Update 2022: As has been reported in the media and confirmed by our own research, the cost of construction and home improvement projects such as wall rendering has skyrocketed in recent months due to inflationary pressures on the cost of materials, labour and fuel. The prices on this page were updated in spring 2022 but may change in the coming months, if you require a fixed quote for your project, please fill out this form with details of your rendering requirements and your location (Updated April 2022).
This page contains up to date pricing per metre for wall rendering on external walls. Looking for a price for plastering an internal wall? You’ll find plastering prices here.
What is Wall Rendering?
Wall render was traditionally a mixture of sand, cement and other aggregates which are then applied to external walls in layers to form a protective coat that is an alternative to brickwork or cladding. While the cost of sand and cement is fairly cheap (or was before the recent price hikes), the work needs to be carried out by specialists and scaffold is almost always required, which increases the cost of the project considerably.
Also, there are other, more modern options such as silicone and acrylic render systems, these have their own pros and cons. But, how much does wall rendering typically cost in the UK? What should you expect to pay per square metre in 2022?
Three Different Types of Render to Consider
There are three different types of render you can use on your external walls, each is priced differently;
- Sand and Cement – this is the traditional method of applying two layers of sand and cement mixture to the walls. Once dry, the wall is usually painted with two or three coats of good quality masonry paint.
- Monocouche – this is a cement-based product that has a coloured pigment added to the mixture. One finishing layer is installed on top of a base layer, you don’t need to paint the surface.
- Silicone – this is the most expensive type of render but has many benefits, it’s flexible so shouldn’t crack and it’s also breathable so can help prevent wall condensation. Like the Moncouche, this is also a “through colour” so no painting is needed, just a wash every few years or so.
Below You’ll Find Two Render Prices For Comparison
Below you will find two example wall rendering prices for your consideration, these were updated in 2022 and were sourced from a selection of wall renderers based in various locations around the UK. The figures are an average so you’ll likely pay more in say London than compared to Newcastle:
1) Rendering Price for a Small Terraced House Sand/Cement Finish
This price is for a sand and cement finish to a small terraced property. The existing render needs to be removed and disposed of, a sand and cement render is then applied in layers and allowed to dry. Finally, the dried wall is primed and then painted with two or if required, three coats of external wall paint.
For this estimate, we assume there are approximately 50 square metres of the wall to be rendered:
| Project: | Price: |
|---|---|
| Scaffold | £700 |
| Remove and dispose of existing render | £600 |
| Apply layer of new S/C render inc primer, beads/trims etc | £2750 |
| Paint, 2 to 3 coats of masonry paint | £750 |
| Total: | £4850 |
| Cost per Sq Mtr | £95 per Sq Mtr |
| Get a Custom Price Here | Get a Custom Price Here |
Notes: Smaller projects almost always cost more per sq mtr due to the economics of scale.
2) Cost to Render a Semi-Detached House
The price you can see displayed in the table below is for a typical semi-detached house with three sides. The project is the same as the first except there is more wall space that needs rendering.
For this estimate, we assume that this semi-detached house has 135 square metres of external wall:
| Project: | Price: |
|---|---|
| Scaffold | £950 |
| Remove and dispose of existing render | £1000 |
| Apply layer of new S/C render inc primer, beads/trims etc | £7000 |
| Paint, 2 to 3 coats of masonry paint | £1500 |
| Total: | £10,500 |
| Cost per Sq Mtr | £78 |
| Get a Custom Price Here | Get a Custom Price Here |
Cost of Monocouche and Silicone Wall Renders
The prices displayed on this page are for traditional sand/cement render which is a popular choice in the UK.
Monocouche and silicone render add around 20-25% to the overall cost of a wall rendering project.
Where Did These Render Prices Come From?
We contacted twelve wall renderers from several locations around the UK and asked them for prices. We also found over a dozen price lists from renderers that were published online. The prices shown in the boxes above are an average of those figures but do bear in mind that every project is different and the only way to know how much your wall rendering project will cost, is to get a fixed quote.
Added Extras to Consider
Scaffolding costs can vary by a lot, it’s not just the height of the scaffold that needs to be considered but also its location. Erecting this access equipment over roads and footpaths is far more expensive than on private land. Obstacles such as conservatories may also need to be bridged and this can add to the final price. This page provides examples of scaffolding costs, but again it’s worth getting a custom quote from a local scaffolder to be sure of the cost.
Insulation – if you intend to replace or install render to 25% or more of the walls on your house, the building regulations currently stipulate that you must ensure that the wall insulation meets current requirements. If you have a cavity wall, this can be filled at extra cost or if you have a single skin wall, you can have an insulation board installed between the wall and the render. Cavity wall insulation is fairly cheap and quick to install but the insulation-backed render is very expensive, expect to pay north of £125 per square for the boards, render and all the necessary beads and trims. The reason it’s so expensive is that the wall will be around 100mm thicker so window sills need to be extended and other alterations made. For most homes in the UK, the cavity wall will need to be filled if it hasn’t been already.
How Much Do Wall Render Repair Costs?
This depends on the type of render that is currently on the wall, as well as its condition. For Monocouche and silicone rendering, patch repairs are not advised, you would need to replace the whole wall, or at least apply an extra layer to the entire wall to ensure a consistent colour throughout. For traditional sand/cement render, you may be able to chisel off the damaged section, replace as required and then apply a coat of paint to mask the join.
As a general rule of thumb, if the existing sand/cement render issue is due to an “event” such as a water leak that has blown the render off the wall, or perhaps damage caused by an impact, then a repair should be possible. If however, the render is in generally poor condition then patch repairs are usually a waste of time and it would be better to replace the whole wall.
Don’t forget; the cost of the wall rendering isn’t just the labour and materials but also arranging for the scaffold, skip hire, finishing off with paint etc. It can be a false economy to keep repairing an old wall in patches and in most cases, it’s best to just get the whole wall done.
Can I Claim the Cost of Wall Rendering on My Home Insurance?
If the render has failed due to wear and tear, age, lack of maintenance or negligence then your insurance will likely reject any claim.
You may be successful in making a claim for damage to the render from a leak, a healthy tree falling onto the wall, a new case of subsidence or any other unforeseeable incident. You should check your policy details and contact your insurer for advice.
Want to Try DIY?
Wall rendering is a job for the professionals but for those of you who like to try DIY, we have some tips:
We have a guide to mortar mixes that provides details of the ideal amount of sand, cement, lime and other additives that are mixed together to create wall render.
This could be helpful if you’re a DIYer who is considering wall rendering as a DIY project.
Explore our guide to mortar and render mixes here.
Also here is the per square metre pricing for the cost of the render supply-only (checked 2022):
- Silicone and monocouche render: £32 per square metre.
- Traditional sand and cement: £16 per square metre.
These prices exclude trims, labour, paint, waste disposal and scaffold.
Get a Wall Rendering Price Online
We hope you found our updated cost guide for wall rendering helpful. Prices certainly have gone up in recent months and it’s worth getting as many quotes as you can for comparison.
To get your first quote for wall rendering, tap the button below:
Comparing Prices to Previous Years
The team here at Job Prices has been researching home improvement and construction prices since 2017 and each year we update the pricing tables on our website with fresh data supplied to us by randomly selected firms and tradespeople in the UK.
From 2021 to 2022 we saw huge increases in the cost of most building projects and also received reports of delays and issues within the supply chain.
The prices on this page reflect the current market conditions and could go up or down in the near future.
More:
Below you can find a link to our recently updated trade day rates page:
This guide was written by Danny Woodley and was last updated in April 2022.
Don’t forget; we have price guides for hundreds of home improvement projects.
Explore our full list of detailed price guides here.
