Disadvantages with Rendered External Wall?

Jarx · Jan 16, 2008 2:37 am

As I was driving along some rich suburbs with beautiful 2 storey houses with balconies, I noticed that the most attractive houses were rendered. Because we are putting a balcony on our future house, we are thinking of maybe chosing a rendered facade

.

But from what I know and think, rendering are just not cost efficient or nice in the long term. Just some things I see around from older houses with rendered exteriors include

1. yellow water stains across the facade really looks bad
2. massive part of the render falling off
3. trying to apply fallen bits of render really doesn't look good which means i'll probably have to re-render the whole house
4. Maintenance is expensive

Could somebody educate me more about rendered exteriors and problems and issues that I should be aware of?

stonecutter1309 · Jan 16, 2008 7:18 am

Hi Jarx

I too like the look of render but am a bit worried about cracking - just have a look at some of the display homes at Homeworld Kellyville and it's surprising how many have extensive cracking in their render.

I'm quite keen on using Moroka
http://www.kellymoroka.com/

Apparently it's plastic based so it has some flexibility to resist cracking. It comes in a rough finish (so you can still see the outline of the brickwork) or a smooth finish (like cement render)

I think there's also another thread on cement render issues in the forum somewhere.

Jet79 · Jan 16, 2008 7:25 am

There are issues to having render, you've listed most of them I can think of. It comes down to a personal choice. I think you would really have to LOVE render to go with it.
We currently live in an area where 80 % of houses are rendered and I am totally sick of it. If you choose render they will use ugly face bricks as they are just going to cover them over. You can always start with bricks and if you get sick of them then render, can't really do it the other way around.

Jet

Firthy_26 · Jan 16, 2008 8:32 am

Jet79

If you choose render they will use ugly face bricks as they are just going to cover them over.

Think it comes down to the builder with this. In our case, or builder (Carlisle) have used the same bricks behind the render as what we have chosen for the house, whereas the house behind us (NSD Homes) are using a cheaper brick behind the render.

You have made a good point, if the render does crack / fall off, what ever, we have the same bricks behind it to match the rest

. I think the materials they're using these days are pretty good & there are hardy any problems.... Must be true, I read it somewhere on the Internet :shock:

Mike.

Mrs B · Jan 16, 2008 8:39 am

Hi Jarx,

Totally agree with you about render and the issues with cracking and water stains. You are right about the nice homes being rendered as well. We are having our house rendered and I have had lengthly discussions with my builder about this. Apparently it has do do with the preparation and type of materials used for the walls of the house. If they cut corners, it will definately show. I have seen so many bad jobs done on houses in my estate, it is a big concern.
Sorry, cant help but it is one of my concerns as well.

Mrs B

Helyn · Jan 16, 2008 10:03 am

I like naked unrendered bricks.
I think its a trend and a matter of taste, like so many other things, certainly last few years in Adelaide many many new houses have been rendered and some old houses retro- rendered (if that is a term).
Rendering as a style not big in our country area, so there are a few rendered houses but most are not, regardless of which builder.
I think this is possibly because rendering often goes with the flat 'no eaves' style and in our hot dry area this would not be practical for our climate.

Quote:

Because we are putting a balcony on our future house, we are thinking of maybe chosing a rendered facade

What is the connection with a balcony and rendering or not rendering?
My parents have a large 2 story house built 8 years ago (quite attractive IMO) with a balcony the whole width of the top floor and their house is not rendered.

Casa2 · Jan 16, 2008 12:26 pm

Rendered external walls certainly look nice. However, I'm going for face brick since it is maintenance free.

Who wants to paint the entire outside of the house every 10 to 15 years.

Michelle · Jan 16, 2008 12:48 pm

I have beautiful sandstock bricks…..20 years old and still look as good as the day they were laid.

I would NEVER consider a rendered home…..way too much up keep, and I don’t have the time for it.

Facias, eaves, doors and gutters is about I can cope with!

VJ · Jan 16, 2008 1:18 pm

Our house will have a combination of Hardiplank Cladding (front upper area to one side of the house) )and bricks. We love the look. The only Nevada display home that M has used rendered all over. We didn't like that look. We still prefer bricks+Hardiplank.

We initially wanted to have the balcony posts rendered, as well as the pergola.

But in the end, we removed the rendered areas due to cost savings and our friends' comments that render does cracks.

Vlad76 · Jan 16, 2008 2:33 pm

My facade is partly rendered and partly brick. It's a choice, and I happen to like this mix.

I think if you like it and can afford it, go for it. Maintenance applies to everything, not just render. And if you want no maintenance to speak of, don't build at all.

Casa2 · Jan 16, 2008 2:49 pm

Vlad76

My facade is partly rendered and partly brick. It's a choice, and I happen to like this mix.

I think if you like it and can afford it, go for it. Maintenance applies to everything, not just render. And if you want no maintenance to speak of, don't build at all.

The idea is to minimise maintenance. Just because there is some maintenance with a house doesn't mean you abandon attempts to minimise maintenance.

You want the house to serve you, not you being a slave to the house.

Minimise maintenance at every opportunity. Your future self with thank you.

Vlad76 · Jan 17, 2008 12:18 pm

But you also have to love the look of the house each time you drive home from work. If you decided not to render purely for maintenance reasons, you may be regreating it later as well.

As I said, I only have the second story rendered at the front as well as the balcony and portico, with ground floor being brick. But my philosophy is if you like render, you go for it, as your opinion counts more than anyone else's.

clath · Jan 17, 2008 10:33 pm

I was considering render on my house just the front or porch area but i thought as someone said here im sick of looking at rendered houses too and because i like the look of my bricks ... i dont want to spoil them with render. Dont get me wrong render is nice . Most people in my street have rendered their houses but i think i will be different.

What to you think of bagging? i personally dont like it and would choose render over it anyday if i had too.

Dukekamaya · Jan 17, 2008 10:43 pm

There are two types of cracking in render. Random type cracking and cracking which follows the mortar lines. Random cracking is the render itself cracking, however, cracking along mortar lines is a result of the bricklaying/foundations, not the render itself