WHAT IS SILICONE RENDER

Silicone render also known as "thin coat"  is the most flexible breathable render, it has a slightly textured finish and comes in different grain sizes, the standard is 1.5 mm the biggest being 3mm, and least being 1mm, it has the most various selection of colour finishes that decorates and protects external wall insulation (EWI) and thin coat render systems.

The way in that the silicone finish is produced and manufactured, means it can be mixed to almost match all RAL codes and even some popular paint manufacturers colours.

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WHY IS SILICONE RENDER DIFFERENT?

Unlike a traditional sand, cement, and old additives renders that were previously used 20 years ago, when we used to use these renders , they could take up to 3 to 4 days to dry, which would then require painting and maintaining  with your chosen colour. 

The advantage of  using silicone render means that it is more robust, it can withstand harsh weather conditions such as heavy rain, extreme temperatures and is water repellent. This means its durable, weather resistant and easier to maintain. ​​

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WHICH BRAND MANUFACTURER SHOULD I CHOOSE?

There are several major brands we use which are available to choose from, each render brand can be tailored to your particular project. However upon assessment and consultation after viewing your property, a discussion will be had on which brand is the preferred choice and best suited for your needs. All the render systems we use will come with a 10 to 15 year manufacturers and applicator warranty.​

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HOW WE APPLY SILICONE RENDER ?

​Step 1 is preparing your exterior walls:

This  involves ensuring they are clean and free from any loose debris, paint  and algae. In some cases power washing is needed with chemicals to provide a clean and dirt free surface. Next a suitable primer will be applied dependant upon the different brick or block of your wall.

 

Step 2 involves covering all doors, windows, driveways and patios:

This is to ensure your property is protected.

This is a core value of our company.

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Step 3 is adding render beads to all doors and windows:

To achieve clean and sharp  edges around windows, external corners and other features, they are secured in place with bead adhesive product.

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Step 4 is applying the base coat:

First coat is applied to a 6mm depth either machine sprayed or hand applied, dependant upon the circumstances and requirements. This is applied with a render mesh slightly embedded into the first coat which strengthens and prevents cracking. This is a key component to a strong basecoat.

A second coat is then applied to a depth of 4mm, this is then left to dry and is machine or hand rubbed to a smooth finish. 

We allow the render to cure which is usually 24 hours or to the manufacturers recommendations, this can take up to 36 or 48 hours dependant upon conditions.

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Step 5 is applying a silicone primer:

Once the base coat is cured, the next step is to apply a silicone primer , this will be the same colour choice as the top coat render, this is then left to dry.

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Step 6 is applying the top coat:

Once the primer is fully dried, the final step is to apply the silicone top coat, this can be machine or had applied.

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FAQ​

CAN WINTER FROST DAMAGE MY SILICONE RENDER?

On the extreme  cold days and  colder nights  we get  asked whether frost has any effect on the render and what temperatures could cause a problem.

If your render has been applied and its dry, the frost will not be a problem, but if it is still curing, then frost and extreme cold can be a problem, causing cracking and not adhering properly to the walls. This is why we are very sensitive about the days we can apply the topcoat and will sometimes means we  to be off-site until the temperatures rise above 5 degrees. sometimes in the winter waiting for the right day to apply the top coat is crucial so the render system is done properly, and there are no problems, ensuring the manufacturing guide lines are keep to get their guarantee's.​

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 IN THE COLD WINTER MONTHS THERE ARE A FEW OPTIONS:

• There are different companies that offer  accelerator's that are added to the base coat renders and the top coat finishes to help the silicone and  renders set quickly. This is an option but the temperature's still need to be  around 10 degrees.  Unfortunately, they tend not to work as well with darker coloured top coat renders, so we don’t tend to use accelerator on these jobs.

• There is a render system that has been designed for the extreme winter days which lets you apply in temperatures down to minus 5 degrees, the system does come with an extra cost for the accelerator system that is used, but when the days are wet and its going to rain at night once applied its usually takes 4 to 5 hours and the finished top coat will then be cured. 

So sometimes the best option  is to delay the top coating until a warmer drier day and night, it is worth waiting for so the system is properly applied  and is a lasting and durable render.

 Once installed it should be maintenance free for over 20 years ,you can also pressure wash from time to time to keep it nice and clean. 

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SILICONE OR MONOCOUCHE?​

Durability

In our experience, silicone has the edge slightly over monocouche, this is with it being a little more flexible. For example like building movement and crack resistance.

Monocouche renders are very hard wearing and robust, but if not applied to the correct guidelines they can crack if the building experiences high movement's.

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