Render application — close-up
Real M&M rendering application footage
Our Process
How we apply render & plastering.
No guesswork, no shortcuts. Every system we install follows the same careful process — built up over 20+ years’ hands-on experience — from the first survey to the final finish.
Render application — full elevation
Real M&M rendering application footage
Step By Step
The exact process we follow.
Select a service below to see every stage of our application process.
Typical Lifespan15–25 yrsColour runs through the full depth of the render
Typical Duration1–2 weeksOften quicker than multi-coat systems, property dependent
01
Substrate Survey & Preparation
As with any render system, we start by checking the wall is sound — tapping for hollow sections, checking for damp, and cutting back any failing material to a solid base before work begins.
Foundation02
Priming & Suction Control
A bonding primer or spatterdash is applied to even out suction across the substrate. Monocouche is a single, thicker coat, so getting consistent suction beforehand matters more than it does with multi-coat systems — uneven suction shows up as patchiness in the finished render.
Prep03
Single-Coat Application
Monocouche is applied in one main pass, typically in the region of 15–20mm thick, combining the strength of a base coat with the finish of a topcoat. It's worked in sections with a wet edge maintained throughout, so joins between sections don't show once it's finished.
Main Application04
Texture Finishing
Before the render fully sets, the surface is worked to the agreed texture — typically a scraped or floated finish. Timing matters: worked too early and it smears, too late and the texture won't take evenly.
Finish05
Colour Through the Full Depth
The colour is mixed into the material itself rather than painted on afterwards, so it stays consistent through the full thickness of the render — minor surface scuffs don't reveal a different colour underneath.
Colour06
Curing Period
Monocouche needs a period of dry weather to cure fully before it reaches its normal strength and weather resistance. We plan the application around the forecast rather than rushing the finish.
CuringWant to see monocouche rendering up close? View the service page or request a free quote.
Typical Lifespan20–30 yrsWith correct application and light upkeep
Typical Duration1–2 weeksFor a standard semi-detached property, as a guide
01
Substrate Survey & Preparation
Every job starts with a full assessment of the existing wall — tapping for hollow or loose areas, checking for damp, and inspecting any existing render for soundness. Failing areas are cut back to solid masonry and window and door reveals are protected before anything else happens.
Foundation02
Base Coat & Reinforcement
A polymer-modified base coat is applied across the wall, with alkali-resistant fibreglass mesh embedded into it. The mesh lets the system flex slightly with normal building movement, which is what keeps silicone render resistant to the hairline cracking that affects poorly reinforced systems.
Layer 103
Priming
Once the base coat has cured, a colour-matched primer is applied. This evens out suction across the surface and gives the silicone topcoat a consistent base to bond to — skipping it risks patchy colour and weaker adhesion.
Layer 204
Silicone Topcoat Application
The silicone render is applied in your chosen colour and texture. Because it's through-coloured and water-repellent, the finish sheds rain rather than absorbing it, which is what gives silicone render its low-maintenance, self-cleaning reputation.
Finish05
Initial Cure & Weather Protection
Freshly applied silicone render needs a dry window to cure properly. We keep a close eye on the forecast and, where needed, protect the surface from rain in the first day or two, so the finish sets exactly as it should.
CuringWant to see silicone rendering up close? View the service page or request a free quote.
Insulation BoardsEPS / Mineral WoolSpecified to suit the wall and thermal target
Typical Duration1–2+ weeksDepending on property size and scaffold access
01
Survey & Thermal Assessment
We assess the existing wall construction and condition to confirm external wall insulation is suitable, and recommend an insulation thickness appropriate for the property and the thermal improvement you're after.
Survey02
Preparation & Access
Scaffolding or access equipment is put up, the existing surface is cleaned and inspected, and any repairs are carried out before insulation goes on the wall.
Preparation03
Insulation Board Fixing
EPS or mineral wool boards — chosen to suit the specification — are adhesive-bonded and mechanically fixed to the wall, staggered at the joints and cut tightly around windows and doors. Gaps at this stage become thermal bridges later, so boards are fitted with zero tolerance for gaps.
Layer 104
Detailing at Openings
Corners, window and door reveals, and any wall penetrations are fitted with purpose-made beads and profiles, keeping the insulation envelope continuous rather than leaving weak points where heat can escape.
Detailing05
Reinforced Base Coat & Mesh
A polymer-modified base coat is applied over the insulation boards with alkali-resistant mesh embedded into it, giving the system structural strength and crack resistance ahead of the finish coat.
Layer 206
Finish Render Application
The chosen render finish — commonly silicone, for its flexibility and water resistance — is applied over the base coat in your chosen colour and texture, completing the insulated render system.
FinishWant to see external wall insulation up close? View the service page or request a free quote.
Skim Thickness~2mmApplied in two passes for a smooth, even finish
Drying Time~1 wk / coatAs a rough guide, before decorating
01
Survey & Assessment
Walls and ceilings are checked for hollow or loose plaster, damp, staining and movement cracks before we quote — a fair price is only possible once we know exactly what we're dealing with.
Assessment02
Preparation
Loose and hollow material is removed back to a sound surface, dust and contamination cleaned off, PVA or bonding agent applied where needed, and metal angle beads fixed to external corners for crisp, durable edges.
Prep03
Base Coat (Where Needed)
Where the wall isn't already a suitable surface to skim onto — bare brick or blockwork, or freshly plasterboarded stud walls — a base coat is applied and ruled level first, giving the finish coat a flat, even surface to sit on.
Layer 104
Finish Skim Coat
A smooth finish coat, around 2mm thick, is applied in two passes and worked with a trowel to a hard, even finish free of trowel marks and air bubbles.
Finish05
Drying & Handover
Fresh plaster needs time to properly dry out before decorating — as a rough guide, allow around a week per coat in normal conditions. We advise on the right drying conditions and the right time for a mist coat before we leave site.
HandoverWant to see plastering up close? View the service page or request a free quote.
Typical Duration1–3 daysDepending on the extent of the damage
ApproachMatched SystemRepaired using the same or a compatible render
01
Assessment
We tap test the affected area to find hollow or blown sections, check any cracks to judge whether they're cosmetic or a sign of something more serious, and look for signs of moisture getting in behind the render.
Assessment02
Cutting Back to Sound Material
Damaged render is cut out back to solid, well-bonded material — or bare substrate where necessary — so the repair has a proper base to key into rather than sitting on top of a failing layer.
Prep03
Addressing the Underlying Cause
Where damp or another underlying issue caused the render to fail, that's dealt with first. Patching over an unresolved cause just delays the same problem coming back.
Foundation04
Re-Rendering the Area
The repair area is built back up using the same or a compatible render system, matched to the thickness and build-up of the surrounding render.
Layer 105
Blending the Finish
The new render is finished to match the surrounding texture and colour as closely as possible, so the repair sits into the wall rather than standing out — though some variation is normal with render that's weathered over time.
FinishWant to see render repairs up close? View the service page or request a free quote.
Typical Duration2–4 daysFor a typical garden or boundary wall
ApproachMatch or ContrastFinished to complement or stand apart from the property
01
Survey & Condition Check
We check the wall's construction and pointing, and look for any damp course or coping issues that need addressing before rendering — garden walls are exposed on both faces and closer to the ground, so this matters more than on a house elevation.
Survey02
Preparation
Loose material and failing pointing are repaired, the surface is cleaned down, and coping or capping details are checked so water is shed away from the render rather than sitting on top of the wall.
Prep03
Base Coat & Reinforcement
A base coat, reinforced with mesh where needed, is applied to give the render a sound structural foundation on both faces of the wall.
Layer 104
Finish Coat
The chosen render system is applied to either match your property's existing render closely, or deliberately contrast with it to frame the garden as its own space.
Finish05
Detailing & Handover
Copings, corners and edges are finished cleanly and the site is left tidy before we hand the wall back to you.
HandoverWant to see garden wall rendering up close? View the service page or request a free quote.
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