Cement rendering cost in Sydney (2026)

This guide covers cement render on brick, block and concrete. For the work itself, see our cement rendering page; for a whole-house view across every finish, read what house rendering costs in Sydney.

What does cement rendering cost per square metre in Sydney?

These are the Sydney ranges What's The Damage publishes for the lines a cement rendering job is usually made of. All prices include GST.

The repair line is for patches, not whole walls, but it shows why a wall that needs work first costs more per square metre than a sound one.

What does it cost to render a brick house?

Multiply the wall area by the rate, then add the coating and any scaffolding. As a worked example from the market figures above, not a quote: 150 m² of wall at the typical $52 is about $7,800 for the render, about $3,450 more at the typical $23 to paint it, and a two-storey house adds a typical $2,875 for scaffolding.

Measure the walls you want rendered, not the floor area. Leave out windows and doors, but remember every opening still has to be formed square, which is where much of the time goes.

What pushes a cement rendering job up or down?

• Wall area and height. More wall means more material and more days. Two storeys usually means scaffolding.
• The state of the brick. Cracks, salt, flaking paint or failed old render have to be dealt with first.
• Detail. Windows, doors, sills, reveals, corners and string lines all take time to form straight.
• Access. Narrow side passages, steep blocks and gardens against the walls slow the work down.
• The finish and coating. A plain sponge finish under paint costs less than a texture or membrane system.
• Approvals. On a heritage-listed house or in a conservation area, rendering face brick needs council consent, which changes when the work can start.

Is painting included in a cement rendering price?

Often not, so ask. New cement render has to cure before it is coated: Dulux's AcraTex data sheets ask for 28 days so the alkalinity of the new surface can settle. That gap is why the coating is often a second visit or a separate trade, and why the market figures list it on its own line. Our quotes say which coats are included. Our guide on how long new render needs before it is painted explains the waiting times.

What changes a cement rendering job in Sydney?

• Summer heat. Davco's render data sheet says its render must not go on above 30°C or in hot, windy weather. Summer jobs start early and follow the shade around the house, which can stretch the job over more days.
• Damp at the base of older brick walls. The Heritage Council of NSW's salt damp guide calls hard cement render over the base of a damp wall a common but poor fix. The cause is dealt with first and the render stops above the damp-proof course, which is work to allow for.
• Heritage face brick. Some councils rule out rendering face brick on heritage properties. Burwood's development control plan, for example, says cement render of existing face brick walls on heritage properties is not permitted. Check your address before you budget for the job.

What should a cement rendering quote spell out?

• The licence. In NSW, residential rendering work over $5,000, including GST, needs a contractor licence (NSW Government: wet plastering work). Check the number on Verify NSW.
• The walls included, and whether the area was measured on site.
• Preparation and repairs, and what happens if hollow render or more cracking turns up once work starts.
• Coats and finish: two coats of render, the finish texture, and whether a coating is part of the price.
• Scaffolding, protection and clean-up, including who takes the waste away.

How do we quote a cement rendering job?

1. Ask for a free quote on 0421 541 336 (call or WhatsApp) or through the enquiry form. Photos of each wall, with close-ups of any cracks, help.
2. We reply with a rough figure from the photos.
3. We visit to measure, tap the walls for hollow render and check for damp and cracks.
4. You get the final quote in writing, with what is included.