Want to enjoy the benefits of rendering your walls? Read on below to learn how to render different types of wall like a pro.
Rendering is a great way to improve the look of a wall, whether it’s in your garden or on the exterior of your home.
If you want your outdoor wall to have a modern look, learning how to do this DIY project yourself might be the answer.
While you can always hire a local builder, you might prefer to get hands-on, do it yourself, and save on house renovation costs in the process!
This beginner-friendly guide covers what you need to know about how to render a brick wall.
If you’re new to rendering walls, let’s kick things off with a quick definition.
Rendering means covering the surface of an external wall with a mixture of sand, cement, and sometimes lime. This technique offers you either a smooth or textured finish to your wall.
Many people render their walls to improve their property’s appearance, but rendering also protects your brickwork from the elements, preventing water ingress.
Whether you've just learned how to lay bricks or you're looking to spruce up an existing wall, you might consider rendering the surface.
Of course, while rendering is most common for exterior walls, such as the outside walls of your home, it’s not used there exclusively.
Some people also use this technique for decoration inside their homes. Whatever your rendering needs, we’ve got you covered.
Before you start rendering your wall, you need to make sure you have the right tools on hand. Here are the things that you will need:
Cement
Sand
Water
Lime (optional)
Trowel
Hawk (a tool for holding render while working)
Sponge
Bucket or wheelbarrow (for mixing)
Spirit level
Wire brush (for cleaning the wall)
You also need to protect yourself and the surrounding areas. You can use a dust sheet to protect the ground or anything around it.
Also, make sure that you use protective goggles, safety gloves, and a dust mask. Wear suitable clothing at all times – you need to safeguard your health when dealing with these materials.
The last thing you want to do is rush this job. Before you get started, you need to prep your wall carefully. This is key to achieving a good render finish. Here’s what you need to do first.
Clean the wall
First up, clean the wall that you are planning to render. That means removing any dirt, dust, or loose debris. If the wall is old or crumbling, you need to scrape away the excess paint or mortar.
While this is no fun, it’s vital to the finish of your wall. It also means that the render will bond well to the surface of your wall. Don’t skip this step!
Repair any pesky cracks
Cracks or holes in the surface of your wall will become bigger problems when you render it. You need to fill these ahead of time. Allow time for the filler to dry before you get started.
Need help with this task? Check out our guide on how to fix a hole in a wall.
If you miss out on this step, you could find that your rendering cracks later down the line, and that could potentially lead to damaging water infiltration.
Of course, for more significant holes, you may need to contact a local handyman and let them take care of the problem.
Dampen the wall
Pro tip: rendering sticks best to a slightly damp surface. To give yourself this upper hand, spray the wall lightly with water before you get going.
Don’t add too much water into the mix or you might mess things up. Avoid soaking the wall as this can lead to problems with the render sticking to the wall.
Once you’ve prepared your wall, you need to move on to mixing your render.
Just like you'll find when learning how to make concrete, learning how to mix render properly is key to a good final outcome.
Luckily, the process is probably easier than you're expecting.
The standard mix for rendering a wall is a ratio of:
Four parts sand
One part cement
One part lime (optional)
Choosing the right sand is a must. We recommend using sharp sand, as this creates a stronger bond and also reduces the risk of cracking later down the line.
Adding lime can also prevent shrinkage and improve the stickiness (adhesion) of the mixture.
Combine your materials
Now that you know what ingredients you need, mix them together in a large bucket or wheelbarrow. Add water slowly (and mix as you go).
You’re aiming for a smooth but firm consistency. You can check this by putting a trowel into the mixture and seeing if it holds the shape. Runny render will drip off your wall.
Need a stronger rendering mixture?
Looking for something stronger?
While the above works for most occasions, there may be times when you need to create a thicker rendering. To do so, increase the cement ratio of the mixture.
Adjusting the ratio with an increase in cement means water is less influential in the mix.
If you prefer a different mix altogether, you might consider silicone render.
For a closer look at what that is and how much you'll need to pay for it, read our guide on silicone render costs.
You’ve got everything you need. Now it’s time to learn how to render a wall and start applying the mixture. Follow these steps to get it right.
Step 1: add the first coat
The first layer of render is also called the “scratch coat”. It’s essentially the base of your rendering.
Get started by loading your trowel with render and then using a sweeping motion to smooth it onto the bare wall.
Make sure that this is even by using a spirit level to check it. Aim for a coat of 5-10 mm. Then, use a scratch comb to create a rough texture. This will help the next layer to stick well.
Step 2: let that layer dry
While you may be eager to add the next layer, it’s smart to wait for it to dry. Leave the scratch coat for around 24 hours before applying a second coat.
Keep in mind that, like with how long cement takes to dry, render drying times can vary depending on the weather and the humidity outside.
Step 3: add the second coat
When the first coat is dry, you can add the second coat. You might want to make the mixture slightly thinner than before. If so, follow the above advice on mixing your rendering.
Once again, get your trowel and spread the rendering on the wall in the same sweeping motion as before. You want this layer to be slightly thicker than before at around 10-15 mm.
Step 4: smooth the surface
Use a straight edge to smooth off the surface of your rendering. If you’re going for a textured look, you can use a sponge instead to create your desired pattern.
As before, you need to use the spirit level to make sure that the surface of the wall is flat and even.
Step 5: keep the wall damp
When it comes to how to make render stick, you need to add moisture into the mix. Over the next few days, lightly spray the render on the wall with water to keep it damp.
This technique stops the surface from drying too quickly, which can lead to cracking. You should keep an eye on the rendering and make sure that no marks or cracks start to appear.
Step 6: leave the rendering to cure
After those first few days, you can stop dampening the wall. Instead, you want to leave the rendering to dry completely.
This mixture may take up to a week to cure and reach its full strength.
While the above steps are a good starting point, you may want to adjust your approach depending on the type of wall you’re rendering. Here, we explain the things you should keep in mind.
How to render a garden wall
Want to know how to render a garden wall? The process is similar to rendering any exterior wall. However, there are a few extra factors that you should consider when approaching this task.
Garden walls are more exposed to the elements than other walls. That means that high temperatures and extreme weather can affect them more.
As such, you should always try to avoid doing your rendering project when it’s very hot outside or there are storms coming your way.
Additionally, proper curing and a good mix are even more important for garden walls.
You may want to add a waterproofer to your render mix. This means that the wall will be able to withstand wet conditions – i.e. the rainy weather we get so often in the UK!
How to cement-render a wall
Want a more durable finish? Learning how to cement-render a wall is the way to go. Don’t worry – this sounds far more complicated than it is.
Cement rendering is simply a slightly stronger and more weatherproof option. All you have to do to cement render a wall is use more cement in your mixture than you otherwise would.
By this point, you know how to render a wall. However, there are some mistakes that you need to avoid along the way.
Remember: you can always hire a professional to take on these tasks, if you feel uncomfortable doing them.
Learn more about what you'll have to pay with our guide on house rendering costs.
Here are the main pitfalls.
Failing to prepare your wall
If there is debris or other mess on your wall before you get started, that could impact how well the rendering takes to the wall.
Before you start this task, you need to make sure that you fully prepare your wall.
Messing up your mixture ratios
While – as we’ve explained – you can adapt your rendering mixture ratios, you need to keep this consistent.
If you get this wrong, you could end up with a runny mixture or one that’s too stiff. This is one of the easiest ways to get rendering wrong.
Not waiting for the layers to dry
Don’t try to do all of your layers at once. You need to allow your scratch coat to dry before you add the next layer.
This step is vital to make sure that your rendering is durable and properly adhered to the wall’s surface.
Choosing the wrong sand
You should use sharp sand for rendering. For example, if you use fine sand, it won’t give you the right texture for your wall.
It’s important to get the basics right here. Your rendering is doomed to failure if you use the wrong materials.
Not maintaining your render
It's all very well rendering your wall using proper technique, but it's also important to keep it well maintained moving forward.
Regularly inspecting and cleaning is key, and will help your render last much longer.
For help with this maintenance, read our guide on how to clean rendered walls now.
Need to know more before you start rendering your walls? Read on below.
How do I render tall walls or the highest parts of my house?
Rendering at any level is challenging, but it's especially tricky at height.
You'll need to erect scaffolding around your house to render those hard-to-reach spots, using a ladder of any type is completely unrealistic.
In all likelihood, you'll need a professional to do this. We recommend looking into the cost of scaffolding before hiring anyone.
Can I render over painted or sealed brickwork?
Only if the paint is fully removed or properly keyed. Otherwise, the render won’t adhere well.
You can use a wire brush or grinder to roughen the surface and make sure there's a good bond.
Should I use a bonding agent before rendering?
Whether you're learning how to plaster a ceiling or render a wall, preparing the surface you're working on matters.
Yes, applying a bonding agent or primer (especially on smooth or old walls) helps the render stick better and prevents separation between layers.
On newly built walls, this is unlikely to be needed.
What should I do if my render starts to crack?
If you don't know how to skim a wall, render brickwork, or plaster properly, cracks are likely to appear sooner or later.
Why does this happen with render? Cracks usually occur if the mix is wrong, coats are too thick, or the wall wasn't prepped effectively.
Use a filler for small cracks, but larger ones may require removal and reapplication of the affected section.
In this guide, we’ve covered everything you need to know about how to render your wall. Follow our advice to get started on this home improvement project now.
You can get everything you need from your local builders' merchants before you get to work on this task.
Looking for some expert help when rendering your wall? Yell has you covered. Browse the builders near you for the top-rated services in your area.
Alternatively, you can post a free enquiry and let experienced builders contact you by phone or email. It’s the fastest way to get quotes from local builders.
For more DIY advice, cost guides, and money-saving tips, check out the Yell blog now.
