Renders

Render systems from a UK manufacturer

Licata manufactures and supplies render systems for external wall insulation, new build and refurbishment across the UK. Our range covers silicone render, acrylic render, silicate render and monocouche render, giving specifiers and contractors a finish for every substrate and exposure condition encountered on UK projects.

Every render we supply forms part of a tested system rather than a standalone product. The primer, basecoat, reinforcing mesh and finish coat are formulated to work together, which is what delivers the crack resistance, weather performance and colour stability that a rendered elevation needs over a thirty year service life.

Choosing the right render for your project

The substrate is what governs the decision. Monocouche render is a through-coloured product applied in a single layer directly to masonry, and suits sound blockwork and brickwork where the programme is tight and movement joints can be detailed properly. Because the colour runs through the full thickness, minor impact damage does not expose a different colour underneath.

Thin coat render systems are built up in layers over a mesh-reinforced basecoat. That reinforcement distributes stress across the elevation instead of allowing it to concentrate at openings and junctions, which is why thin coat is the specification wherever crack resistance matters, wherever insulation is involved, and wherever the substrate is frame construction, a render carrier board or an existing painted or rendered surface.

Within the thin coat range, silicone is the most widely specified finish in the UK. It is highly water repellent while remaining vapour open, so driving rain sheds from the surface while moisture can still leave the wall. Silicone finishes also carry a self-cleaning characteristic, shedding atmospheric dirt with rainfall and holding their appearance longer than conventional coatings. Acrylic renders offer greater flexibility where thermal movement is a concern, and silicate finishes suit mineral substrates where maximum breathability is the priority.

Render colours and textures

Colour and grain size together determine how a finished elevation reads. A finer grain produces a tighter, smoother surface suited to contemporary architecture, while a coarser grain gives more visible texture and is more forgiving of minor substrate variation. Application method changes the result again: a float finish, a scraped finish and a rilled finish all look different in the same colour.

Licata renders are available across an extensive colour range, with bespoke matching available for larger schemes. Because screen reproduction is never reliable, we recommend viewing physical samples in daylight, and applying a sample panel on site for anything larger than a single property.

Render for external wall insulation

Where render is applied over insulation, it forms the outer layer of a complete external wall insulation system. The insulant, fixing pattern, basecoat and finish are specified together, and the certification that covers the build-up covers all of it as one system. Selecting a finish after the system has been specified means revisiting the fixing schedule, so the two decisions belong together.

Technical support and supply

Our technical team supports specifiers and contractors from first enquiry through to completion on site, covering system selection, U-value calculations, project-specific detailing and application guidance. Renders are stocked across six branches in Twickenham, Southgate, Dartford, Wickford, Birmingham and Manchester, with trade counter collection and delivery available nationwide.