How to Quote Rendering a House in Australia
Rendering looks like a simple rate per square metre — until the prep, the scaffolding and the substrate repairs land on your side of the ledger. Here's how to quote rendering a house without eroding your margin.
Render a wall and it's a rate times an area. Render a whole house and it's prep, patching, primer, coats, drying time, scaffolding and a substrate that might have surprises behind it. The quotes that lose money are the ones that priced the square metres and forgot everything around them. This guide covers what a rendering quote should include, what materials and labour cost in 2026, and the mistakes that turn a clean job into unpaid rework.
What a good rendering quote covers
Before you put a number on the walls, list everything the job actually involves. A complete rendering quote accounts for all of these:
- Site preparation — cleaning, patching and any repairs the substrate needs before render goes on.
- Materials — the render type, primer and topcoat, with quantities noted.
- Labour — separate hours for preparation and for each coat.
- Equipment hire — scaffolding, spray gear or mixers.
- Waste removal and clean-up — carting off debris and leaving the site tidy.
- Finish details — the exact render type, colour and texture in writing.
- Payment terms — deposit, progress claims and a validity period on the quote.
Write the quote as line items rather than one lump sum. It shows the client where the value sits, and it makes variations easy to price if the substrate throws up repairs once you're on site.
Rendering costs in 2026
A complete render job — materials and labour — typically lands between $40 and $100+/m². Where it falls depends on the existing substrate, how many corners and windows the house has, the render you're using, and how easy the walls are to reach:
| Render finish | Supplied + installed / m² | Best for |
|---|---|---|
| Cement (sand and cement) | $40–$60 | Solid substrates and budget-conscious jobs |
| Acrylic render | $50–$80 | Flexibility and crack resistance on most homes |
| Texture / specialised finish | $80–$100+ | Premium finishes and lightweight or insulation systems |
Simple, single-storey homes with clean walls sit at the low end. Lots of detail — many corners, windows and returns — plus scaffolding and a specialised render push you to the top of the range.
Choosing and pricing the render
Material is a big slice of the quote, so price it from real coverage rates, not a guess. Traditional cement render is the most economical; acrylic costs more but resists cracking; specialised systems sit higher again.
| Material | Price | Coverage |
|---|---|---|
| Cement render | $15–$25 / 20kg bag | 2–3 m² per bag |
| Acrylic render | $50–$80 / 15L pail | 8–10 m² per pail |
| Specialised / insulation render | Higher — system-priced | Varies by product and coat |
- Popular acrylic brands include Dulux AcraTex and ParexGroup; lightweight and insulation renders come from suppliers like CSR and Boral.
- Don't skip primers and sealers — they're crucial for adhesion and durability, and they add to the material cost.
- Note the colour and texture on the quote so the material you order matches what the client signed off.
Working out labour
Labour is where the profit is made or lost, because prep and drying time are easy to underestimate. Price a skilled renderer at $60–$90/hour, or per m² for set tasks, and make sure the rate covers wages, super and overheads.
- Allow proper time for prep — masking, protective sheeting and patching — before any render goes on.
- Estimate application time per coat and build in the drying periods between them.
- Add travel time and work out how many renderers the job needs to hit the timeline.
- Scaffolding isn't just a hire cost — it adds setup and pack-down hours too.
Do a proper site inspection before you quote. Substrate issues and unforeseen repairs are the classic source of scope creep — spotting them early keeps them out of your margin.
Common mistakes that eat your margin
- Underestimating the prep. A poorly prepared surface leads to costly rework. Price cleaning, patching and repairs as their own line, not an afterthought.
- Forgetting scaffolding and access. Extensive scaffolding on a two-storey or tricky site is real money. Factor the hire, setup and pack-down in up front.
- Overlooking waste and clean-up. Disposal and site clean-up take time and tip fees. Leave them out and they come straight off your bottom line.
- Being vague on the finish. Specify the exact render type, colour and texture in writing. A mismatch at handover is a dispute you'll wear.
- Skipping the site visit. Hidden substrate problems only show up in person. Walk the walls before you price, or scope creep will find you.
Pro tips for a rendering quote that holds
- Do a thorough site inspection to catch access issues and substrate repairs before you price.
- Itemise materials, labour, equipment hire and waste removal so the quote is transparent.
- Build in a 10–15% contingency for unforeseen issues and minor variations.
- Specify the render brand, colour and finish in writing to align expectations.
- State clear payment terms, a validity period and how variations will be handled.
- Pull current material prices the day you quote — coverage and pail prices shift.
ServiceYak keeps your render rates, prep hours and scaffolding costs in a reusable kit, so you can build an itemised rendering quote on site and send a polished PDF before you've packed up the ladder.
Frequently asked questions
How much does it cost to render a house in Australia?
A complete job runs roughly $40–$100+/m² including materials and labour. Simple single-storey homes sit at the low end; lots of detail, scaffolding or a specialised render push it higher.
Should I quote rendering per square metre or itemised?
Both. A per-m² headline suits the client, but back it with line items for prep, materials, labour, scaffolding and clean-up. Itemised quotes are easier to defend and easier to adjust for variations.
What's the difference between cement and acrylic render for pricing?
Cement render is cheaper — around $15–$25 per 20kg bag covering 2–3 m² — but acrylic (about $50–$80 per 15L pail, covering 8–10 m²) is more flexible and crack-resistant, which is why it costs more per square metre installed.