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One of the most common decisions people make when it comes to rendering is what type of render to use, and two of the most popular options are cement render and acrylic render.

Each option has pros and cons, so continue reading to learn more about cement and acrylic render!

Cement Render and Acrylic Render

Cement render is the most traditional rendering method and has been used for hundreds of years. It is made up of a mixture of sand, cement, lime and water. The render is available in pre-mixed bags but can also be mixed on-site.

Acrylic render has grown in popularity in recent years due to its flexibility. It consists of sand and cement that is mixed with acrylic, which is a type of plastic. It comes pre-mixed and pre-packaged.

The Benefits of Cement Render

The benefits of cement render include:

  • Cost-Effective: Cement rendering is one of the most cost-effective rendering options as it is made with readily available and natural materials. It is cheaper than acrylic rendering.
  • Durable: Cement rendering is durable and holds up well against the Australian elements. It protects your walls from any external damage. It can last up to 20 years with the proper maintenance.
  • Give your home a facelift: The outside of your home can become tired and worn-looking. A layer of cement rendering will instantly refresh the outside of your home and give it a touch of elegance.
  • Increases energy efficiency: Cement rendering adds an extra layer of insulation to your home, which makes your home cooler during summer and warmer during winter. This insulation helps you save money on your energy and electricity bills.
  • Increased home value: Rendering your home can instantly increase its home value, as it gives it a fresh new look and makes it stand out from the rest of the houses on your street.
  • Different colours: Coloured pigments can be added to the cement render mixture. This saves you the extra time and money spent on painting your home.
  • Can be used both on the exterior and interior of your home: Cement rendering can be used on both the exterior and interior of your home.
  • Easy to mix: Cement render can be mixed easily on-site but is also available in pre-mixed bags.

The Disadvantages of Cement Render

The disadvantages of cement render includes:

  • More prone to cracking: Cement renders are less flexible than acrylic renders, which means they are more prone to cracking over the years.
  • Colour fading: The pigments in coloured cement renders fade in the sunlight, while coloured acrylic renders tend to last longer.
  • Longer curing times: Cement render may require longer curing times, which may extend the timeline of your project.
  • More difficult to achieve textured finishes: Cement render isn’t as flexible as acrylic render, which means it can sometimes be difficult to achieve the textured results you want.

Benefits of Acrylic Render

The benefits of acrylic render include:

  • Crack-resistant: Acrylic render is more flexible than cement renders and can withstand the natural movement of a building, which means it is less likely to crack over time.
  • Works well on different surfaces: Acrylic render can be applied to more surfaces than cement renders. It works well on brick, concrete, painted walls, masonry, fibre cement, plasterboard, and render board.
  • Colour retention: Acrylic render is known to retain its colour, even after exposure to the elements, unlike cement renders that can fade over time.
  • Faster curing time: Acrylic render dries and cures within a few days, which is a lot faster than the drying and curing time of cement renders. This speeds up your renovation or construction project.
  • Versatile: Acrylic render has many different finishes, including various colours, textures and patterns. If you want a smooth or more textured look, you can achieve that with acrylic render.
  • Water-resistant: The addition of acrylic (plastic) in the render mixture makes it more water-resistant.
  • Easy to colour: Colour is usually added to the acrylic render mixture before it is applied. You don’t have to worry about buying paint and painting the wall separately.
  • Nicer results: Acrylic render produces a smoother, polished finish than cement render.

Disadvantages of Acrylic Render

Disadvantages of acrylic render include:

  • More costly: Acrylic render is more expensive than cement render and other types of render due to the materials used in the mixture being more challenging to obtain.
  • More maintenance: Acrylic render may need to be cleaned or maintained more often than cement render.
  • Less breathable: Acrylic render has a tight seal to prevent moisture and mould from ruining the wall. However, this also means that acrylic render is less breathable than cement render.
  • Can’t be applied to wood: Although acrylic render can be applied to most materials, there are still some limitations; it can’t be applied to wood, plywood or weatherboard surfaces.

What Are the Differences Between Cement Render and Acrylic Render?

  • Cement render is easier to apply than acrylic render
  • Cement render is available pre-mixed but can also be mixed on-site, while acrylic render comes pre-packaged.
  • Acrylic render is more costly than cement render.
  • Acrylic render dries and cures faster than cement render.
  • Acrylic render is more versatile than cement render.
  • Acrylic render is more durable than cement render.
  • Cement render is more breathable than acrylic render.

If you want to learn more about the differences between Acrylic Rendering and Cement Rendering and find the right option for your home, call Sydney Cement Rendering! We take pride in being Sydney’s trusted rendering experts and providing our customers with the highest quality rendering services. Contact us at 0402 704 984 or visit our website: https://sydneycementrendering.com/ to find out more about what we offer!