Silicone, Monocouche or Acrylic Render: Which Is Right for Your Home?

Daniel Nikolla

Oct 11

2 min read

Silicone, monocouche and acrylic are the three finishes London homeowners ask about most. They look similar from the street but behave differently on the wall, so the right choice depends on your building and budget.

	Silicone	Acrylic	Monocouche
Type	Thin coat on a reinforced basecoat	Thin coat on a reinforced basecoat	Thick, cement-based, through-coloured coat
Flexibility	High	Good	Lower, more rigid
Breathability	High	Lower	Moderate
Cleaning needs	Resists dirt and algae well	May need cleaning more often	Moderate
Cost	Higher	Lower	Mid range
Colour range	Very wide, tinted to order	Very wide, tinted to order	More limited
Painting needed	No	No	No, though some systems are sealed

Silicone render

Silicone is applied as a thin layer over a mesh-reinforced basecoat. It is flexible, water-repellent and breathable, so it copes well with the small movements that crack harder renders. It is the system we recommend most often for houses, extensions and insulated walls.

Small extension finished in white render with a white uPVC window, by Alb Render

Acrylic render

Acrylic is also a thin coat, and costs less. It holds colour well and resists cracking, but it is generally less breathable than silicone and can need cleaning more often. It suits budget-conscious jobs on sound walls.

Monocouche render

Monocouche is a cement-based render with the colour mixed in, applied about 15 mm thick and usually scraped for texture. It has been widely used on new builds in brick and blockwork and has a traditional, stone-like look. Because it is more rigid, it is more prone to cracking than silicone, and its colour range is narrower.

Mineral and lime renders

Older buildings with soft brick and lime mortar sometimes need a mineral or lime-based render so the wall can release moisture. We'll tell you if your property falls into this group.