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 are planning external rendering anywhere in Scottish Borders, including Hawick, Galashiels, Peebles and Kelso, we can visit, measure up and talk through the options. The planning and building regulations we work to are those for Scotland, and we check them for your address before quoting. Prices remain guide figures for Scotland, at £6,700–£15,500 including VAT, until the survey is done.
- 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
- 4
- Survey
- Free, with a written quote
External rendering prices in Scottish Borders
No two jobs cost exactly the same, but the ranges below give a fair picture of external rendering in Scottish Borders. Pricing for Scotland runs about 4% below the national guide, and the overall guide is £6,700–£15,500 with VAT included. We'll confirm your figure after surveying the property for free.
| Type of job | What it usually involves | Guide in Scottish Borders |
|---|---|---|
| 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 |
Your price depends mostly on:
- Wall area to be rendered and the height of the house
- Removing old render or pebbledash and repairing the walls
- Scaffolding, access and protection of neighbouring property
- Detailing around windows, bays, sills and pipes
What’s included?
- 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
- Finish coat in your chosen colour and texture
Homes in Scottish Borders
Mill towns such as Hawick, Galashiels and Selkirk have stone terraces and tenements from the textile industry, Melrose and Kelso have older sandstone centres, and farmhouses and cottages across the Borders are built of whinstone or sandstone under slate roofs. Post-war and newer estates surround the larger towns.
Mill-town terraces and tenements often need lime repointing, re-roofing in slate and replacement windows. Newer homes commonly take extensions and garage conversions, and rural properties add fencing, porches and driveways.
Cold winters with frost and snow on higher ground, and the Tweed and Teviot can flood low-lying properties.
Planning and building rules in Scottish Borders
Which rules apply depends on where you live. For Scottish Borders, the answer is Scotland, and the points below reflect that; we verify them with the council before quoting.
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.
How does the job run?
We look at the job
It starts with a survey at the property, free of charge. We check condition, access and services, ask how you want the finished result to look, and answer any questions you have about external rendering.
Quote in writing
You get the price in writing, itemised so you can see where the money goes. As long as the specification stays the same, that is the price you pay for external rendering.
Dates and permissions
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
During the work we protect the areas around it and tidy up at the end of each day. Once complete, we check the finish, remove our materials and hand over paperwork such as building control sign-off where it applies.
What you can expect from us
Frequently asked questions
Do I need planning permission in Scottish Borders?
It depends on the work, the size of the project, your property type and whether the building is listed or in a conservation area. Scottish Borders 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.
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.
Which postcodes in Scottish Borders do you cover?
We cover TD9, TD1, EH45 and TD5, along with the rest of Scottish Borders. 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.
Will rendering stop damp?
Render protects walls from driving rain, so it can help where rain penetration is the cause of damp. It will not cure rising damp, condensation or leaks from gutters, and on older solid walls the wrong render can trap moisture and make damp worse. We look for the cause of any damp at the survey and recommend fixing that first.
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.
Towns in Scottish Borders
Looking for external rendering somewhere in Scottish Borders? Start with the towns below; each links to a page with pricing for your region and coverage details.