Rendered Walls: Types, Costs, and Maintenance for Australian Homes

Types of Render

• 1 Cement render: traditional sand-and-cement mix applied in 2-3 coats — durable, affordable, can crack if not applied correctly, requires painting
• 2 Acrylic render (polymer modified): flexible, pre-coloured (no painting required), crack-resistant — most popular in modern Australian homes
• 3 Texture coat: spray or trowel-applied acrylic texture — creates range of textures (smooth, fine, or coarse), integral colour
• 4 Hebel panel render: lightweight aerated concrete panels rendered over — common in multi-storey construction
• 5 Venetian plaster: premium interior product — highly polished, decorative, not suitable for exterior use

Render Costs

Cement render (supply and apply to standard brick exterior, 2 coats, ready to paint): $50–$90/m². Acrylic/texture coat (pre-coloured, ready to use): $60–$110/m². These prices exclude priming, patching of existing surfaces, or unusually difficult access. Get 3 quotes from experienced renderer/plasterers for an accurate project price.

Common Render Problems and Causes

• 1 Cracking: inadequate cure time between coats, render applied too thick per coat, substrate movement, or failure to apply primer
• 2 Delamination (render peeling off brick): insufficient bonding agent (salt & oil on bricks), or incorrect mix water ratio
• 3 Efflorescence (white salt stains): moisture travelling through render from behind — fix leak source before re-rendering
• 4 Mould: inadequate drainage or ventilation, or render facing persistent shade and moisture

Painting Over Render

New cement render must be allowed to cure for minimum 28 days before painting. Apply an alkali-resistant primer first — new render is very alkaline and will destroy standard paint if applied too early. For acrylic texture coat, painting is typically not required (integral colour) — but can be painted after 28 days if colour change is desired.