Internal & External Wall Systems Experts In All render Systems
Render systems
Silicone
Silicone is breathable – where cement and acrylic renders completely seal off the wall and prevent it from breathing, silicone is very breathable. Silicone is self coloured – unlike other renders that must be painted after curing, silicone has the colour mixed into it, meaning just one coat and the job is done.
Acrylic
Acrylic Render is a polymer modified, thin-coat render which comes pre-mixed (ready to use) in a wide variety of colours, used as a decorative finish to the basecoat. Acrylic render is available in four grain sizes: 1.0mm, 1.5mm, 2.0mm and 3.0mm. Acrylic Render is suitable for interior and exterior surfaces.
Scratch coat
Scratch coat render is a thick coat render which needs applying in two passes, with fibreglass mesh embedded within it during the first pass. So you apply the first layer at a thickness of 9-10mm and allow it to go off slightly. The second pass is then applied on top at a thickness of 8mm. Once both layers have cured, around 2mm of the render is scratched back with a render scratch float.
A brief description of render systems and which one to choose.
JUST
REND IT
Up until about 10 years ago, if you decided to render your property, the builder would most likely have used a sand and cement render. Sand and cement render is made by mixing 4 parts sand with 1 part cement and is applied to the substrate at a depth of about 10mm – 15mm. The problem with sand and cement render is that it has no give and no flexibility. Over the course of a year, your home will expand and contract as the weather changes, in cold weather the walls of your house will actually shrink and the opposite is true during the summer months.
There’s a reason why building materials and the technology behind their production has changed. Sand and cement render is a very outdated, low-performance solution to creating a decorative finish on your property; these days, thin coat, through-coloured renders and breathable scratch renders are a more popular alternative for installers and homeowners alike.
Thin coat renders are virtually crack proof:
As time has gone on, people have been seeking ‘crack proof’ render finishes. Thin coat render is just that. It has a flexible fibreglass mesh embedded within the basecoat adhesive and this gives it flexibility. The top coat render is also very flexible. If you put the render as a test on a piece of EPS, you can then flex the EPS and the render will still not crack.
The average basecoat adhesive is just 6mm thick, and the average render topcoat can be as thin as 1mm, this takes the whole system up to a thickness of just 7mm. The flexibility of the components and the fact they are applied in such a thin layer means that the system will genuinely move with the building. This means that the render system will expand with the building during the warmer summer months, and when it gets cold in the winter the render system will shrink.
Which thin coat render is best for your needs?
Silicone Render:
Silicone Render is the more premium render. It offers excellent breathability and vapour permeability, so that moisture and water vapour can escape from the surface of the render – thereby helping to prevent damp and mould. Silicone Render is also hydrophobic and therefore any water is repelled from the surface of the render. Silicone Render is also unique in that it offers self-cleaning capabilities; this means that the render will actively prevent any build-up of organic growth, therefore maintaining a fresh facade for years to come.
Silicone Silicate Render:
Silicone Silicate Render is our most popular hybrid-silicone render. Silicone Silicate Render is our best value render, offering the key benefits of a thin coat render as well as the breathability and vapour permeability that the silicone provides. Silicone Silicate also provides an element of self-cleaning capabilities. This is a great render if performance and functionality at a great price point are key priorities.
Acrylic Render:
Acrylic Render is the best value render, and is generally most thought of when it comes to coloured render. This is because Acrylic Render holds onto colour pigment really well, providing vibrant and long lasting coloured finishes that are resistant to UV. While Acrylic Render lacks the breathability of the silicones, it is the most impact resistant, so it’s excellent in terms of crack resistance.
Crack proof and maintenance free render:
The beauty of the thin coat render system is that once installed on your property it will genuinely last, with no cracking and no maintenance required. You can install the system on your property and then rest assured knowing the system will last decades!
We do recommend you get qualified installers to install the system though. The reason for this is that since the system is so thin, it is fairly tricky to install. Qualified installers will be able to get a lovely finish – one that you will be able to admire for years to come.
Check out our standard rates and call now for a free quotation
0203 5387022
Thin coat render colours
