3 September 2026 · rendering · exterior
Acrylic vs Cement Render: What's Best for Your House?
Rendering transforms tired brick into a modern facade. But acrylic and cement render behave very differently — here's how to choose between them.
Cement render: the traditional heavy-duty option
Cement render has been used on Australian homes for generations. It's a thick, strong coating applied in multiple coats, and it's excellent for levelling uneven brickwork and giving old walls a solid, straight face.
The trade-offs: cement render can crack as a building moves, it takes longer to apply and cure, and it must be painted afterwards to look its best. It's still the right choice for badly weathered walls, repairs and heritage-style homes where a solid, traditional finish is expected.
Acrylic render: flexible, fast and long-lasting
Acrylic render is applied over a base coat and contains flexible polymers that let it move with the house — which means far fewer hairline cracks than traditional cement render. It's pre-coloured or painted, offers a wide range of textures, and is the most popular choice for modern renovations.
Because acrylic render is thinner, it's not as good at correcting seriously uneven walls — that's what the base coat and preparation are for. On a properly prepared wall, though, acrylic render lasts for decades and looks crisp and contemporary.
Which one suits your home?
For most renovated homes, acrylic render is the best balance of looks, durability and value. Cement render earns its keep on older homes with damaged brickwork that needs a heavy build-up. Both need proper preparation to last — cleaning, repairs and primers are non-negotiable, whatever product you choose.
We can inspect your exterior and recommend the right system for your walls, along with texture and colour options that suit the rest of your street.
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