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Traditionally, render comes in plain colours, textured effects and pebbledash finishes. Whilst all of these provide a professional and attractive finish to an exterior of a property, the final effect might not be what was initially desired, or may even be in stark contrast to the surrounding buildings.

Brick render is an alternative solution for rendering projects that provides a brick-effect finish through a unique combination of render and application techniques. Due to the nature of brick render, a variety of mortar and brick effects and colours can be achieved to create an authentic-looking brickwork effect.

The principle and application of brick render is quite straightforward – Two different coloured coats of render are applied, wet on wet.  with the bottom coat becoming the ‘mortar’ and the top coat becoming the ‘brickwork’.

Besides being an attractive alternative to standard render, brick render has far more practical uses. Being a viable alternative on projects where traditional brick work cannot be used, local authorities in particular are fond of using brick render as it can massively transform the appearance of previously run-down estates.

Specially trained approved applicators are available for this product, depending on size of works required. Please contact us for further details.

Applying render provides an attractive and clean-looking exterior for commercial and residential properties. With a vast range of colours and finishes, there is a lot of choice when it comes to choosing a render system.

Before You Start

It goes without saying but you should ensure unopened packs of render are stored appropriately in a dry place to prevent damp from caking the render. Unprepared render also has a shelf-life, so make sure to check this before using it on a project.

Be confident that you know exactly what the render will look like when dry. If necessary, create a test panel.

Getting Started

First, make sure you have all your tools ready and the render has been made up according to the instructions. 

Most renders can be applied by hand or with a spray machine – make sure to check which type of application is suited to your render.

Apply the base coat to the required thickness and allow it to cure before applying any further coats.

Curing

Render needs time to cure, which is best achieved in warm, moist conditions. The initial curing process should be closely monitored over the first 2-3 day - The render should be kept from drying out, shielded from direct sunlight and protected against frost. Make sure to check the instructions on your render for any additional precautions or advice, specific to your render. 

Render needs time to cure effectively over a period of 3 weeks to achieve its final colour, and the render should be kept protected from inclement weather such as rain and high winds during the 24-48 hours immediately after application.  

Extra care should be taken when applying render in cold conditions. It is not recommended to mix or use render if the temperature is below 5^oC as cold temperatures slow the curing of the render and freezing temperatures halt the process entirely. 

Finally, if you are in doubt on how to render a wall do not hesitate to contact our experts who will be happy to help with any issues you may have.