates, including brick, concrete, timber, fibre cement boards, and even existing painted walls. This adaptability makes it a suitable choice for a variety of property types and construction materials.
With its superior strength, impressive flexibility, user-friendly application, and rapid drying time, acrylic render is a compelling option for homeowners seeking a beautiful and resilient exterior finish.
For Alne homeowners seeking the ultimate in exterior wall protection and aesthetics, silicone render could be the perfect choice. Here's why this advanced system earns its reputation as the best quality render available:
Silicone render takes the ease of application to a whole new level. This "thin coat" system is incredibly user-friendly, making it a great choice for both professional renderers and enthusiastic DIYers. The application process is often simpler and quicker compared to other render systems.
Silicone render boasts exceptional hydrophobicity, meaning it repels water like a champ. This translates to a significant advantage: rain showers become natural cleaning agents, washing away dirt and grime that accumulates on your exterior walls. This self-cleaning property keeps your render looking fresh and vibrant for longer.
The water-repellent nature of silicone render extends beyond simple cleaning. By preventing moisture retention on the surface, it creates an environment inhospitable to algae and mould growth. This not only keeps your exterior looking clean, but it also protects your walls from potential damage caused by these organisms.
Silicone render is widely considered the most durable and flexible render option available. This winning combination means your exterior walls are exceptionally crack-resistant, even with significant temperature fluctuations. The addition of a fibreglass mesh layer during application further enhances its resistance to cracking, ensuring a flawless finish for years to come.
Despite its impressive water repellence, silicone render remains breathable. This allows your walls to naturally expel moisture vapour, preventing the build-up of condensation that can lead to structural issues. The breathability combined with the water-repellent quality creates an ideal environment for your walls.
Silicone render delivers a beautifully smooth and natural aesthetic. It enhances your property's kerb appeal and creates a contemporary, elegant look that complements a variety of architectural styles.
Alternatively, you can opt for a scraped texture.
With its effortless application, superior water-repelling and self-cleaning properties, exceptional durability, flexibility, breathability, and stunning finish, silicone render is the ultimate choice for homeowners seeking the best possible protection and visual appeal for their external walls.
Most coloured render systems, when applied by professionals like Render Hero, last between 15 and 30 years. The longevity depends on the quality of the materials, environmental conditions, and how well-maintained the render is.
Coloured rendering will stay looking fresh and vibrant for decades without fading, eliminating the need for frequent repainting!
Costs vary depending on your choice of render and the size and scale of the project.
Including labour, VAT, and materials, the average cost is typically between £30 and £95 per square metre.
Please contact us for more details.
The facts are clear: it's time to invest in the transformative power of coloured render. Our experts will guide you through choosing the perfect system and colour to match your vision and budget.
Enjoy a beautiful, weatherproof exterior with the potential boost to your property value. Contact the Render Hero Alne team today for a free consultation!