Silicone render has become one of the most popular systems requested by our clients Is silicone rendering any good? We hope to answer this question in this article.
Our team understands that rendering a property is an important decision to make and you’ll need to consider many factors including suitability, method of installation, different finishing options, colour choices, render costs, etc..
What exactly is silicone render?
Silicone Render is a ‘thin coat render’ that is applied over a basecoat at a few millimetres thick. Highly flexible, breathable, & hydrophobic. K Rend is the UK and Ireland’s market leading render manufacturer. Silicone and acrylic renders provide superb quality, ease of application and a superior colour range. Silicone-based, through-coloured, decorative finish are a modern way to render your property.
Silicone render contains silicone, which is a polymer that’s rubbery and has a higher resistance to heat. Unlike acrylic, silicone renders come in several formulations and colours which provide great flexibility for homeowners.
It imparts a very high degree of water repelling properties to the render system which allows for better breathability inside the surface.
How long might silicone render last?
Thin coat render designed for long lasting exterior weather protection. Silicone is generally more durable and reliable than traditional mixtures. It’s especially true when it’s used with an adhesive base coat, and mineral. Silicone rubber has an average lifespan of between 20–30 years.
However, you should take into account that there are several factors which may affect the longevity of any rendering. These include things like where you live, the weather, how well the renderings were applied by the rendering contractors, etc. If for instance your previous renderer has done a poor job with application, it may need to be replaced sooner.
There are plenty of properties in Britain that haven’t needed any rendering work for at least 50 years. Therefore, it’s worth considering as a long-term investment on your property.
Will silicone render crack?
There are many different types of renders in the UK market, designed to give a durable weatherproof coating. Silicone is extremely useful and provides excellent performance. It is so flexible and resistant to any cracking that it is virtually impossible for it to crack. Given its wide range of colours, it’s unique combination of such benefits makes it a very popular choice among our customers.
Unlike a layer of thin paint that will show through if it gets scratched, the silicone finish is heavily pigmented which means the scratches to the top layer are much less noticeable. However, we’ve found that silicone renders don’t crack and if they do, it’s very easy for us to fix them.
Is silicone render more expensive?
As a rough guide for a typical house, silicone render could cost twice as much as a conventional cement mix — coming in somewhere between £50 and £75 per square metre including labour and materials. Depending on the type of basecoat used, the price will vary. More information is available on our silicone render prices. For a breakdown of the possible costs involved take into account these costs:
- Priming the substrate
- Applying the base coat and mesh
- Render primer
- Method of Application
- Beading and Corners
- Additional costs such as scaffolding or safe access and waste removal should be taken into account.
Will I have to remove my existing render?
One reason why you might consider doing this would be so that you could eliminate the cost of removing the existing render. It may work in some cases, but careful consideration must be given when deciding whether to apply silicone render over an existing render.
Additional coats of render can only usually be applied safely when the previous coat has satisfactory adhesion and has been properly carried out. If you want to know whether this is possible, you’d need professional renderers to tell you.
Advantages of silicone render
Silicone rendering offers far better benefits than other alternatives available in today’s market.
- Easy to apply: Thin coats of silicone render can be applied to a properly prepared surface within a few hours.
- Self-Cleaning: It has a water repellent feature which means that it repels water, so dirt particles are easily washed off by the rain.
- It has excellent flexibility making cracking over its useful lifetime very unlikely.
Disadvantages of silicone rendering
Given the above advantages and superior properties over other alternatives, it must be realised that silicon rendering is a much more expensive option than other alternatives. However, considering that the lifetime value it provides can last for at least 20 years, it is significantly better than other rendering methods.
Considering that it involves four different stages, it is labour intensive and is therefore not the quickest type of rendering. It will take time for it to be applied. Should you consider to proceed with applying silicone render, it would always be best that you plan well ahead and speak with your local plastering contractor.
Our renderers are capable of helping you plan the rendering process and we would recommend you getting us involved from the start of your project. If you ever need any help, don’t hesitate to contact us and we’ll be glad to offer you free consultations and quotations.
What’s the main difference between acrylic render and silicone rendering?
Acrylic is a fairly inexpensive render, making it a good choice for people who are on a tight budget. They are a type plastic and are added to give better stain and water resistance, and to improve the resistance to cracking. Acrylic renders are not breathable, so if you want the air to get to the brick and insulation beneath, then acrylic is not going to be suitable for you.
On the other hand, silicone renders provide breathability and last longer than acrylic renders. Silicone render is more expensive than acrylic render, but considering its lifespan, silicone render provides greater value than acrylic render.
So in Conclusion
Is silicone render any good? We explored various aspects of silicone renderings, and it can be understood that they have many benefits for your property – including adding value to your property. It certainly should be considered as an addition to your property – one which can increase its value over time too.
Looking For a Rendering Company in South Wales?
Plasterers Cardiff are a highly recommended plastering company in Cardiff and The Vale of Glamorgan providing all aspects of plastering, dry lining & rendering services.