Silicone-Based Exterior Render Systems: Functional and Attractive
Rendering involves applying a coat to your external walls, creating a smooth or textured finish that provides a seamless appearance. This process protects your brickwork from the weather and damage, and you can opt to render every aspect of your home or use a mixture of brickwork and render, depending on the aesthetic you would like.
One of the most advanced exterior render systems is made with a silicone base as an alternative to conventional sand and cement.
We’ll explain the benefits shortly, but silicone may be the ideal option if you would like a durable, flawless finish and a high-performance render.
What is Exterior Rendering?
There are two key reasons to add render to the outside of your property:
- To prevent moisture and dampness from penetrating your walls.
- Providing an attractive, uniform finish.
Traditional render is made from a sand and cement mixture, which can be the cheapest solution since the materials are widely available. It can also be patched if the render breaks down or cracks over time. You’ll likely be familiar with some of the finishes applied, such as pebbledash.
The issue with cement render is that it isn’t the most durable material. You’ll often need to regularly paint the outside of your property since exposed render isn’t appealing to most homeowners.
How Do Silicone-Based Exterior Render Systems Work?
Pinnacle Works offers an alternative exterior render system, using silicone render, which is water-resistant and can be coloured as you wish – removing the time and cost of painting.
Silicone-based render systems have superior performance qualities compared even with other newer systems, including acrylic, providing greater breathability and lasting longer. While it may be slightly more expensive to apply, silicone render lasts an average of 25 to 30 years, so it is an investment that pays dividends over the long term. This top of the range render is easy to apply and is inherently hydrophobic, with excellent water repellent qualities that avoid dirt and moisture from accumulating on your property.
We can render most properties with a spray machine and the application process takes very little time if the external walls are carefully prepared.
Rendering requires just one coat of a thin application, although we’ll usually advise using a basecoat to create a stable, level and strong surface. Once the basecoat is dry, the silicone is applied, usually across each elevation in one go, to avoid any lines or patches between adjoining render.
The Advantages of Exterior Render Systems
Silicone-based external render systems have a range of compelling benefits!
Some of the most important include:
- Waterproofing your property from the outside in – mitigating any potential issues around leaks, staining, damp and mould.
- Improving the thermal value of your property. Incorporating insulation boards can make your home significantly more energy-efficient.
- Silicone render can be applied directly onto an existing finish, provided it is in reasonable condition, reducing the application timescale and costs.
- The uniform render looks stunning once dried, without any need to paint your external walls or touch up paintwork over the years.
- This render is self-cleaning and gives a contemporary, fresh appearance to properties of any age.
Once your rendering is complete, it is highly unlikely that the silicone-based finish will crack, extending its useful life, and remaining in perfect condition for up to around 30 years.
Can I Choose a Coloured Silicone-Based Render?
Render can be tailored to your style and design aspiration in any colour you wish. A pigment can be blended with the render before application or we can offer a range of pre-coloured renders, creating a far more durable, coloured finish than any external paintwork.
Coloured render lasts considerably longer than paint and provides a beautiful, smooth finish.
Are There Any Disadvantages to Using a Silicone Render System?
The only real downside to silicone render is that it is more costly than acrylic or sand and cement render. Still, it is more durable, water repellent, maintenance-free and self-cleaning, easily offsetting the usual maintenance expenses involved with property upkeep.
Choosing Between Traditional and Modern Rendering
There are pros and cons to both traditional and modern rendering, and the systems operate very differently.
Silicone render is self-coloured, which is one of the popular advantages, and excels above and beyond conventional render, incorporating silicone to make the render more flexible and thus less prone to cracking or damage. Breathability is also important; balancing the trade-off between water resistance ensures the brickwork remains in good condition underneath.
Listed buildings and period homes may have a lime render system used on most properties built before the 1930s. Lime mortar was generally used in construction and matched with a lime render. Issues commonly arise because these older render systems are:
- Not particularly water-resistant, which can cause untold damage to external walls, and problems with dampness, water damage and rot.
- Of a basic finish. Silicone render can be applied to properly prepared walls with a base coat to ensure adequate adhesion. A bad quality render may need to be removed if there is any risk of falling away from the wall.
- Old render usually needs to be painted once every four years (on average) since the colour will fade and stain, and paintwork will chip and crack over time.
- Lime render cracks as the property moves and settles, which is natural. Cracks must then be patched over or the property re-rendered.
Much depends on your home, budget, and the finish you wish to achieve.
Expert Advice Choosing a Render System for Your Home
If you’re unsure which type of rendering would suit your property and provide the right finish, please contact the Pinnacle Works team.
Properties with underlying challenges such as damp or cracked render may require remedial work beforehand to ensure your external walls are ready for the new render application and provide a perfectly smooth appearance. It’s advisable to seek guidance before investing in a render system that may not last as long as you expect.
Our experienced professionals can discuss the various types of render and suggest the right solutions to fit your requirements.
