Cement & Solid Rendering, Adelaide

Traditional sand-and-cement render

Solid render is the classic trade: sand, cement and lime, mixed on site and worked onto the wall by hand. It’s been putting a clean skin on Adelaide brick and blockwork for generations, and done properly it lasts.

It can be finished a few ways — floated flat, sponged for a light texture, or brought up smooth — and it takes paint or a coloured topcoat well once it’s cured.

Breathable — why it suits older homes

A sand-and-cement render is breathable, meaning moisture in the wall can move out through the render rather than being trapped behind it. On many of Adelaide’s older brick and stone homes that breathability is exactly what the wall wants, which is why solid render is often the right call over a sealed modern coating.

The dependable base coat

Solid render is also the workhorse base coat. When you’re after an acrylic topcoat or a texture finish, a well-floated cement base gives it a true, sound surface to key into. Get the base right and everything on top of it behaves.

What’s the difference between cement render and acrylic render?

Cement (solid) render is traditional sand-and-cement — breathable and strong, usually painted after it cures. Acrylic render has a polymer blended in, so it’s more flexible, more weather-resistant and coloured-through. Cement suits older/breathable walls and base coats; acrylic suits modern low-maintenance finishes.

Does cement render need painting?

Usually, yes — a traditional cement render is painted or given a coloured topcoat once it’s properly cured. If you’d rather skip painting, a coloured-through acrylic or texture finish is the alternative.

Does cement render crack?

Any rigid render can develop fine cracks if the wall moves. Correct mix, control joints, curing and prep keep it to a minimum — and hairline cracks in solid render are straightforward to repair, which is part of the appeal.

How long before you can paint new cement render?

As a rule it needs time to cure before painting — often a few weeks depending on weather and thickness. Dino will give you the right timeframe for your job so the paint bonds and lasts.