Lime Render vs Cement Render - ANB Cement Rendering Pty (sydneycementrendering.com)

Render is becoming an increasingly popular design option for homes, businesses and commercial properties due to its many functional benefits and aesthetic appeal. There are many different types of render to choose from, ranging from cement render to silicone render, each with its own pros and cons.

Two of the most popular types of render are the classic cement render and the historic lime render, which is making a comeback in modern times.
Continue reading to learn more about the differences and similarities between lime and cement renders.

What is Lime Render and Cement Render?

Lime render is made from a mix of lime, sand and water. The lime component is often either slaked lime (calcium hydroxide), air lime or high calcium-hydrated lime (sometimes called lime putty).

Lime render has a long history dating back to ancient times. However, it has only recently been gaining popularity again due to its visual appeal and unique properties.

Cement render consists of lime, sand, and cement. Due to its durability and versatility, cement render is the most common type of render used in construction projects across Australia.

What is the Difference Between Lime and Cement Render?

The main difference between lime render and cement render is the chemical composition of each render. The lime in lime render is collected from natural limestone. The limestone is burned in a kiln until only the quicklime is left. This quicklime is blended with small amounts of water until it turns into hydrated lime.
Cement render is made from a mix of reactive compounds with silica, including sand.
Lime render is also more commonly used on historic and older buildings. In contrast, cement render is used on more modern structures.

The Benefits of Lime and Cement Render

Lime Render

The benefits of lime render include:

Breathability: Lime render is highly breathable, allowing any moisture in the walls to escape naturally, preventing dampness and eradicating the risk of mould and mildew growth.
Eco-Friendly: Made from completely natural materials, lime render contributes to carbonation, which helps reduce the structure’s carbon footprint. It also releases less carbon dioxide during the production process.
Flexibility: While cement render can be prone to cracking, lime render can handle small structural shifts and changes, reducing the risk of cracks forming.
Creates healthier environments: Lime render regulates temperatures and reduces the risk of fungi like mould and mildew forming, resulting in a healthier living environment.
Self-Healing: Lime render has the ability to heal itself if small cracks or lines appear by reacting to rain.
Aesthetic appeal: Lime render adds a timeless, European style to any structure with its soft hues and ability to be coloured with natural-coloured pigments that blend in with the surrounding environment.
Protects the building: It’s easy to see why lime render is popular with older and historical buildings; its breathability and compatibility with stone and brick allow a building to breathe and help prevent structural damage.

Cement Render

The benefits of cement render include:

Durability: Cement render is naturally resilient to the elements, including rain, heat, and wind, which is why it’s a popular render choice for many modern buildings and buildings in harsh environments.
Protects a structure: Its solid form also physically protects a structure from any external impacts, extending its life.
Cost-effective: Cement render is among the most affordable render choices, which makes it especially popular with larger construction projects.
Versatility: Cement render is incredibly versatile. It can be customised with different patterns, textures, and colours to suit all design preferences. Homeowners may choose timeless neutral colours or choose to stand out and use a brighter colour.
Increases a property’s value: People notice your home’s exterior first. Having a cement-rendered home adds instant curbside appeal and increases its value—especially if it is for sale.
Increases energy efficiency: Adding cement render to the exterior of your home adds an extra layer of insulation, making the building cooler in summer and warmer in winter. This extra insulation helps you save money on your electricity and energy bills.

Disadvantages of Lime and Cement Render

Lime Render

The disadvantages of lime render include:

Cost: Lime render is more expensive than other render types. These higher costs are due to the materials used in the rendering and the special labour involved in applying the render.
May not be compatible with your property: Lime render may not be compatible with your home or property type. It works best on walls that require a breathable layer.
Longer curing time: Lime render takes longer to cure than other render types. This means the rendering process takes longer and may require extra planning, especially in regions with more extreme weather conditions.

Cement Render

The disadvantages of cement render include the following:

More prone to cracking: Because it isn’t water resistant, cement render is more prone to cracking over time and may also show efflorescence staining (from salt coming out of the bricks).
Not suitable for all materials: Cement render may only be compatible with some material types and is most commonly applied to brick surfaces.

Which One is Better?

Which render type is right for you depends on the property type you are planning to render. If you own an old, historic home, lime render would be the better option. However, if you’re putting render on a modern brick home, cement render is the right choice.

At Sydney Cement Rendering, we take pride in being Sydney’s trusted rendering experts. We provide 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!