Rendering vs Roughcasting: What’s the Difference?

Render and roughcast both protect and finish external walls, but they are not the same thing. Here is the difference, and when they need attention.

Rendering

Render is a smooth or lightly-textured coat applied to walls to weatherproof and tidy them up. It gives a clean, modern finish.

Roughcasting (harling)

Roughcasting — often called harling in Scotland — throws a mix of aggregate onto the wall for a rougher, pebbledash-style finish. It is very common on Scottish homes because it stands up well to our weather.

Signs it needs work

Watch for cracks, bulging or hollow-sounding patches, and areas coming away from the wall. Damaged render lets water into the masonry, so it is worth repairing before it causes damp. We can patch-repair or re-coat as needed to weatherproof and refresh your walls.