Rendering quotes for the same Hertfordshire house can differ by thousands of pounds, which makes it hard to know what a fair price looks like. This guide sets out realistic local ranges, what sits behind them, and the checks worth making before you book anyone.
Most renderers price by the square metre of wall, then add scaffolding and any preparation on top. Rates in Hertfordshire sit above the national average because labour and running costs here track those of north London. As a rough guide for 2026, expect the following for materials and labour, before scaffolding and VAT:
These are ranges, not fixed prices. A plain, flat gable wall sits at the lower end. A front elevation full of bay windows, reveals and detail sits at the top.
A house has less wall than people expect once windows and doors are taken out. A typical three bedroom semi in Watford, Borehamwood or St Albans has roughly 80 to 100 square metres of renderable wall. A mid terrace, front and back, may be only 40 to 60, while a four bedroom detached house in Radlett or Harpenden can be 130 to 180.
On those figures, a full silicone render including scaffolding usually lands somewhere around the totals below. Sand and cement would bring them down by roughly a fifth, though it needs repainting every few years, which narrows the gap over time.
The square metre rate is only part of the story. These are the items that most often explain why one quote is far higher than another:
Rendering over brick changes how a house looks, so check before you commit. Outside protected areas it often falls under permitted development, but in a conservation area you will normally need planning permission to render a house that is currently brick. Radlett, St Albans, Harpenden and Hertford all have conservation areas, and Welwyn Garden City and Letchworth have their own estate management rules on top. Listed buildings always need consent. A call to your council's planning team, such as Hertsmere for Radlett, costs nothing.
Building Regulations can also apply. If you are stripping and re-rendering a large share of your external walls, you may be required to improve the insulation where that is practical, which is worth knowing before you set a budget.
Ask for a written quote based on a site visit, not a figure given over the phone. It should state the render system and brand, the number of coats, whether mesh is included across the whole wall, what preparation is covered, scaffolding, waste removal and VAT. Two quotes that differ by £2,000 are often describing two different jobs.
The lowest price is rarely the cheapest if the render cracks within three years. Ask to see local work that is at least a few years old, and ask what guarantee comes with the system and who stands behind it.
Most three bedroom semis take one to two weeks, including scaffolding, preparation and drying time between coats. Wet or frosty weather can add several days.
Often, yes. It is flexible, through-coloured and sheds water, so it resists cracking and does not need painting, although it costs more at the start.
Often not, but in conservation areas such as parts of Radlett and St Albans, or on a listed building, you normally will. Check with your local council before booking any work.
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