How Much Does It Cost to Render a House? UK Price Guide

Typical rendering costs per square metre

Most renderers price by the square metre of wall area, then add fixed costs such as scaffolding and beading. The biggest factor is the render system you choose, because materials and labour time differ a lot between a basic sand and cement job and a modern silicone thin coat system.

These figures are a realistic starting point for the North West and North Wales, though every property is different and a firm quote always needs a proper look at the walls first.

• Sand and cement render: roughly £40 to £60 per m², usually needing paint on top
• Monocouche (through coloured) render: roughly £45 to £75 per m², no painting needed
• Silicone or acrylic thin coat render: roughly £60 to £100 per m², applied over a basecoat with mesh
• External wall insulation with render finish: often £100 to £150 or more per m²

What that means for a whole house

A mid terrace with one rendered elevation might have 40 to 50 m² of wall, so you could be looking at £2,000 to £4,500 depending on the system. A three bed semi typically has 100 to 140 m² of renderable wall, which puts most jobs in the £4,000 to £10,000 bracket once scaffolding is included. A large detached property can comfortably exceed £12,000, particularly with a silicone system or insulation.

Scaffolding is a significant fixed cost that people often forget. Expect £800 to £1,500 for a semi, more for a detached house or anywhere with awkward access such as a conservatory, a steep drive or a shared alleyway, which are common issues on terraced streets across Merseyside and Cheshire.

What pushes the price up or down

Two houses of the same size can get very different quotes, and it usually comes down to preparation. If old render has to be hacked off first, that adds labour and skip hire, typically £1,000 to £2,500 on a semi. Blown or cracked render cannot simply be covered over, because the new coat will fail with it.

The condition of the substrate matters too. Soft old brick, previous pebbledash, or damp problems all need addressing before any render goes on. Coastal and exposed properties, which we see plenty of along the North Wales coast, benefit from silicone systems that shed water and resist the salt air, and that is worth paying for even though it costs more up front.

• Removing old render or pebbledash before starting
• Repairs to brickwork, cracks or damp before rendering
• Number of windows, corners and details, which slow the work down
• Access issues that increase scaffolding costs
• Choice of finish, since through coloured renders avoid repainting costs later

Cheap quotes and why they can cost more later

Render is one of those jobs where a low quote often means corners cut on preparation, no mesh or beading, or the wrong mix for the wall. Sand and cement applied too strong on old brick is a classic cause of cracking within a few years, and putting it right means paying twice.

A decent quote should itemise the render system by name, state whether scaffolding and old render removal are included, and say how the walls will be prepared. If two quotes are thousands apart, ask each firm to explain the difference rather than assuming the cheaper one is a bargain.