Want to know if you can you render over brick?
Yes, you can!
Render is a slick, reliable way to transform the exterior of our houses and garden walls and you can render directly over bricks, with some preparation and care.
Rendered walls are now commonplace on our streets, and you may be interested in transforming your home with a new, fresh look.
We will outline below some of the reasons why you might wish to render over brick and some points to consider before you start.
What are the benefits of rendering over brick?
Weather protection
Rendering offers an added layer of protection to your home. Over time, a climate of wind and rain can cause bricks to crack, expand and crumble.
Render covers any imperfections and provides an added layer of protection from the elements by preventing moisture infiltration and reducing the risk of damp and mould.
Insulation
The additional layer of plaster applied to the walls prevents heat from escaping through the brick.
Additional insulation can also be added when the render is mixed if required in colder areas.
It allows for a warmer home in winter and a cooler home in summer, helping to achieve more ambient temperatures than brick alone.
Aesthetics
Coloured render applied to bricks creates a clean, smart, uniform look that appeals to the modern buyer.
You can opt for a smooth or textured finish depending on the application and your preferences.
Ease of use
Render is a fairly straight-forward and time efficient way of transforming the look of your home.
Renderers will be able to completely update the look of your property within 4-10 days, depending on size, and the results can be dramatic.
Bare brick is replaced with a smooth, bright look within a relatively short period of time and without the use of extensive renovations.
Can you render over painted brick?
Yes, any type of masonry can be rendered over, but the most important step in all cases is to make sure your walls are properly prepared and the correct mix of render is used in order to ensure the most impressive, durable results.
Any previously painted bricks should have paint removed or be sanded back before any render is applied. All bricks will need to be thoroughly cleaned and stripped of any crumbling parts or dirt.
The bricks will then be primed with a binding agent which will help the render adhere to the walls with long-lasting effective results. If render is not bonded correctly it will be more prone to cracking and falling off.
Render will then be mixed and applied in coats until complete.
If you’re trying to do things cheaply, the alternative to rendering is to paint your house which typically costs around £550 – 1,800 (although often additional costs like scaffolding can increase this).
Can you render over damaged brick?
In older properties, brickwork may become crumbly or missing in places. This could be due to previous construction work, old render being removed or general wear and tear.
First, the cause of the damage will need to be assessed.
Minor damage can be resolved with rendering but extensive damage to the structure of the wall will need securing before the rendering can begin.
The wall surface may be levelled out and strengthened with a mortar coating or a wire mesh if necessary.
You can discuss these options with your renderers.
Often the rendering process itself will be enough to secure and hide any of the more minor wall brick imperfections, and the render may even adhere to the wall more consistently with a rougher initial surface.
Rendering a house typically costs upwards of £2,500 – get your free rendering quote from a local renderer today to get a price to render your house!