Cement Render vs Acrylic Render
There’s an unending debate about which render material is better between cement and acrylic render. It’s often challenging to make the best choice between these two render materials.
There’re some factors you can consider to assist you in making a more informed choice. These factors include:
- Cost
- The surface requiring rendering
- Timeframe for the work
- Durability
If your brick walls look dull and you want them to have a new look, rendering it will give you the chance to choose a finish, colour, and design of your choice. However, which render material should you choose between cement and acrylic?
The Cost of Cement Render vs. Acrylic Render
Cement rendering in Sydney is often more affordable than acrylic rendering in Sydney, especially when doing a large DIY project or when working with a small budget.
If you want to hire a contractor for the job, much of the cost will go to labor instead of the render material. Generally, rendering costs about $30 – $50 per sq. meter.
The renderer may advise you to apply one or several layers of render depending on the surface being rendered. The reason behind this is that both render materials have their advantages and disadvantages.
Advantages and Disadvantages of Cement Render
Besides being more affordable, cement render has several advantages. For instance, you can make it on the worksite or buy a premade brand. If you have to mix it on the worksite, you should have enough experience on how to do it. You can alter the standard mixing ratios slightly based on the kind of wall surface to be rendered. However, you can mess up if you mix the ratios incorrectly. Also, mixing the render by yourself is cheaper than buying a premade render.
However, cement render has some disadvantages. For instance, it can crack over time, especially if you don’t allow it to cure properly. Also, there’re limited types of surfaces on which you can apply cement render. It’s only ideal for application on block and brick surfaces.
Advantages and Disadvantages of Acrylic Render
Acrylic render is more expensive than cement render but it’s advantageous in that it lasts longer. Thus, it’ll give you more value for your money.
Although acrylic render is only available in premade mixtures, you’re assured that you’re using the right mixture. It’s also advantageous in that it dries more quickly. While cement render takes about 4 weeks to allow for painting, acrylic render only requires 2-3 days to paint. Also, acrylic render is suitable for application on a wide range of surfaces. Besides block and brick surfaces, you can also apply it on plasterboard, concrete, and cement surfaces.
Additionally, the acrylic component makes acrylic render more flexible. Thus, it’s less susceptible to cracking and lasts longer. Thus, it’s great for applying on homes built in areas that experience extreme weather changes from one season to the other.
However, acrylic render tends to be more challenging to apply than cement render.
Which Is The Better Option?
Most rendering professionals advise homeowners to use acrylic render over cement render due to its great benefits. Although it’s more expensive, it lasts longer and is more versatile. However, cement render may be the better option for some projects. In case you’re not sure about the best render material for your property, you can talk to an experienced renderer in Sydney for professional advice.
Related Articles