Render Texture and Colour: A Guide

Are you sick of your boring white rendered walls? A mix of colour and texture on your render can turn your simple rendering project into something eye-catching and unique. The perfect mix of colour and texture changes the render’s appearance and durability. Transform your tired-looking walls into a home that has the ‘wow factor’ with a simple mix of colour and texture.

In this guide, we explain the popular render colour and texture options available in Sydney, their costs, and mistakes to avoid.

Why Does Coloured Render and Texture Work Together?

​Coloured render doesn’t look the same on all surfaces. A smooth-textured render shows colour as a clean and neat block, perfect for modern and contemporary homes with minimalist designs. Textured finishes with a rougher surface scatter light across the surface, making colours appear richer, shadowed, or softer depending on the time of day, making them well-suited for feature walls and uniquely designed surfaces and homes.

The texture of a render also affects how a colour weathers. Rough textures trap more pollen, dust, and grime, making certain colours show dirt and grime build-up faster than they would on smoother textures.

Popular Render Colours for Sydney Homes

​Neutral colours such as off-whites and soft greys remain incredibly popular render colours in Sydney, as they suit all architecture types, from older brick homes to contemporary homes.​

Charcoals and darker greys are complementary and often work well as accent colours for garages, gates and doors.

One of the common colour trends found in Australia includes the use of three different colours on the exterior of a home. The main surfaces and walls were painted in one base colour, while the trim and cornerboards were painted in a secondary colour, and accents like doors, gates, and architectural features were painted in a third colour.

It is important to take the colour of the roof, doors, windows and garage into consideration, as the colours you use for your render should complement these features.

The Main Textures Used On Render

​The main textures you will find on rendered homes in Australia include the following:

• Smooth (sponge or float finish): A flat, even surface with no visible patterns. A perfect match for contemporary, modern homes. Elegant and clean-looking.

• Sand (fine texture): A render with a slightly gritty finish. A good choice if you want something a little more textured, but not anything too obvious. It is great at covering any small imperfections.

• Coarse texture (rock-dash): A more pronounced texture with a grainy finish with depth and shadow. A common texture found on older Sydney and heritage homes.

• Tyrolean (roughcast): A splattered, uneven texture that is applied to walls with a special tool. The texture is obvious and has a distinctive look. It is much more difficult to patch up in the event of imperfections or damage.
• Polished (Venetian plaster finishes): A smooth and almost stone-like surface, which adds a touch of luxe to interior rooms and feature walls.

Render Textures At a Glance

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Selecting Your Render Colour and Texture

What factors should you consider before selecting a render colour and texture?

​Think About Your Home’s Architectural Style​

An older Federation cottage and a contemporary townhouse are two completely different architectural styles, meaning that one colour or texture isn’t going to suit both homes. Make sure you match the colour and texture to the architecture and style of the home and don’t just choose the first colour or texture that catches your eye.

For example, contemporary homes often look best with neutral colours like whites, greys, and charcoals, while coastal homes suit soft whites, warm sands and light greys. Natural and eco-friendly homes suit stone colours, clay tones and mineral finishes.

Take a Look At Your Neighbourhood

Take a look at the homes in your neighbourhood and see what the general colour scheme looks like. Some councils and strata schemes in Sydney have rules on what exterior colours can be used on homes, especially in heritage-listed areas.

Make sure you check with your local council before falling in love with a colour.

Order Physical Samples

Render colours look vastly different in a swatch book than they do on a real wall during daylight. Ask your professional rendering company or your local warehouse for a small test patch.

View Samples in Different Light

Daylight changes throughout the day, especially during the morning and evening. These light shifts mean that colour looks different on a north-facing vs south-facing wall. Make sure you view samples at different times of the day.

Match Texture and Maintenance Tolerance

If you don’t want to maintain your rendered walls every year, choose a smooth-textured finish, especially in areas that are prone to fungal growth (damp areas with little sunlight).

Get Professional Advice

Before finalising a colour and texture, we recommend calling a professional rendering company like Sydney Cement Rendering to give their valuable advice, as well as their recommendation for primer and top coat,

as the wrong combination can affect how the coloured render looks.

Consider Your Roof Colour, Windows, Doors and Garages

It is important to choose a colour that complements your roof, garage, doors, and windows as well as any stone or timber accents you may have. Choose colours with similar tones but a different shade to complement the different architectural features.

Consider the Climate You Live In

Homes in warmer climates will work better with a lighter render colour as it reflects the sun and heat over the summer months, while darker shades can better absorb the sun’s UV rays and transfer them into your home.

​Longevity?

Some colour and texture combinations are going to have a longer life than others. For example, neutrals will always be on-trend for much longer than bright feature colours, which may be a good idea at the time of their application but will date much faster.

Product Compatibility

Some render types are not suitable for every material or application. If you are unsure about what render type to use for your home, we recommend contacting a professional rendering company who can give you expert advice.

Current Colour and Texture Design Trends

We have noticed the following render colour and texture trends in Australia:

• Using a mixture of colours: Using a dominant base colour, a secondary feature colour, and an accent tone for trims and other architectural details can help.

• Combining different materials: Using different textures and materials on your home can create a more visually appealing and striking look. Professionals such as architects and interior designers often use colours and textures strategically to highlight different features and to draw the eye. Some popular combinations include:
• Render with natural stone
• Render with timber cladding
• Light and dark render colours (contrasting)
• Smooth and textured materials
• Render with feature brickwork

Cost Breakdown: Does Colour Or Texture Change the Price?

The total cost depends on various factors, such as the render type, the size and condition of your walls, and the colour and texture you choose.

• Standard tinted top coats: Neutrals, greys and whites are usually considered as ‘standard pricing’.

• Bold or custom-mixed colours: These paint options can be a bit more expensive than standard tinted coats as they require extra mixing time and more paint coverage on darker shades.

• Textured finishes: Rough textured finishes like rock-dash or Tyrolean render will cost more than a smooth finish as they are more labour-intensive to apply.
• Polished or Venetian plaster finishes: They not only look luxe but also come with a higher price tag due to the specialised labour involved.

Common Mistakes Made When Choosing a Render Colour and Texture

• Picking a colour without much thought: Selecting a colour from a small swatch and not considering how it will look on a larger area is a common mistake, as most people don’t realise how different the colour will look in different lights and once it is applied to a larger area.
• Not considering maintenance for textured surfaces: Renders with a heavily textured finish are effective and eye-catching, but they also allow more debris, dirt, and dust to build up over time and will require more maintenance in the long run.
• Choosing colours and textures based on trends alone: If you select a render colour and texture because it is trending on social media, it doesn’t necessarily mean that it is the right option for your home. Not every render colour, type or texture will suit all homes.

• Skipping the council check: Some areas in Sydney may not allow certain render colours, especially in more historical suburbs.

• Fading colours: Darker render colours may look striking and stand out, but they also fade faster and more dramatically than lighter colours as they absorb more UV rays.

• Too much texture: Too much texture on your walls can make the render look messy and overbearing.

• Clashing colours: If you match a warm-coloured render with cooler colours, it can result in a colour clash, which can be unsightly.
• Choosing the wrong render for coastal homes: Coastal areas are exposed to salt spray and harsher weather conditions. If you apply cement render, it will not withstand the elements for long, while silicone or acrylic renders are more flexible and water-resistant.

At Sydney Cement Rendering, we take pride in being Sydney’s trusted rendering experts. From residential jobs to large-scale commercial projects, we provide our customers with the highest-quality rendering services and adapt to every situation and rendering style. To learn more about render colours and textures,  and to get an accurate quote, give us a call at 0402 704 984 or visit our website  https://sydneycementrendering.com/ to find out more about the services we offer!

FAQs

Does Render Texture Affect How Long the Colour Lasts?

​Smooth render shows less debris and generally holds up better than textured render. Smooth-textured renders and surfaces have a longer lifespan and look fresher for longer.

What’s the Most Popular Render Colour in Sydney?​

Neutral colours such as off-whites, soft greys, sandy and terracotta tones are all popular render colours in Sydney at the moment.

Can I Change the Colour of My Render Without Redoing the Texture?

In most cases, yes. A fresh coat of paint or a tinted top coat can alter the colour without modifying the underlying texture, as long as the original render is in good condition.

Do I Need Council Approval to Change My Render Colour?

​If the colour change is straightforward and you live in a contemporary home, no, you will not require council approval. If you live in a heritage-listed home or on a property in a conservation area, you will most likely need council approval before you make any changes.​

Can I Mix Textures On One Facade?

​For sure. Having different textures on a facade, such as a smooth main wall and a textured feature wall, is currently on trend, as it looks stylish, modern and instantly draws the eye.

Should I Choose My Render Texture Before Or After the Colour?​

Selecting a texture is usually easier to do before applying a colour. Once you have a texture, you can test how specific colours look on it before committing to a colour choice.

Do Darker Render Colours Fade Faster in Sydney’s Climate?

​Yes, darker render colours typically fade faster than lighter ones in Sydney’s climate. Applying a quality UV-stable top coat helps slow the render colour from fading.