How Long Does Rendering Take?
A one-coat monocouche job is usually 4 to 7 days on site. A base coat with a silicone or acrylic finish takes longer, because the base coat is left about two weeks to cure first. Render shouldn't go on below 5 °C, in rain, or in strong sun and wind.
Day by day on site, why the weather matters, and the driest months where you live.
Free, no obligation. One local contractor prices it, not five.
- 4–7 dayson site for a one-coat render
- 5 °Cthe coldest day render should go on
- 1,288 mmIreland's average rain a year
- Springthe driest season
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A typical job, start to finish
| Stage | Typical time | Why |
|---|---|---|
| Scaffold up, walls prepared | 1–2 days | Hacking off, cleaning, beads |
| Base coat and mesh | 1–2 days | Then it's left to cure |
| Curing | Days to two weeks | Thin-coat makers ask for about two weeks on a base coat |
| Finish coat | 1–2 days | Each wall in one go, no joins |
| Scaffold down | 1 day | After a final check |
Render is a wet trade. It shouldn't go on below 5 °C, in rain, or in hot sun and strong wind that dry it too fast. Ireland gets 1,288 mm of rain a year on average; spring is the driest season and winter the wettest. A good contractor books outside work for a settled spell and sheets the scaffold.
The driest months where you live
Met Éireann 1991–2020 averages, for each county's largest town.
| County | Town | Rain a year | Driest three months | Wettest month |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Carlow | Carlow | 906 mm | May to July | October |
| Cavan | Cavan | 1,042 mm | April to June | December |
| Clare | Ennis | 1,288 mm | April to June | December |
| Cork | Cork city | 1,109 mm | May to July | December |
| Donegal | Letterkenny | 1,320 mm | April to June | December |
| Dublin | Dublin city centre | 753 mm | February to April | November |
| Galway | Galway city | 1,289 mm | April to June | December |
| Kerry | Tralee | 1,357 mm | April to June | November |
| Kildare | Naas | 871 mm | March to May | November |
| Kilkenny | Kilkenny | 876 mm | March to May | October |
| Laois | Portlaoise | 938 mm | March to May | October |
| Leitrim | Carrick-on-Shannon | 1,127 mm | April to June | December |
| Limerick | Limerick city | 1,044 mm | April to June | December |
| Longford | Longford | 1,019 mm | March to May | December |
| Louth | Drogheda | 831 mm | February to April | November |
| Mayo | Castlebar | 1,458 mm | April to June | December |
| Meath | Navan | 869 mm | March to May | November |
| Monaghan | Monaghan | 989 mm | April to June | December |
| Offaly | Tullamore | 900 mm | March to May | October |
| Roscommon | Roscommon | 1,098 mm | April to June | December |
| Sligo | Sligo | 1,253 mm | April to June | December |
| Tipperary | Clonmel | 1,032 mm | April to June | November |
| Waterford | Waterford city | 1,020 mm | March to May | October |
| Westmeath | Athlone | 933 mm | March to May | December |
| Wexford | Wexford town | 1,021 mm | April to June | October |
| Wicklow | Bray | 896 mm | May to July | November |
More on rendering
Every job is priced by the contractor after a look at the walls.
Rendering in every county
One contractor per county. Pick yours for local prices, the weather and the council.
- Carlow38% of homes built before 1981
- Cavan35% of homes built before 1981
- Clare40% of homes built before 1981
- Cork44% of homes built before 1981
- Donegal33% of homes built before 1981
- Dublin49% of homes built before 1981
- Galway33% of homes built before 1981
- Kerry40% of homes built before 1981
- Kildare29% of homes built before 1981
- Kilkenny41% of homes built before 1981
- Laois33% of homes built before 1981
- Leitrim37% of homes built before 1981
- Limerick44% of homes built before 1981
- Longford37% of homes built before 1981
- Louth42% of homes built before 1981
- Mayo39% of homes built before 1981
- Meath31% of homes built before 1981
- Monaghan43% of homes built before 1981
- Offaly42% of homes built before 1981
- Roscommon39% of homes built before 1981
- Sligo39% of homes built before 1981
- Tipperary47% of homes built before 1981
- Waterford42% of homes built before 1981
- Westmeath39% of homes built before 1981
- Wexford35% of homes built before 1981
- Wicklow42% of homes built before 1981
Every guide, calculator and county page
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Calculator, FAQ & Glossary
Questions we get asked
How long does it take to render a house?
A one-coat monocouche job is usually 4 to 7 days on site. A base coat with a silicone or acrylic finish takes longer, because the base coat is left about two weeks to cure first. Render shouldn't go on below 5 °C, in rain, or in strong sun and wind.
What's the best time of year for rendering?
Late spring and summer. Render needs dry days above 5 °C to cure, and rain on a fresh coat washes it out or leaves it patchy. Autumn and winter jobs go ahead in dry spells, with the scaffold sheeted.
Can you render in winter?
In a dry spell above 5 °C, with the scaffold sheeted, yes. Frost on a fresh coat ruins it, so no work when frost is due.
How long before render can get wet?
Ask the contractor for the product they use. A fresh coat has to be kept out of the rain until it has set.
How long before I can paint sand and cement render?
Once it has fully cured: weeks, not days. Paint too soon and it traps moisture.
Get a free rendering price
One contractor who covers your county rings you. Nothing is booked until you say yes.