Rendering in Rugby

Rugby is a market town that the railway turned into a junction, and the junction turned into a place of works and homes. It is known round the world for its school and for the game that took its name. It is also a town that never stops growing. Victorian terraces sit by the station and in New Bilton, 1930s semis line the Hillmorton Road and the Lawford Road, Brownsover and Overslade are full of 1960s and 1970s homes, and Cawston, Coton Park and Houlton are still being built. Plenty of these homes have render, pebbledash or render panels, and plenty of it needs work.

RCR Connections Ltd renders, re-renders and repairs homes all over Rugby and the villages round it. We’re Birmingham based, covering the whole of the Midlands, and the M6 and the M45 bring us to Rugby quickly. The team has 62 years of combined experience.

This page covers rendering only. If you need walls or ceilings done inside, see our page for a plasterer in Rugby.

Rendering quotes in Rugby: WhatsApp me on 07453 614095 or message the page. We work Monday to Friday 7am to 5pm and Saturday 7am to 1pm, and we’re closed on Sundays.

K-Rend monocouche and silicone render in Rugby

Most of the new render we put on in Rugby is K-Rend monocouche or silicone. They are different systems, but both come in a wide range of colours, both keep out the rain, and both last for many years when the wall under them is sound.

K-Rend monocouche

Monocouche is a “one coat” render. It goes on thick, in one pass or two close together, with the colour mixed right through it. When it has set firm, we scrape the face with a toothed tool to take off the top skin and leave a fine, even texture. Nothing is painted on top, so there is nothing to peel, and a small knock shows the same colour underneath.

K-Rend monocouche is a good fit for:

• Pebbledashed inter-war semis in Bilton, Hillmorton and along the Lawford Road.
• Block-built extensions, side builds and garage conversions on the estates.
• 1960s and 1970s homes in Brownsover and Overslade with tired panels or dash.
• Rented homes near the town centre and station, where no painting is a big plus.

Silicone render

Silicone render is a thin finish coat laid over a base coat with mesh in it. The silicone makes rain bead up and run off, but lets damp inside the wall escape as vapour. It also stays cleaner than most finishes, which matters on busy roads like the A426 Leicester Road, the Dunchurch Road, the Hillmorton Road and Bilton Road.

Silicone render is a good fit for:

• Homes on main roads, where dirt from traffic builds up.
• Houses near the Avon, the Swift, the Oxford Canal or under big trees, where walls go green.
• Older solid walls, where a breathable system is safer.
• Sound old render that has gone dull and tired.

How we help you choose

Once we have looked at the wall, we will give you a straight answer. On many Rugby semis either one would do well, and it comes down to the look you want. On old solid walls, or post-war homes built in non-standard ways, the wall often makes the choice. Our guide K-Rend monocouche vs silicone vs sand and cement render sets out the main points in plain words.

How Rugby grew, and what it means for your walls

A small market town

For most of its life Rugby was a small market town on a low hill above the River Avon. It had a market from the 1200s, and the old centre round the Market Place, Sheep Street, High Street and Church Street still shows that shape today. St Andrew’s Church has a tower that goes back to the 1300s.

The school

Rugby School was founded in 1567 by Lawrence Sheriff, a local man who did well in London. It grew into one of the best known schools in the country in the 1800s. The story goes that William Webb Ellis picked up the ball and ran with it in 1823, and the game of rugby was born. The school’s grand buildings on Lawrence Sheriff Street, and the big Victorian houses built round it for staff and families, still shape the south side of the town.

The railway town

The London and Birmingham Railway reached Rugby in 1838, and within a few years it was one of the busiest junctions in the country, with lines to Leicester, Birmingham, Coventry and the north. The town grew fast round the station. Rows of brick terraces went up in New Bilton, round Murray Road and off the Clifton Road for the men who worked on the railway and in the new works.

Engines, power and cement

From the early 1900s, big engineering works came to Rugby. British Thomson-Houston and Willans built engines, turbines and electrical machines here, and Frank Whittle worked with BTH on his early jet engines in the 1930s. Rugby cement has been made just west of the town for well over a century, and the cement works by the Lawford Road is still a landmark. The radio station at Hillmorton sent signals round the world for most of the 1900s, and its tall masts were a sight for miles until most came down in 2007.

Between the wars

In the 1920s and 1930s, semis spread along the Hillmorton Road, Bilton Road, Lawford Road and Dunchurch Road, and into Bilton and Hillmorton. Many had roughcast or pebbledash, at least upstairs. Most of it is now close to a hundred years old.

After the war

After 1945 the town built new council homes in New Bilton, Overslade and Hillmorton, and then Brownsover grew from the 1960s north of the Avon. Some of these homes were built of concrete or steel, and some were rendered from new. Private estates filled in round Bilton, Cawston and Hillmorton.

Rugby today

The town has kept growing. Cawston, Coton Park and Brownsover’s newer streets came first, and now Houlton is going up on the old radio station land, with thousands of new homes. Rugby has more new-build render than almost any town in the Midlands, and some of it is already showing faults.

The homes we render most in Rugby

Railway-age terraces

New Bilton, the streets round the station and Murray Road, and the roads off the Clifton Road and Lawford Road are full of red-brick terraces with solid walls. Many have a back outrigger with the kitchen and bathroom in it.

What we often find:

• Hard cement render on the back that has cracked and holds water in the wall.
• Render taken down to the yard, bridging the damp course.
• Old patches round moved pipes and windows.
• Painted render, peeling on the weather side.

We often strip that hard render and use a breathable system. Silicone over a breathable base is a strong choice on these walls. K-Rend monocouche works on some back walls once we know they are dry and sound. A base bead keeps the new render above the damp course.

Large Victorian and Edwardian homes

Round the school, along the Hillmorton Road, Clifton Road and Bilton Road, and in Whitehall Road, there are big Victorian and Edwardian houses. Some are brick, some have stucco or roughcast on part of the front, and many have bays, gables and tall chimneys. A good number sit in conservation areas. We check what is allowed before we start, and on old lime-based finishes we will tell you if a lime specialist is the better choice.

1920s and 1930s semis

Hillmorton Road, Bilton Road, Lawford Road, Dunchurch Road and many streets in Bilton and Hillmorton have semis from this time. Most have early cavity walls, a front bay and pebbledash or roughcast.

After 90 years that dash is often:

• Hollow in patches, sounding dull when tapped.
• Cracked at the corners and round the bay.
• Stained under sills.
• Patched in odd colours.

Post-war homes

Overslade, New Bilton, Hillmorton and parts of Brownsover have many post-war homes. Most are brick, but some are concrete or steel framed. If you are not sure how your house was built, send us photos and your postcode. Some house types have special rules for mortgages and repairs, and if a survey is needed first we will say so before you spend anything.

On sound homes we usually:

• Tap every wall and mark hollow areas.
• Take loose render back to a firm base.
• Fix cracks and set mesh across joins.
• Put on a base coat, then K-Rend monocouche or a silicone finish.

1960s and 1970s homes

Brownsover, Overslade and parts of Bilton and Hillmorton have lots of homes from this time, often with tile hanging, timber boards or render panels under the windows. These panels rot, crack and look dated after fifty years. Taking them off and replacing them with K-Rend monocouche or silicone render brings the house up to date.

New builds in Cawston, Coton Park and Houlton

Many newer homes have render from new. Some crack, stain or go green within a few years, usually where there was no mesh at weak points, no movement joints, or the render runs too close to the ground. We repair or redo panels so they blend in. If your home is still covered by the builder’s own cover, speak to them first.

Bungalows

Bungalows are common round Bilton, Hillmorton, Dunchurch and Long Lawford. Low walls mean towers rather than full scaffold in many cases. Dormer bungalows have tall gables, and that is where render most often fails.

Common render faults in Rugby

Clay ground

A lot of Rugby sits on clay. In a dry summer it shrinks, most of all near big trees, and walls can drop a little. When it rains it swells again. That movement shows first as cracks in render. Mesh and movement joints help new render cope.

Hollow dash

Tap the wall. A dull sound means the dash has come away. Water gets in, freezes and pushes more off each winter.

Grime and green growth

Homes on busy roads pick up dark streaks. Homes near Caldecott Park, the Avon, the Swift, the canal or under trees go green on the shady side. Silicone render resists both better than most finishes.

Render too close to the ground

Paths and drives get raised over the years, and render ends up running into the paving. That bridges the damp course. We cut it back and fit a base bead at the right height.

New-build panel faults

On newer homes we see cracks at window corners, stains under sills with no drip, and green growth on north walls. Most of it can be put right with targeted repairs.

Paint failure

Old render painted many times traps damp and peels. K-Rend monocouche or silicone render ends that cycle.

Pebbledash: keep it, cover it or strip it?

We get asked this a lot in Rugby. Here is how we decide.

• Keep and patch if only small areas are loose, the rest is sound, and you like the look.
• Cover if the dash is stuck on well across most of the wall. A base coat with mesh goes on first, then the finish.
• Strip if big areas are hollow, there are lots of old patches, or we need to see the wall behind.

We tap every wall before we give advice. We never cover dash that is coming away.

Preparing the wall

Good render is mostly about good preparation. On every Rugby job we:

1. Put up scaffold or towers and cover paths, drives, plants and sills.
2. Mask windows, doors, gutters and anything we don’t want render on.
3. Take off old render, loose dash and paint where needed.
4. Fix cracks, rake out and repoint bad joints, and treat any rusted steel.
5. Fix beads at corners, edges, window reveals and the base.
6. Set mesh where the wall needs it, such as over joins between brick and block.
7. Put on the base coat, then the K-Rend monocouche or silicone finish.

The hidden parts of a good job

• Base beads keep the render off the ground and give a clean line.
• Corner beads give strong, straight corners that don’t chip.
• Stop beads finish neatly at windows, doors and where render meets brick.
• Mesh in the base coat stops cracks, which matters on clay ground.
• Movement joints let long walls move without cracking.

Colours that suit Rugby homes

K-Rend and silicone render come in many colours. Most Rugby customers pick white, off-white, cream or soft grey.

• On a semi, think about next door. A colour that works with theirs looks far better.
• Bright white shows dirt more on busy roads. Off-white hides it better.
• Mid and dark greys look sharp on 1970s homes and new extensions.
• On red-brick terraces, a warm off-white or cream often sits best with the brick.
• On the newer estates, check if there are rules on colours in your deeds.
• We can send colour charts and sample boards before you choose.

Extensions, garage conversions and garden rooms

With so many family homes, Rugby has plenty of rear extensions, side builds and garage conversions, many in block. Render is the neatest way to finish them. We match the house or go for a contrast. We also render garden rooms, garden walls and outbuildings.

Landlords and rented homes

Rugby has a big rental market, from terraces near the station to family homes on the estates, and many people rent while they work at the distribution parks off the M1 and M6. Landlords tend to want:

• A finish that lasts with little upkeep.
• Work done quickly between tenants, or with tenants in.
• Photos and a short note of what was done.

K-Rend monocouche is often best here, as it never needs painting.

Shops and flats above shops

In the town centre, on Sheep Street, High Street, Church Street, Regent Street and North Street, and on local parades in Bilton, Hillmorton and New Bilton, many buildings have shops below and flats above. Upper floors are often rendered and often in poor shape. We can render them while the shop stays open, working from scaffold with a covered walkway where needed. Much of the centre is a conservation area, so we check what is needed first.

Planning and conservation in Rugby

Re-rendering a house that is already rendered, in a similar finish, is usually fine. Rendering a brick front for the first time can be different, and the town centre, the area round the school, Hillmorton, Bilton village, Dunchurch and other parts are conservation areas. Listed buildings need consent for most changes. If you are not sure, check with Rugby Borough Council before work starts. We can help with photos and product details.

When we render in Rugby

Render needs dry, mild weather to cure well. We don’t put it on in frost, heavy rain, strong wind or hot sun on the wall. Spring, summer and early autumn are best. In winter we still do repairs and small jobs on mild, dry days, and we plan bigger jobs round the forecast.

Looking after your render

• Keep gutters and downpipes clear so water doesn’t run down the wall.
• Keep soil and paving below the base bead.
• Cut back plants so they don’t rub the wall or keep it wet.
• Fix small cracks early before water gets in.
• If it goes green, clean it gently with a soft brush and the right cleaner. Don’t use a hard jet wash close to the wall.

Questions to ask any renderer

• What system will you use and why?
• Will you take off the old render or go over it?
• Will you fit base beads above the damp course?
• Where will you use mesh?
• How will you deal with cracks from ground movement?
• Who will do the work, and how long have they been rendering?
• Can I see finished jobs?

We are happy to answer all of these before you decide.

How a Rugby rendering job runs

First contact

You WhatsApp me photos of each side of the house and your postcode. A short video walking round the house helps even more.

The visit

We come out, look at the walls, tap them for hollow areas, check any cracks, and talk through what you want.

The quote

You get a clear written quote setting out what we will do, which system we will use and how long it should take.

On site

Scaffold goes up, the house is protected, old render comes off where needed, and the new render goes on.

Finishing up

We take the scaffold down, clean up, and walk round with you so you can see every wall.

Damp inside a rendered house

Not every damp patch is the render’s fault, but it often plays a part. Signs to look for:

• Damp or flaking paint low on inside walls, just above the skirting.
• Damp that gets worse after heavy rain, not after cooking or showers.
• Cracked or hollow render on the outside of the same wall.
• Render running down to the path or into the soil.

If it is condensation, new render won’t fix it. If rain is getting in through cracks, or render is bridging the damp course, putting the render right usually helps a lot. We tell you what we think is going on before we suggest any work.

Rugby weather and your render

Rugby sits on open, fairly high ground in the middle of England, with few hills to shelter it. Wind blows across the town from the west and south-west, and winters bring plenty of frost. Water that gets into a crack freezes, swells and pushes render off a bit more each year. Homes on the edges of town, such as in Hillmorton, Cawston and Houlton, catch the most wind. Fixing cracks early, and using mesh in new render, stops the cycle.

Working safely around your home

We use proper scaffold or towers for every job that needs them, and keep the site tidy. On terraced streets with no front garden, such as many in New Bilton, we plan the scaffold so the pavement stays open where it can. We tell you each morning what is happening that day. If you have children or pets, we talk through how to keep them clear of the work. Tools and materials are put away at the end of each day.

What a good render job looks like

When the scaffold comes down, you should see:

• Straight, clean lines at every corner and edge.
• An even colour and texture on each wall.
• A neat gap at the base, above the damp course.
• Clean windows, sills, doors and paths.
• Tidy finishes round pipes, vents and fixings.

If anything is not right, tell us on the walk round and we will sort it.

Corner houses and end-terraces

End-terraces and corner houses have a long side wall that takes the worst of the weather. In Rugby, that side wall is often rendered while the front is brick, and it is often the worst wall on the house. We often render just that wall, matched to the rest, and it can make a big difference to damp inside.

Chimneys and gables

Old chimney stacks are often rendered, and they are hard to see from the ground. Cracked render on a stack lets water into the loft and down the chimney breast. With scaffold up, it is a good time to look at it. Gables on semis, bungalows and 1970s homes are another weak point.

If you’ve just moved in

Lots of people move to Rugby for work or for the trains to London and Birmingham, and many buy a terrace or a 1930s semi that needs outside work. If your survey flagged cracked render, hollow dash or damp:

• Sort the outside before you decorate inside, so damp has time to dry out.
• Fix gutters, downpipes and roof leaks first.
• Send us the survey notes with your photos, and we will tell you what matters most.

New Bilton and the west side

New Bilton grew up round the cement works and the railway, and it is still a close-knit area of terraces, small shops and post-war homes. Many terraces here have hard cement render on the back, and some have it on the front too. In some streets dust from old works has stained walls over the years. We strip failed render, fix the wall and use a breathable system where the wall needs it. K-Rend monocouche in a soft white or cream lifts a terrace front without fuss.

Bilton and Overslade

Bilton was a village before Rugby grew out to meet it, and it still has its green, its old church and some older cottages. Round it are 1930s semis, post-war homes in Overslade, and private estates from the 1960s on. Most of our work here is covering tired dash on semis, replacing old panels, and rendering new extensions.

Hillmorton

Hillmorton has an old village core near the canal locks and the church, Victorian and inter-war homes along the Hillmorton Road, and large estates from the 1960s onward. The canal locks bring damp air to the homes near them. We see a lot of hollow dash, cracked gables and green north walls here, and silicone render is often the best choice near the water.

Brownsover and Newbold

Brownsover, north of the Avon, was built mostly from the 1960s and 1970s, with newer streets added since. Many homes have tile hanging, boards or render panels that are now past their best. Newbold-on-Avon, along the canal to the north-west, has an older village centre with a mix of homes. Panel replacement in K-Rend monocouche is one of our most common jobs here.

Houlton, Cawston and Coton Park

These are the newest parts of Rugby. Houlton is still going up on the old radio station land, and Cawston and Coton Park have filled in over the last twenty years. Most of our work on these estates is repairs to render panels, rendering new garden rooms and side builds, and matching new render to the original as closely as we can.

Red brick fronts: render or leave alone?

Many Rugby homes have good brick fronts. Our honest view:

• If the brick is sound, the pointing is good and the wall is dry, there is often no need to render.
• If the brick is spalling, badly patched or very mixed after old changes, render can give a clean, even look.
• If you are in a conservation area, or in a row of matching brick fronts, rendering one house may not be allowed and can look out of place.

We will tell you what we think, even if the answer is to leave it alone.

Villages round Rugby

We also render homes in Dunchurch, Long Lawford, Clifton-upon-Dunsmore, Brinklow, Wolston, Stretton-on-Dunsmore, Thurlaston and Wolvey. Many have older cottages with soft brick or stone and lime mortar, alongside newer homes. On old cottages we lean toward breathable systems. On newer homes, K-Rend monocouche and silicone both work well.

Garden walls and boundary walls

Many Rugby homes have old brick garden walls or block walls round the back. Over time these crack, lean or lose their pointing. Rendering a sound garden wall in K-Rend monocouche or silicone tidies up the garden and ties it in with the house. We check the wall is stable first, fit a coping or a drip on top, and keep the render clear of the soil. A wall that is leaning or cracked right through needs rebuilding first, and we will say so.

Areas we cover around Rugby

We render homes all over the town, including the town centre, New Bilton, Bilton, Overslade, Hillmorton, Paddox, Eastlands, Brownsover, Newbold-on-Avon, Cawston, Coton Park, Hillside and Houlton. We also cover Dunchurch, Long Lawford, Clifton-upon-Dunsmore, Brinklow, Wolston and the villages round the town.

Nearby pages include plastering in Rugby, rendering in Coventry, rendering in Nuneaton, rendering in Leamington Spa, rendering in Kenilworth, plastering in Southam and plastering in Bedworth. See every town on our rendering areas page.

More services: Rendering with sand and cement · Rendering new extensions.

Get a rendering quote in Rugby

WhatsApp me on 07453 614095 or message the page. Send pictures or videos via WhatsApp for a quick response, a free quote and advice. Send a photo of each side of the house and your postcode.

Opening hours: Monday to Friday 7am to 5pm, Saturday 7am to 1pm, Sunday closed.

You can also email rcrconnectionsltd@gmail.com or use our contact page. See finished jobs on our projects page.

More from RCR Connections Ltd: All plastering and rendering services · Plasterer in Rugby · Rendering areas · Areas we cover