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.
In Lanarkshire, we price external rendering against our guide for Scotland, £6,700–£15,500 including VAT, then adjust it once we have surveyed your home. We work across East Kilbride, Hamilton, Meikle Earnock and Cumbernauld and the rest of the county or region. Planning and building control requirements follow the rules for Scotland, and we look into your property's position before a written quote is sent.
- Guide price
- £6,700–£15,500 inc VAT
- Time on site
- 1–3 weeks on site, depending on weather
- Planning rules
- Scotland
- Price level
- About 4% below the national guide
- Towns listed
- 16
- Survey
- Free, with a written quote
How much does external rendering cost in Lanarkshire?
Here is how the guide price for external rendering breaks down in Lanarkshire. We start from national figures and adjust for Scotland, which comes out about 4% below the national guide. The resulting range, VAT included, is £6,700–£15,500, and a survey, at no cost to you, firms it up.
| Type of job | What it usually involves | Guide in Lanarkshire |
|---|---|---|
| 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:
- Wall area to be rendered and the height of the house
- Render system: sand and cement, monocouche or silicone
- Removing old render or pebbledash and repairing the walls
- Scaffolding, access and protection of neighbouring property
Scope of the work
- Scaffolding erected and removed, with neighbours' access agreed
- Removal of loose or failed render and pebbledash where needed
- Windows, doors and surfaces masked and protected
- Beads at corners, edges and above the damp-proof course
- Mesh reinforcement and base coats to suit the chosen system
- Making good around pipes, vents and fixings, and a site clean-up
Homes in Lanarkshire
Lanarkshire mixes sandstone tenements and terraces in Hamilton, Motherwell, Airdrie and Coatbridge with former miners' rows and large post-war estates, many finished in roughcast. East Kilbride and Cumbernauld were developed as post-war new towns, and newer private estates surround most towns.
Roughcast homes commonly need re-rendering, window replacement and roof work. Semis and bungalows suit extensions and loft conversions, and new-town houses often take garage conversions and driveways.
Wet and fairly cold, with frequent rain off the Atlantic; former coal workings underlie parts of the area.
Planning and building rules in Lanarkshire
The notes below cover Scotland, which is where Lanarkshire sits. Rules change and every property is different, so we speak to the council before pricing your job.
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.
The four stages
Free site survey
We arrange a free site survey on a date convenient to you. We measure up, look at the existing structure and access, and discuss your plans for external rendering so the price reflects your home.
Written quote
We put everything into a written, fixed-price quote: the specification, what's excluded, staged payments and the expected time on site. Take whatever time you need to decide; there's no pressure to commit.
Plan and prepare
Next comes planning the work itself. We set a start date that suits you, line up the right trades, and make sure any approvals for external rendering are in place before the first day on site.
The work itself
On site, the agreed plan is followed and any change is put in writing first. At completion we do a final clean, go through the snagging list with you and leave you with the relevant documents.
What you can expect from us
Questions about external rendering in Lanarkshire
Do I need planning permission to render my house?
Whether rendering needs planning permission depends on how it changes the appearance, your home's location, whether it is listed or in a conservation area, and which UK nation you are in. Rendering over brick may need permission in some places, while replacing existing render like for like often does not. Listed buildings need consent. We check the position before quoting.
Which postcodes in Lanarkshire do you cover?
We cover G74, ML3, ML3 and G67, along with the rest of Lanarkshire. If your postcode is not listed, get in touch anyway: our coverage is UK-wide, and we can usually arrange a survey wherever you live. Enter your postcode in the guide-price tool or contact form and we will confirm.
Who do I deal with during the job?
One point of contact manages your project from survey to handover. They schedule the trades working under our contract, keep you updated on progress, and are the person to call with any question. You don't need to coordinate builders, electricians or decorators separately, because that is part of what we do.
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.
Which render system should I choose?
The right render depends on your walls and how much upkeep you want. Sand and cement is the lowest-cost option but needs repainting every few years. Monocouche is coloured through, so it needs no painting, and suits block and brick walls. Silicone thin-coat is flexible, water-repellent and stays cleaner, but costs more. Lime render suits older solid walls. We recommend a system after inspecting your walls.
Towns in Lanarkshire
Looking for external rendering somewhere in Lanarkshire? Start with the towns below; each links to a page with pricing for your region and coverage details.