You have a choice of exterior paints to consider for exterior masonry and garden walls, but the best paints are shower resistant and offer weather protection. This guide helps you care for external walls, masonry while knowing how many coats you need.

What is the best paint for render?

The answer which comes up time and time again from professionals is masonry paint.

What is masonry paint?

Masonry paint is developed for use on external walls and is suitable for use on:

• Pebble dash
• Lime rendering
• Cement rendering
• Monocouche Rendering
• Tyrolean Rendering
• Silicone Rendering
• Plaster
• Concrete
• Stone
• Brickwork

Masonry paint is effective at adding more colour to your property walls, but it is also highly effective at protecting your building.

The durability of masonry paint ensures it helps minimise the impact of harsh weather conditions, pollution and the general wear and tear of your property.

What are the benefits of masonry paint?

There are many benefits of applying masonry paint to exterior walls, including:

Protection against dirt and airborne pollution

Depending on where you stay, your home might be bombarded with dust, dirt and debris in the air, including soot, sand and even the remnants of acid rain. Masonry paint provides a protective coating, making it easier to keep your premises clean.

Algae and mould resistant

One of the most substantial reasons to apply masonry paint is its protection against mould and algae. This is unsightly, and over time, it can damage the property. Mould is closely associated with dampness, so if you want to reduce the impact of damp problems, masonry paint is a great mould resistant solution offering a durable finish.

Efflorescence protection

If you are close to the sea or your property is exposed to water, it can take on a crusty image with white salts appearing on exterior walls and masonry work. This look is unsightly, but in some cases, it can cause exterior walls to dry out, eventually causing them to flake or crumble.

Minimise cracking

Cracking is caused by many factors, including mould, frost damage and water. A small hairline crack can lead to significant problems, so applying several coats of masonry paint helps to reduce the risk of hairline cracks.

Prevent blistering

If the property is exposed to high temperatures, paintwork can blister, weakening the surface. Masonry paint is the ideal paint to reduce blistering and minor imperfections.

What is the difference between masonry paint and standard paint?

There are different chemical compounds in masonry paint, and paint is more commonly used inside a home. The most significant difference between masonry paint and a gloss or matt paint you’d use indoors is the waterproof coating on offer, the odour and fungicides which limit mould growth. These are all fundamental reasons only to use masonry paint on exterior walls, not internal ones.

It is essential to state that masonry paint isn’t fully waterproof, but it should be waterproof enough to provide sufficient protection against rainy weather.

What types of masonry paints are there?

You will find masonry paint comes in many forms:

• Smooth masonry paint
• Textured masonry paint
• Oil based masonry paint
• Sandtex masonry paint
• Water based paint

The best masonry paints is often a matter of choice, so consider what you need when you buy masonry paint. There are cheaper masonry paints on offer, but you want the best results when painting exterior masonry.

Smooth masonry paint is the best masonry paint for many professional decorators

You also have masonry paint known by different names, such as the range of smooth finish exterior paints. These belong under the masonry paint umbrella, but they are often listed separately due to the nature of finish created with this paint.

A smooth paint with weather resistance qualities are important

There are many options to choose from when looking for weather-resistant products, including leading brand names in the paint sector. Adding weather protection makes sense for external doors, or those exposed to extreme weather conditions.

Textured masonry paint offers benefits too

Textured masonry paint is ideal for filling small cracks, and many people appreciate the style of this paint. In some circumstances, textured masonry paint offers more protection than smooth masonry paints. It might be a personal choice between a smooth finish or a textured finish, but what you like, you have a wide range of masonry paint options to help.

Can you get masonry paint in different colours?

Yes, you will find masonry paint is available in a wide range of colours.

Whether you plan on selling your home soon, so you want the kerb appeal to be high, or you admire a pleasant and welcoming exterior of your home, you will be delighted at the colour options on offer.

If you cannot find masonry paint in the colour you are looking for; you should be able to mix paint together to get the same colour. You should be able to enjoy smooth coverage or a textured finish in your favoured colour scheme.

Applying masonry paint

Steps to take before applying exterior masonry paint include:

• Clean the exterior wall, removing dust, dirt and debris – feel free to power hose the property at this time or a scrubbing brush with warm soapy water
• Scrape the wall to remove bits of cement
• Use commercial products such as antifungal cleaner or stabiliser for the first render to remove and minimise mould
• Use a first coat primer if applicable, such as with flaky or chalky walls
• Cover areas with masking tape or larger sheets if you don’t want them to be covered in paint

Once you have followed these steps, you can add masonry paint with a masonry brush, roller or paintbrush. Aim to cover the wall with long and smooth strokes and apply two or three coats, or multiple coats as applicable.

What weather conditions are best for applying masonry paint?

It stands to reason dry weather conditions are best for applying masonry paint. Ideally, you want a period of 24 hours with no rain after you apply the paint.

Do you need an undercoat with masonry paint?

You don’t typically need an undercoat with masonry paint, but as mentioned above, if walls are flaky or chalky, it makes sense to prepare an undercoat before applying masonry paint.

With the best masonry paint for your property, you can coat and protect exterior surfaces, ensuring your home looks great.

Homeowners often wonder if they should have their home’s exterior walls rendered. While the answer to this question largely depends on the property and what look the homeowner is going for, there are some general things to consider when deciding whether or not to render your walls. In this post, we’ll explore some of those considerations and look at how rendering can impact the value of your home.

What is rendering, and what are the benefits?

Rendering is applying a thin layer of material, typically cement or plaster, to the exterior walls of a property. Homeowners can do this for both aesthetic and practical purposes. For instance, render can give your home’s exterior a more polished and finished look. It can also help to protect your walls from weather damage and pests.

So, if rendering can offer some benefits, why might it also negatively impact your home’s value when you move to a new house. Let’s take a look at some of the potential downsides to rendering.

Rendering can be costly and time-consuming

One of the chief drawbacks of rendering is that it can be quite expensive and time-consuming. The cost will vary depending on the size of your external walls and the type of rendering material you choose. If you need to cover your entire house with external wall insulation, house rendering is costly. Of course, external insulation offers many benefits, but covering an entire house takes time and costs more money.

House rendering can be difficult to repair

Another downside of house render is that it can be challenging to repair if it becomes damaged. For instance, if your rendering cracks or starts to flake off, you’ll likely need to hire a professional to come and fix it. This can add even more cost to the rendering process.

So, what does all this mean for your home’s value?

While rendering can certainly have some benefits, there are also some potential drawbacks to consider. Regarding property value, render may not have a significant impact either way. However, if you’re planning on selling your home shortly, it’s essential to weigh the cost of rendering against the potential return on investment.

How does rendering affect the value of your house?

If your exterior walls look in poor condition or your cavity wall insulation isn’t as good as it can be, there is no denying that good quality and hard wearing rendering will add value to your home. If you endure adverse weather, a rendered home is far more equipped to deal with it. We had a chat with the infamous Mister Render from the UK and their take on it was it’s one of the biggest sales tactics they use to potential customers because it seems like less of a cash outlay if you know you are going to get it back plus more. Although the actual value of the increase depends on the type and quality of render plus the size of the rendered area.

However, if your home has attractive brickwork that matches the overall style of the local area, changing the style of the property might cause the value of your home to fall. When it comes to the housing market, there is no great benefit in standing out for all the wrong reasons. This is something that potential buyers think about when buying a house.

You don’t need planning permission or deal with the local planning department when the house rendering finish matches other homes in the area.

Improved cavity wall insulation is a reason to render your home

If there is a structural, insulation or protective reason why render is essential for your property, there is a compelling argument to carry out this work. At a time when so many people are focused on rising energy bills, improving insulation at home is essential. Rendering improves your insulation and prevents penetrating damp, so you can see why it is an asset when it comes to property value.

You’ll receive the short-term benefits that render delivers, but you’ll also see your home increase in value. Prospective buyers will be more attracted to the property, and in return, they’ll be more likely to make a higher off for your home.

Conversely, if the render is primarily aesthetic, offering no great benefit to the home, and the new look render isn’t appealing, it is likely to put prospective buyers off your property. This means they will likely make lower offers on the home, and in turn, lowers the value of the property.

What are some things to consider before rendering your home?

House rendering may not have a significant impact on the value of your home. However, weighing the cost of render against the potential return on investment is important. Render can be expensive and time-consuming, so you’ll need to decide if it’s worth it for your

The different types of render available on the market

A quick run through of the most type of render available in the UK market include:

• Cement render
• Traditional lime render
• Silicone render
• Monocouche rendering (through coloured)
• Acrylic render
• Cork-based render – the most eco-friendly solution for an exterior wall

Avoid cement render if you can

Cement render and lime render are the most affordable wall covering, but it isn’t suitable for older properties, it is more likely to crack, and it requires significant maintenance.

This means adding cement and lime renders to a property isn’t a great idea, and will likely lower the value of a home. Other types of render have more kerb appeal, and provide greater benefits concerning external insulation, supporting brickwork and penetrating damp.

There are different materials to consider than a cement based render finish

Silicone renders and acrylic render are more modern renders offering a smooth finish, and are more likely to appeal to prospective homebuyers. If this render has been applied recently, it is likely to be in good condition, it requires little maintenance, and should be in place for many years to come. This provides a prospective buyer with confidence about their wall covering.

You can bring colour, saving you to re-paint or add a fresh coat with the right type of render on an exterior wall.

The thermal performance of your home is vital in having a good home, and this means house rendering impacts the value of your home. Good quality house render on external walls can improve value, but poor quality existing render or unsuitable new render to an external wall can damage the value of your entire house.

It is vital you choose the right materials for your solid walls, and call on the best professional to carry out the job. There are many elements to consider with rendered projects, but there is more advice and guidance for every homeowner if they need it.

Rendering is an excellent option for many homes, offering insulating and protective benefits, but sometimes, problems arise with rendering at a home. If you’re having issues with rendering on your external walls, you may be wondering if it’s possible to remove it.

What are the problems with rendering on a house?

Rendering can cause several problems on a house, including cracks, flaking, and bulging. Cracks in rendering are often caused by movement in the underlying wall, which can be due to weather changes or settlement. Flaking and bulging are usually caused by poor workmanship or faulty materials.

Old render is more susceptible to problems like damp, and rendering from a sand and cement mix will experience problems over time. Cement render is the traditional solution, but old render is often problematic, and creates the need for render repair skills and services.

It is possible to carry out render repair work on external walls yourself, but if you are unsure or lacking in confidence, most builders will carry out cement render repair or patch repairs at your premises.

Damaged render makes your home look unsightly, it can reduce property value, it exposes your home and can lead to dampness. New render is often expensive, but given the problems posed by damaged render, you’ll be glad to know render repair is possible, and effective.

You don’t need planning permission for this DIY job

Render repair on surrounding walls is a bit tricky, especially if you see bare patches and you know the original render is old. Render repairs are fairly common, especially for small cracks on your wall.

Can you repair rendering on external walls?

In some cases, rendering can be repaired rather than removed. If the old render is only cracked or flaking in certain areas, it may be possible to repair it with a sealant or patch during regular home maintenance. However, if the rendering is bulging or significantly damaged on external walls, it will likely need to be replaced.

Do your exterior walls sound hollow?

A good way to check if your render has come away from the underlying structure is to tap the wall, lightly with a hammer or cold chisel, to see if the walls sound hollow. If they return a hollow sound, it is an indicator of damaged render, and your property requires render repair.

Hollow rendering can be salvaged with render repairs

Hollow render often suggests the work can be saved, as opposed to requiring replacement, so render repairs are in order. With the right tools and equipment, you can re render the whole wall if need be.

How to repair cracks in the exterior render

Not every crack or bulge is the same, so you should approach each job in a unique manner, considering the challenges of the task. However, you’ll find that there is a general process that provides the template for repairing cracks and damage in render, which is as follows:

• Identify the source of the crack
• Clear and clean out the crack
• Repair any damage to existing render
• Apply a sealant to the crack
• Apply a final coat of acrylic exterior paint to the exterior wall, try to exact match the paint

Following these steps will help you minimise problems with your old render, and enhance your chances of doing a great render repair job.

Dealing with tiny cracks in a sand and cement mix render

If you have small hairline cracks in your existing render, you may be able to repair them with a sealant or patch. First, clean the area around the damage and remove any loose rendering.

A scratch coat is part of the transformation

Once the crack is hollowed out, it is time to apply fresh render, so add a scratch coat and then as many layers of render mix as applicable. Ensure the render finish is level, and smooth.

Next, apply the sealant or patch to the crack, following the manufacturer’s instructions. Once dry, painted over the area to match the rest of the render.

How to repair flaking external render

If your render is flaking, you’ll need to remove the loose rendering before repairing it. Use a chisel and hammer to scrape away the flaking render gently. Be careful not to damage the underlying wall. Once all the loose render has been removed, apply a new coat of render to the area.

How to repair bulging cement render

Bulging render is usually caused by moisture getting behind the render, so it’s important to address any leaks or dampness before repairing the render. Once the source of the problem has been fixed, remove the bulging render with a chisel and hammer. Be careful not to damage the underlying wall. Once the bulging render has been removed, apply a new coat of render to the area.

Is it possible to remove rendering from a house?

The answer is yes, but it’s not always a straightforward process. Depending on the type of rendering and the condition of the wall, removing rendering can be a difficult and time-consuming task.

How do you remove rendering from a house?

There are a few different ways to remove existing render from a house, but the most common method is to use a power washer. This method can be effective but can also damage the underlying wall if not done carefully.

Another way to remove rendering is to manually chisel and scrape it off the wall. This method is more labour-intensive, but it doesn’t run the risk of damaging the wall.

Render repair for old render

Rendering repair carries repair costs, but when you carry out repair work yourself, you save money in the short and long term. By ensuring your external walls have improved weather resistance, you protect your home and minimise further damage.

If you notice hairline cracks appearing, there is no time to waste, but bear in mind, repairing render, especially old render, is fairly common. Hopefully this guide helps you with repairing rendering, making your home, fixing large cracks and small cracks while making property more aesthetically pleasing.

Many homes across the country have uPVC window frames holding their windows in place. The material is cheap to use and effective, and so is used in the majority of properties in both window and door frames. There are plenty of benefits to having uPVC window frames, but the main one is the ability to paint them. uPVC, or unplasticised polyvinyl chloride, is very paintable, meaning that you can paint uPVC window frames relatively easily, giving your house a refreshed look, upping its kerb appeal, and even increasing the UV protection that your window frames have.

What paint works on uPVC window sills?

While uPVC window frames are fairly easy to paint, the material does require specific paint. In order to paint uPVC, you will need to have fully prepared the surface and you must use a solvent-based paint that is specifically formulated for hard plastics. Using any other paint, like oil-based paint, will result in poor adherence and subsequently a poor finish.

It is absolutely key to use the right paint on your uPVC in order to obtain a professional finish. Some of the top brands for uPVC paint include:

• Zinsser Allcoat Exterior
• Kolorbond uPVC paint

Along with your paint, you may need to prime your uPVC window frames. Usually, you can find this out by checking out the manufacturer’s instructions. If you’re hoping to change brown uPVC windows to a lighter colour, you may need multiple coats in order to achieve your chosen colour. Alternatively, turning white uPVC windows grey will require less coats of primer.

Spray paint vs. ordinary paint for painting uPVC

You will likely see when shopping for uPVC paint that there is a huge range of paints available. Some of these will be spray paints. Likewise, if you look at uPVC painting services near you, you will likely find that most professionals will offer uPVC window spraying services rather than painting services. So why spray paint uPVC windows? Why not use brushes to paint uPVC windows instead? Well we spoke to Sketch Spray to get a few answers, spray paint has a range of advantages:

• Spray paint provides better coverage on uPVC window frames
• It will be much quicker to use a sprayable paint than applying it with a brush, especially if you’re painting multiple uPVC windows or large window frames
• A brush does not provide the flawless perfect finish that spray paints do; brushes often cause brush marks, paint drops and can even shed brush hairs into the paint during the painting process, impacting the finish on your uPVC windows

How to paint uPVC window sills

You can hire a professional uPVC painter to paint uPVC windows for you, but if you’re confident enough to want to paint your uPVC window frames yourself, here’s how to do it. Painting uPVC windows isn’t hard, but it does take some preparation and time, so make sure that you have enough patience and spare time before you begin painting uPVC window frames.

1. Clean the surface

uPVC windows are exposed to the elements all day every day, so inevitably they get a little bit grimey. It is important to remove any dust, dirt, debris, and grease from your uPVC window sills before you begin to paint the window frame. This will help to ensure that you have a nice smooth uPVC surface to paint on.

To clean your uPVC window frames, simply use a damp cloth and hot soapy water, and wipe the uPVC surface down. If during this process, you notice any holes, you will need to fill them. You can fill holes in uPVC window frames and uPVC doors with caulk or filler.

2. Protect the other areas

Once you have cleaned the uPVC surface and it is completely dry, you should begin to cover the areas around your uPVC windows. This helps to ensure that none of your paint will get on the glass and brick or render around them when you paint uPVC window frames.

To do this, you can use painter’s tape or masking tape and either tarp or specialist coverage paper. Ensure you cover all of the areas that you don’t want to get paint on, and that will make the process of painting uPVC much easier.

3. Use primer if needed

As mentioned above, not every uPVC paint will require primer. Check the manufacturer’s information to see whether you need to apply primer to your uPVC windows before you begin to paint uPVC.

If you do need to use primer, you can spray it on with long strokes. Once the uPVC windows are fully covered, leave to dry completely, and then go in for another coat. If you are looking to go from brown uPVC windows to a light colour, or from any dark colour to a lighter tone, you will need more coats of primer. It is important to ensure that you apply the primer evenly in order to get a professional finish.

4. Paint uPVC window sills

It is now time to paint uPVC windows. Painting uPVC window frames can either be done with a brush or with spray paint. If you want to paint uPVC windows with a brush, you should:

• Use a high-quality brush in good condition
• Paint uPVC in only one direction
• Be careful that you do not let the brush from paint drops on the uPVC windows
• Use long strokes of the brush to limit brush marks

You will need to apply one coat evenly with your paintbrush to the uPVC windows. Once you are satisfied that you have achieved an even base coat, you should leave the first coat to dry. You will then need to go in to paint on another coat, which you can then leave to dry. Usually, you will need more than two coats to achieve the perfect finish and to ensure that your colour is as vibrant as you’d like. A minimum of three layers of paint on your uPVC window or doors is a good rule.

Alternatively, if you are using spray paint to paint uPVC windows, you do not have to worry about only painting in one direction, or trying to protect the uPVC windows from paint drops, as this is much less likely to occur with spray paint. Simply use long strokes of the airbrush or canister along the window frames, being sure that you are painting uPVC and not the covers on the wall and glass.

Once you have one coat, you should leave the window frames to dry. As soon as the coat is done drying, you can go in and continue to paint uPVC windows, adding another coat. Keep going like this, applying more coats to your window frames until you are happy with the colour that you have achieved on both the window sills and the window frame.

After that you can go ahead and decorate your windows and sills with your favourite nik naks.