Rendering in Harborne

What should you know before starting in Harborne?

This kind of work rarely needs planning permission, but it does have to comply with Building Regulations, and some parts must be certified by a registered installer or signed off by building control. In Harborne, building control is provided by Birmingham City Council or a registered building control approver (formerly an approved inspector).

Re-rendering more than 50% of a wall can trigger a requirement to improve its insulation.
Render can't be applied in frost, heavy rain or strong sun, so programmes follow the forecast.
Hollow or loose render has to come off before a new system goes on.

Postcode district: B17
Planning and building control: Birmingham City Council
From our West Bromwich base: 4 miles

Options to consider in Harborne

Silicone render

A thin-coat render applied over a base coat and mesh, with silicone added so rain beads off and dirt washes away. Silicone render is through-coloured, so it needs no painting, flexes slightly with the wall and lets moisture escape. It costs more than sand and cement but needs far less upkeep.

Sand and cement render

The traditional two-coat render of sand, cement and lime or plasticiser, finished smooth or textured and then painted with masonry paint. It's the most affordable system and easy to patch. It needs repainting every several years, and on older solid walls a breathable, lime-based mix is often better than a hard cement render.

Rendering prices in Harborne

Guide prices start at £40 and run to £160 per m². Silicone render with base coat and mesh over sound brickwork, including beads: around £70–£100 per m².

Guide prices for rendering
Option	Guide price	Good to know
Sand and cement, painted	£40 – £65 per m²	Two-coat render plus masonry paint
Silicone or through-coloured render	£65 – £100 per m²	No painting, low maintenance
Insulated render (EWI)	£110 – £160 per m²	Insulation boards with a render finish

Guide ranges include VAT where it applies. Your fixed price for the agreed specification follows a free survey at your Harborne address.

Your questions answered

How much does it cost to render a house?

In the West Midlands, rendering typically costs around £40–£65 per m² for painted sand and cement and £65–£100 per m² for silicone or through-coloured render, plus scaffolding. For a three-bed semi with roughly 90–120 m² of wall, that usually means around £6,000–£12,000 for the render, with scaffolding on top. Removing old render or adding insulation increases the cost.

Which postcodes in Harborne do you work in?

We cover B17 and the streets around them. If you're on the edge of Harborne, neighbouring Selly Oak and Edgbaston are covered too.

How long does rendering take?

A typical semi takes one to three weeks, depending on how much old render comes off, the system and the weather. Each coat needs time to cure, and render can't be applied in frost, heavy rain or very hot sun. We plan the programme around the forecast and tell you about any delays.

Will I need permission from the council in Harborne?

You won't usually need planning permission, but the work must meet Building Regulations. Building control in Harborne is provided by Birmingham City Council or a registered building control approver, and some work is self-certified by registered installers.

Nearby places we cover

Other home improvements in Harborne

We'll tap-test your walls and set out the options in writing after a free rendering survey in Harborne.