Silicone Render vs Traditional Render: Which Suits Your London Home?
Choosing between silicone render and traditional render for your London home? We explain the real differences to help you decide. Get a quote from ATEAM Plastering.
Silicone render versus traditional render: what London homeowners need to know
Picking the right render for a London property is not as simple as flicking through a colour chart. The city throws a lot at exterior walls: persistent damp, dust and fumes from busy roads, the odd sharp frost, and decades of grime working into the surface. Get the render system wrong and you can end up with cracks, staining or moisture problems sooner than you should. Get it right and your walls can look clean and stay protected for years.
We offer rendering, silicone rendering systems and EWI systems for homes across London. Here is a plain-English breakdown of how silicone and traditional render compare, so you can have a more informed conversation when you ask for a quote.
What is traditional render?
Traditional render has been used on British buildings for a very long time. At its core it is a mix of cement, sand and sometimes lime, applied in one or more coats to the outside of a wall. Once cured, it is usually painted or left as a textured finish.
It is a proven material and, when specified and applied correctly, it does a solid job of protecting masonry. On older London properties with solid brick walls, a lime-rich mix is often recommended because it lets the wall breathe and release moisture rather than trapping it behind an impermeable skin. Trap moisture in a Victorian terrace and you create conditions for damp to work its way inward. If you are considering a lime-based finish, ask exactly what a contractor offers.
The trade-off with cement-heavy render is that it can be less flexible than modern systems. London's clay ground moves a little with the seasons, and rigid render can develop hairline cracks over time. Those cracks let water in, and once water gets behind render the problems can escalate. Traditional render also usually needs painting to keep it looking fresh, which adds an ongoing maintenance task. You can read about our rendering service.
What is silicone render?
Silicone render is a modern, factory-mixed finish that contains silicone polymers. It is typically supplied ready to use, often with the colour already mixed through, so painting is not part of the initial job.
The silicone component is designed to do two useful things. First, it gives the render a degree of flexibility, so it can cope better with the minor movement that is normal in London's older housing stock. Second, it makes the surface water-repellent, so rain beads off rather than soaking in, which helps keep the wall drier and, in a city where pollution settles on every surface, can help the finish stay cleaner for longer.
Silicone renders are also generally breathable, meaning moisture vapour from inside the wall can still escape, which matters on solid-walled properties. Performance varies by product and system, so always check what a specific product offers. See our silicone rendering page.
How the two systems compare
- Flexibility. Silicone render generally handles minor movement better than a stiff cement render, which matters on older London terraces where some settlement is expected.
- Water resistance. Both keep water out when intact, but silicone's water-repellent surface is designed to shed rain rather than simply resist it.
- Breathability. A good lime-based render breathes well, and silicone renders are generally breathable. A straight cement render breathes less, which can be a problem on solid walls.
- Maintenance. Traditional render usually needs periodic repainting. Silicone render's colour runs through the material, so routine repainting is not part of the plan, though it can be painted later if you want a change.
- Appearance. Traditional render offers a wide range of textures from smooth to heavily textured. Silicone render tends to come in fine or medium textures and a broad palette of colours. Both can look excellent when applied well.
- Longevity. Performance varies by product, system, preparation and application. Neither lasts indefinitely without some attention, and London's weather will test both.
Neither option is universally better. The right choice depends on the wall type, the existing surface, the property's age and style, and the finish you want.
London's housing stock and why it matters
Most of London's housing was built before the Second World War. Victorian and Edwardian terraces, Georgian conversions, 1930s semis and inter-war mansion blocks all have different wall constructions, and render needs to suit what it goes onto.
Solid brick walls, common in pre-1920s terraces, need a breathable approach. Cavity walls, more typical from the 1930s onward, are less sensitive, but the render still needs to be compatible with the brick or blockwork.
If your property is in a conservation area, as many London streets are, there may be restrictions on the finish or colour you can use externally. Check with your local council before committing to a render system. For leasehold properties, freeholder or management company consent may also be needed.
For more on how London's climate affects external render work, see rendering in autumn and winter: London weather reality.
EWI systems and render: a brief note
Some London homeowners are exploring external wall insulation (EWI) as part of improving their property. EWI adds an insulation layer to the outside of the wall, which is then finished with a compatible render system. Silicone render is commonly used as the finish on EWI systems.
EWI is a more involved project than a render refresh. Building regulations, planning rules, conservation area restrictions and, for leasehold properties, freeholder permissions can all apply, so check with your local council and a qualified professional before committing. We offer EWI systems, so get in touch with details of your property to talk through what is involved.
Preparing your walls before rendering
Whichever system you choose, preparation largely determines how long the result lasts. On older London housing, that often means dealing with previous renders, some applied with incompatible materials over the decades.
Loose or blown render needs to come off. Cracks need to be assessed and treated properly. The surface needs to be clean, sound and suitable for the new system. Skipping this stage is a common reason render fails early, however good the top coat is.
If you have a period property with layers of history on its walls, it is worth having a proper look before deciding on a system. Our article on plastering a Victorian terrace: what to expect covers the principles for older properties.
Frequently asked questions
Is silicone render suitable for a Victorian terrace in London?
It can be. Silicone renders are generally breathable, which matters for solid brick walls, but the surface must be properly prepared and the system matched to the wall construction. Get in touch with details of your property and we will talk through the options.
Does traditional render need painting after it is applied?
Cement-based render is usually painted, and that paint will need refreshing periodically. A lime render can sometimes be left unpainted or limewashed. Silicone render is typically colour-through, so routine repainting is not part of the plan, though it can be painted later.
How do London's weather and pollution affect render?
Damp winters and variable temperatures put render under stress, and freeze-thaw cycles can open small cracks in less flexible renders. City pollution deposits grime on exterior surfaces, which is why the water-repellent finish of silicone renders can be useful in urban settings.
Can I render my London home if it is in a conservation area?
Conservation area rules vary by location and local authority, and some have restrictions on external finishes, colours or materials. Check with your local council before starting external render work.
Talk to us about your London render project
Every London property is different, and the best render system depends on the wall, the building's history and what you want the result to look like. We are a family run team with over 65 years' experience in the building industry, and all our work is guaranteed. Read more about us.
If you are weighing up silicone render versus traditional render for your London home, get in touch with us, call 07906 267470 or email Ateamservices38@gmail.com and we will talk it through, then give you a quote.
