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.
Getting external rendering right in Eltham starts with understanding the house you already have: its age, how it was built and what has been altered over the years. We survey first, then commit on paper to a price that holds as long as the scope stays the same. Across London, guide prices run at £9,100–£21,000 including VAT, and homes in Blackheath, Welling and Catford are covered too.
- Guide price
- £9,100–£21,000 inc VAT
- Time on site
- 1–3 weeks on site, depending on weather
- Postcodes
- SE2, SE9, SE18 and SE28
- Planning rules
- England
- Local area
- Greater London
- Survey
- Free, with a written quote
External rendering prices in Eltham
Here is how the guide price for external rendering breaks down in Eltham. We start from national figures and adjust for London, which comes out about 30% above the national guide. The resulting range, VAT included, is £9,100–£21,000, and a survey, at no cost to you, firms it up.
| Type of job | What it usually involves | Guide in Eltham |
|---|---|---|
| Front elevation or small terrace | One elevation or a small terraced house, including scaffolding and preparation. | £3,900–£9,100 |
| Typical semi-detached | All rendered walls of a 3-bed semi in monocouche or silicone, with scaffolding. | £9,100–£21,000 |
| Detached or full strip and re-render | Larger houses, or homes needing old render removed and walls repaired first. | £19,500–£39,000 |
What moves the price up or down:
- Wall area to be rendered and the height of the house
- Render system: sand and cement, monocouche or silicone
- Scaffolding, access and protection of neighbouring property
- Detailing around windows, bays, sills and pipes
What do you get?
- Survey of walls, existing render, cracks and damp-proof course
- 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
- Making good around pipes, vents and fixings, and a site clean-up
What are homes like around Eltham?
London's housing is dominated by Victorian and Edwardian terraces, often in yellow London stock brick, with Georgian terraces in central districts and mansion blocks across many inner areas. Outer boroughs have large belts of interwar semis, and there are extensive post-war council estates. Many houses have been split into flats, and conservation areas are widespread.
Terraces suit side-return extensions and rear dormer loft conversions; interwar semis commonly take hip-to-gable lofts. Shared party walls, restricted parking and conservation rules often shape the plans and the programme.
For external rendering in Eltham, this means checking things like wall construction, roof structure and existing services before we put a figure on paper.
Do you need permission in Eltham?
England, Wales, Scotland and Northern Ireland each handle planning a little differently. Eltham comes under England, covered below, and we raise any questions with the council before your quote is finalised.
In England, re-rendering or cladding a house is often allowed without planning permission, but stone, render, timber, plastic or tile cladding is not permitted development in conservation areas, and listed buildings need consent.
If you render or re-clad more than 25% of an external wall, Building Regulations usually require the wall’s insulation to be improved where that is practical, and building control should be notified.
Rules change and every property is different, so we check the planning history and constraints for your address before we quote.
How does the job run?
A visit to your home
First, someone visits your home in Eltham to see the space, take measurements and note anything that could affect the work, such as access or the condition of what is there. There is no charge for this visit.
Your fixed price
We turn the survey notes into a written quote. The price is fixed for the specification we agree, and the document sets out materials, scope and payment stages in plain language.
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.
Finish and handover
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
Common questions
How long will external rendering take?
On a typical home, allow 1–3 weeks on site, depending on weather. Larger projects, older buildings and extra work found once things are opened up can extend that, while simpler jobs may be shorter. Your quote includes an estimate of time on site, and your point of contact keeps you updated on the programme as the work progresses.
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.
How long does rendering take?
Rendering a typical semi-detached house takes around one to three weeks. Scaffolding goes up first, then removal of old render, repairs, beads and mesh. Base coats need time to cure before the finish coat. Weather has a big effect, because render should not be applied in rain, frost or strong heat. We give you an expected programme with the quote.
Do I need planning permission in Eltham?
It depends on the work, the size of the project, your property type and whether the building is listed or in a conservation area. Eltham is in England, so England'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.
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.
Near Eltham
Homes across SE2, SE9, SE18 and SE28 in Eltham are within our coverage, as are those in Blackheath, Welling and Catford. If you are just outside these areas, ask anyway, because we work right across the UK.