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Finishes for external wall insulation
Render in almost any colour, or brick slips that keep the look of a brick house.
Silicone render
Our most common finish. Through-coloured, water-shedding and slow to go green. Available in fine or coarser textures and a wide range of colours.
Mineral render
Very vapour-open, which suits breathable systems on older solid walls. Some versions are designed to be painted.
Brick slips
Thin brick faces bonded over the insulation and pointed. Keeps the look of a brick house and often helps where appearance matters for planning.
Colours and textures
Bright white is popular, but by no means the only choice. Here are a few of the finishes in our photos.
We bring sample boards to the survey so you can see colours outside in daylight, against your roof, windows and the houses next door.
Details that finish the job
- Plinth band. A darker strip at the base hides rain splash, as on several houses in our photos.
- Reveals and surrounds. Window and door surrounds picked out in a second colour.
- Band courses. A slim horizontal line between floors to break up a tall wall.
- Feature details. Keeping an original brick arch or stone detail on show.
Questions about finishes
Can external wall insulation look like brick?
Yes. Brick slips are thin slices of real brick, or brick-faced tiles, bonded over the insulation and pointed like a normal wall. From the street they look like brickwork. They suit terraces where keeping the brick look matters.
Does the render need painting?
Silicone and most mineral renders are coloured all the way through, so they do not need painting. Some mineral finishes are designed to be painted, and we tell you if yours is.
Can I have two finishes on one house?
Yes. Brick slips on the ground floor with render above, or a contrasting plinth along the base, are both common. We can show you combinations at the survey.
Will the finish crack?
The reinforced basecoat and mesh are there to stop it. Extra mesh at window corners and movement beads where needed deal with the places cracks usually start.
How do I keep it clean?
Silicone finishes shed water and dirt well. A gentle wash every few years, and a biocide clean on shaded walls if green growth appears, is usually all they need.
Ask about finishes
Render, brick slips or a mix?
Picturing a new look?
We will bring samples to the survey.