Rendering a Dated Brick House

I'd have to agree with Scott No Mates. It really is a job for the very experienced or the tradesman.

We work on $50 to $60 a square metre for a coloured acrylic render here in Melbourne but you may do better or worse out of the local paper. Some will include the windows and doors in the meterage to allow for external corners, sills and reviels around the frames.Best bet is to get 3 quotes.

We rendered the front of our last IP reno and bagged the sides. Bagging is cheaper and easier for a DIYer however very time consuming. You'll have to paint it too remember.

If it's to sell the property I'd go for maximum street appeal and just render what you can clearly see from the street. Forget the sides and back as we're told most people (80% +) make an emotional decision on purchasing a property before they get out of the car.

Hope this helps.

Mark

G'day Luke,
Not as easy as it looks when the pros are doing it but it can be done if you have plenty of time, a few tools and a strong arm. If you don't have the later don't worry, you WILL by the time you finish the project.
I did some brick fences last year, about 160 sqm took me almost 3 weeks to finish mostly because I was learning. First coat was very slow and took over a week the second coat about 5 days and third one 2 days. I sponged the last coat to get the swirl effect I wanted and to match the color and texture with the limestone retaining walls I used 1 part cream cement, 2.5 parts brickies sand and 2 parts hydrated lime. A wheelbarrow of mud would do one coat of about 10-12sqm, a bit more if you don't spill that much on the ground.

Good luck.

Hi frosty1, you don't have to paint it . If you're happy with a limestone look just use cream cement,sand and hydrated lime. Otherwise you can get different oxide colors to mix into the render.
I prefer the rustic look so I don't paint the render until maybe a few years down the track if I want a change of color.

Hi Luke

Rendering might be a good job for a pro but bagging can be done by anyone.  All you need is some patience and a bit of time! 
This is a picture of an investment property that i have just finished bagging. 

Hey mate

Rendering looks very even and perfect where as bagging has more of a rough nature look.  If you were to paint it a different colour this would change but depending on the location of the house i like the rustic look.  I have never rendered a property but i think it would take much more skill and precision where are with bagging you just 'get the stuff on' however you can.  Some people use a brush some people use their hands.

Ive done bagging / rendering and it came out nice & even. took a full day to do the front of a highset, then another few hours to paint.

I use a gloved hand as I couldnt get the hang of a trowel, plus it means much less dropped.

used 2 bags of render at a cost of $14. as long as you smooth out each coat with a straight edge theres no problem. Ive done 3 houses now & its the best bang for buck value add there is.