External rendering is applying a protective, weather-resistant coating to the outside walls of a house, using sand and cement, monocouche or thin-coat silicone render, to give a smooth or textured finish that protects the masonry and improves appearance.
If you live in Aberdeen and are weighing up external rendering, the starting point is a visit to measure up and talk through what you want, which costs nothing. We cover homes across AB10, AB11, AB15 and AB16, and a typical project of this kind in Scotland lands somewhere in the £6,700–£15,500 bracket, including VAT. The exact figure depends on size, access and the finish you choose.
- Guide price
- £6,700–£15,500 inc VAT
- Time on site
- 1–3 weeks on site, depending on weather
- Postcodes
- AB10, AB11, AB15, AB16 and AB24
- Planning rules
- Scotland
- Local area
- Aberdeen City
- Survey
- Free, with a written quote
External rendering prices in Aberdeen
Prices for external rendering vary from house to house, but in Aberdeen most projects fall within £6,700–£15,500 including VAT. That reflects costs in Scotland, about 4% below the national guide. Treat the table as a budgeting aid; the written figure follows a survey we carry out for free.
| Type of job | What it usually involves | Guide in Aberdeen |
|---|---|---|
| Front elevation or small terrace | One elevation or a small terraced house, including scaffolding and preparation. | £2,900–£6,700 |
| Typical semi-detached | All rendered walls of a 3-bed semi in monocouche or silicone, with scaffolding. | £6,700–£15,500 |
| Detached or full strip and re-render | Larger houses, or homes needing old render removed and walls repaired first. | £14,500–£29,000 |
The main things that change the figure:
- Render system: sand and cement, monocouche or silicone
- Removing old render or pebbledash and repairing the walls
- Scaffolding, access and protection of neighbouring property
- Detailing around windows, bays, sills and pipes
Scope of the work
- Scaffolding erected and removed, with neighbours' access agreed
- Removal of loose or failed render and pebbledash where needed
- Beads at corners, edges and above the damp-proof course
- Mesh reinforcement and base coats to suit the chosen system
- Finish coat in your chosen colour and texture
- Making good around pipes, vents and fixings, and a site clean-up
What are homes like around Aberdeen?
Aberdeen is built largely of grey granite, from tenements and terraces to granite villas in the West End, with post-war council housing and newer estates on the outskirts. Across Aberdeenshire, harled stone cottages, fishing-town terraces in Peterhead and Fraserburgh, and modern developments in commuter towns such as Westhill and Ellon are common.
Cold North Sea winds, coastal haar and hard winter frosts are routine, so roofs, harling and exposed fixings need a robust specification.
With that background in mind, here is how we typically handle external rendering for homes in Aberdeen, from the first visit to the finished result.
Permissions for external rendering in Aberdeen
Planning law differs across the UK. For a home in Aberdeen, it is the Scotland rules below that count, and we check them with the council ahead of any quote.
In Scotland, changing the external finish of a house in a conservation area or on a listed building needs consent; elsewhere, like-for-like re-rendering is usually treated as repair.
Large-scale re-cladding or external insulation can need a building warrant; like-for-like render repairs normally do not.
Rules change and every property is different, so we check the planning history and constraints for your address before we quote.
What happens after you get in touch?
Survey and measure
Book a visit and we'll come to you. The survey covers measurements, the state of what's there now and any obvious constraints, so the price that follows is based on your actual home, not an average.
Price and scope agreed
After the survey we send a quote for external rendering that fixes the price for the scope we've agreed. If you want to change materials or scope, we revise it in writing before anything is booked.
Plan and prepare
Before anyone starts, we confirm the programme in writing, check whether consents are required and arrange deliveries. If a skip or scaffolding on the road needs a permit, we apply for it.
On site to finish
Our trades complete external rendering while your point of contact keeps you updated. When everything is finished, we clear the site, take away waste and go through the result with you before handover.
Working with SK Home Improvements
Questions about external rendering in Aberdeen
Can you combine external rendering with other work?
Yes. Because we manage several trades under one contract, we can plan external rendering alongside other work on your Aberdeen home, such as new windows with rendering, or a kitchen refit with an extension. Combining jobs can reduce repeat set-up such as scaffolding, skips and access, and every element is listed and priced in the same written quote.
Do I need planning permission in Aberdeen?
It depends on the work, the size of the project, your property type and whether the building is listed or in a conservation area. Aberdeen is in Scotland, so Scotland's rules apply. Many smaller jobs need no planning application, but some still need building control approval. We check what applies to your address before quoting.
Can you render over pebbledash or old render?
Rendering over existing pebbledash or render is sometimes possible if it is firmly bonded, but if it sounds hollow, is cracked or is coming away, it must be removed first. Covering failing render simply hides the problem until the new coat fails too. We tap-test the walls and explain whether removal is needed. Removal adds time and cost but gives a sound base.
How much does it cost to render a house?
Rendering a typical 3-bed semi costs £6,700–£15,500, including scaffolding and preparation. As a guide, allow around £60–£120 per square metre of wall plus fixed costs for scaffolding and set-up. Sand and cement is the lowest-cost system, while silicone thin-coat costs more but needs no painting. Removing old render or pebbledash first adds noticeably to the price. We confirm a fixed figure after the survey.
How do I look after silicone or monocouche render?
Through-coloured render needs little upkeep. Check it once a year for cracks or damage, especially around windows and pipes, and keep gutters clear so water does not run down the walls. If green algae appears on shaded walls, a specialist render cleaner applied with a soft brush or low-pressure wash removes it. Avoid high-pressure jet washing, which can damage the surface.
Nearby towns
If your address falls within AB10, AB11, AB15 and AB16, we cover it. The same goes for neighbouring Nigg, Inverurie and Peterhead, which we include alongside Aberdeen when arranging surveys and quotes.