Ultra Walls & Ceilings — Rendering in Battery Point

Cement render costs $30–$60/m² for labour, plus $10–$20/m² for materials. Acrylic render costs $40–$80/m². A standard double-brick home with 200m² of wall area typically costs $8,000–$16,000 fully rendered. Prices vary significantly by region, access difficulty, and surface condition.

Cement render is a sand-and-cement mix applied in multiple coats and painted over. It's durable but can crack over time with building movement. Acrylic render is a polymer-modified system that's more flexible, crack-resistant, and available in integral colours — no painting required. Acrylic is the more modern and preferred choice.

Generally not recommended — the new render needs to bond to a clean substrate. Old paint or loose existing render must be removed first. Surface preparation (cleaning, removing loose material, applying bonding agent) is critical for adhesion. Rendering over a sound, existing render coat is sometimes possible with the right bonding agent.

Cement render must cure for a minimum of 28 days before painting with a standard acrylic paint. Painting too early traps moisture and causes paint failure. Sealer coats can sometimes be applied after 7 days. Acrylic render systems are integral colour and don't require painting, but can be painted after full cure.

The main causes are building movement, thermal expansion, shrinkage during curing, insufficient bonding, and structural issues. Hairline cracks are normal and cosmetic. Horizontal or diagonal cracks can indicate structural movement. Applying render too thickly or in hot/dry conditions also causes cracking.