External Render

External render is a protective skin applied to the outside of a building. The product is applied in layers to smooth surface imperfections and protect the structure from the elements and everyday wear. Exterior render can be textured, coloured, or left ready for paint.

What Is Outside Rendering?

Outside render is the ready-made material supplied in bags or tubs for mixing and applying onto external walls. It comes as either:

• Traditional dry powders that are mixed with water on site, or
• Acrylic, polymer resin, or silicone premixed pastes ready to use.

Both types provide durable protection when prepared correctly. They adhere firmly to the substrate and remain stable through years of temperature changes. They also cure evenly, providing uniform protection across the entire surface.

Some modern outside render variants have fibres or hydrophobic additives. These allow the finished surface to better handle stains, cracks, and moisture.

What Are Exterior Render Products Used For?

Exterior render products are commonly used for the following purposes:

Weather Protection

Render forms the first line of defence against rain, frost, and wind. It redirects water away from the wall, helping reduce long-term moisture-related damage. Silicone- and polymer-based renders hold up especially well in exposed areas, making them the preferred choice for these types of walls.

Improving Appearance

Render hides uneven masonry and gives the building a clean finish. Builders choose different textures – from smooth coats to roughcast and dash – depending on the look they want. Pre-coloured renders add pigment directly to the mix, eliminating the need for painting.

Breathability and Moisture Management

Lime-based and silicone-based products help walls “breathe,” allowing vapour to escape the structure while still blocking rain from getting in. This is especially useful on older homes, solid-walled buildings, and refurb projects where trapped moisture would cause issues over time.

Thermal Performance (Part of EWI Systems)

Exterior render is added to protect insulation in EWI setups. This ensures insulation continues to work as intended and helps preserve the building’s thermal efficiency.

Crack Resistance & Durability

Modern render systems are engineered to move with the building, reducing hairline cracking. Some are reinforced with fibres or require a mesh layer beneath the top coat to strengthen the surface against impact and everyday wear.

Types Of External Render

A mix of different materials and system parts goes into making the external render. Here is a breakdown of the main ones and how they generally fit into real-world builds:

1. Cement-Based

This is the classic render stuff – a mortar mix of sand, cement (and often polymer additives) that you trowel on in layers. Cement-based render is tough, breathable, and suitable for a wide range of backgrounds, including brick or block. It is often the basecoat for more complex systems.

2. EPS (Expanded Polystyrene)

EPS is a light, insulating core used in External Wall Insulation (EWI) systems, where the EPS panels are fixed to the wall, and then covered with a reinforced render. EPS is lightweight, inexpensive, and thermally efficient, and very common in retrofit insulation systems.

3. uPVC

In rendering systems, uPVC comes into play mainly in the form of beads – corner beads, movement beads, and stop beads, among others. These are the trims that help finish edges, protect corners, and manage expansion joints. For example, K Bead from K-Rend is a uPVC bead that is corrosion-resistant and rugged.

4. Stainless Steel

Stainless steel is used for more demanding trims, such as certain types of beads or rails. These help with durability and impact resistance, and provide a solid, crisp edge where needed. Insulation Wholesale also supplies stainless steel stop beads for thin-coat systems.

Common Render System Types / Components

Here are some of the system pieces or render types that are important to know about, especially when working with EWI (external insulation) setups:

EPS EWI (External Wall Insulation)

This is where EPS insulating boards are mounted to the building’s exterior, then covered with a basecoat, reinforcing mesh, and a top coat of render. It is very common for retrofit work.

Render Board 

These are rigid boards (often cementitious) that serve as a carrier for render. Take, for instance, Insulation Wholesale’s Euroform Versarend Render Carrier Board. Instead of plastering directly onto masonry, you first fix them, then apply the finish coat.

Render Mesh

This is a reinforcing mesh made of alkali-resistant glass fibre. It is embedded into the basecoat (the layer before the final render) to prevent cracking and add strength.

Render Bead

Beads are the trims: corner beads, bellcast/drip beads, movement beads, stop beads, among others. They provide clean edges, handle expansion joints, and prevent corners from cracking.

K-Rend

K-Rend is a brand of coloured, through-colour render that gives a finished texture and colour straight out of the tub or bag. It is often used as the final coat on EWI systems or applied directly over masonry with a suitable basecoat. It is known for being flexible, weather-resistant, and available in lots of different textures.

Benefits Of Using External Render For a House

• External render gives a house’s exterior a more solid, weather-resistant skin. It sits over existing brick or blockwork and protects older façades that have begun to look worn, helping the walls better withstand rain, sun, and general exposure.
• It boosts energy performance when paired with EWI. When used as part of an external wall insulation system, it protects the insulation layer, helping maintain reduced heat loss and lower energy bills – all without reducing internal floor space.
• It enhances a property’s overall appeal. A new render coat can completely change how a home looks – from a crisp, simple finish to something more textured and traditional.
• It reduces upkeep. Modern render systems do not need constant patching. They are formulated to remain stable, resist hairline cracking, and retain their colour longer, so homeowners spend less time maintaining the exterior of the house.

Why Choose Our Rendering Materials?

Insulation Wholesale stocks a full range of materials for rendering external walls – from cement-based mixes to EPS components, mesh, and uPVC beads – all picked for reliability and ease of use. Everything works smoothly together when installed as part of a full system, whether rendering an exterior wall for a small repair or building a full EWI system.

Our products are easy to handle. They bond well, spread cleanly, and help you build a stable, reinforced base that keeps outside rendering jobs durable and tidy. Once applied, the finish stays sharp, resists weathering, and requires no constant touch-ups.

We also keep things practical on the buying side. Insulation Wholesale offers trusted brands at fair, competitive prices, with fast delivery so you can get materials on site without delay.

If you are comparing options for external rendering near me, our range makes it easy to source everything from one place, affordably, without hunting for compatible parts.

Order your external rendering materials from Insulation Wholesale. With competitive prices, all items ready from our UK stock, and fast delivery straight to your site, it has never been easier to tackle rendering external walls. Get a fast quote today – call us and start your project without delay.

FAQ

Where to buy external render?

Looking for an external render online? Insulation Wholesale supplies everything you need for rendering external walls, including cement mixes, EPS boards, mesh, beads, and K‑Rend finishes.

We offer a full range of products for rendering external walls, from cement-based mixes to EPS boards, mesh, beads, and specialist finishes like K‑Rend.

All render products are available in pallet quantities or smaller volumes, with low wholesale prices and volume discounts for bulk orders, and fast nationwide delivery.

How to render a wall

1. Clean the surface and fill any gaps to prepare it for rendering the outside walls.
2. Build a strong base and tuck in reinforcing mesh if needed.
3. Even out the surface to create a smooth base.
4. Finish with a topcoat for colour, texture, and weather protection.
5. Finally, let the wall cure fully.

Ordering external render online from a trusted supplier like Insulation Wholesale makes it easy to get everything you need delivered straight to your site.

How to repair external render cracks

1. Start by clearing the crack of dust and loose bits so the patch will stick.
2. Widen very fine cracks slightly, then fill them with a suitable repair mix.
3. Smooth the surface and blend the edges so it is flush against the wall.
4. Let it cure fully, according to the manufacturer’s curing guidelines.

A careful repair keeps the outside rendering intact and prevents cracks from spreading. Perfect for anyone rendering outside walls and wanting a clean, long-lasting finish.

Why render a house?

• Rendering a house gives your walls a protective skin.
• It helps the structure withstand rain, wind, and daily wear.
• It smooths out rough brick or blockwork and hides imperfections.
• Render can also create a clean, modern look or a textured, traditional finish.
• It strengthens corners and edges, preventing cracks.
• When combined with insulation, it helps retain heat and reduce energy bills.

For anyone tackling outside rendering, it is a simple way to boost durability, appearance, and energy efficiency all at once.

How to paint external render

1. Clean the wall surface to remove dirt, dust, and loose particles, then fill any cracks or holes to level it.
2. Let the render dry completely before starting.
3. Use a primer if the product recommends it.
4. Then coat the wall with your chosen exterior paint, working steadily and keeping a consistent finish. Pay attention to corners and edges for a neat result.
5. Finally, let it cure fully – a little patience gives a long-lasting, weather-ready finish.