Guide
House wrap finishes
Acrylic or silicone render, colour, brick-effect and the board underneath. What each means for the price and the look.
House wrap is finished with a render over the insulation. The common choices are acrylic render, which costs less, and silicone render, which costs more and is sold as self-cleaning and more durable. Brick-effect finishes exist for homes where a plain render would change the look too much.
The finish matters for the price and for planning: under Class 63 the wrap must not make the house look out of character with its neighbours.
How a wrap is built up
- Insulation boards.Fixed to the wall with adhesive and mechanical fixings.
- Basecoat and mesh.A reinforced layer that holds the finish and resists cracking.
- Primer.Prepares the basecoat for the final coat.
- Finish render.The coloured, textured coat you see.
Sills, flashings and trims go in along the way, so rain runs off the new, thicker wall rather than into it.
Render finishes compared
| Finish | What it's like | Price |
|---|---|---|
| Acrylic render | The standard finish. Wide range of colours. | Lower |
| Silicone render | Sold as self-cleaning and more durable. | Higher |
| Brick-effect or brick slips | Keeps a brick look on a brick house. | Ask for a price |
Isotherm, a Dublin contractor, lists silicone render as a cost-raiser and acrylic as the lower-cost option (Isotherm cost guide, read 28 October 2026).
The insulation under the finish
The board affects the price more than most people expect. One Irish guide, quoting an installer's figures, gives these material benchmarks per square metre:
| Board | Material cost per m² |
|---|---|
| EPS boards | €50 to €70 |
| Mineral wool | €70 to €100 |
| Wood fibre | €90 to €120 |
| PIR | up to €150 |
Source: ShamFix, 19 July 2026. Materials only, not the installed price.
White EPS is the usual low-cost choice. Mineral wool is non-combustible and lets the wall breathe more. Wood fibre is a natural board. Ask the contractor which board they propose, its thickness, and why.
Colour and texture
Most renders come in a wide range of colours. Two things to think about: lighter colours show dirt from rain run-off, and very dark colours on a sunny wall can be limited by the maker. Ask to see a sample board outside, in daylight, against the house next door.
Keeping it in character
Class 63 says the wrap must not materially affect the external appearance so as to make it inconsistent with the character of the house and its neighbours (S.I. No. 341 of 2026). A matching colour on a rendered estate is usually simple. On brick, a brick-effect finish may be the way to stay within the rule. If in doubt, ask the council for a Section 5 declaration before you choose. See planning permission.
Details that make or break the look
- New sills that project past the new wall face
- Neat reveals around windows and doors
- Downpipes, lights and alarms refitted on the new face
- A plinth or base detail where the wrap meets the ground
- Corner beads and trims that line up
- A clean edge where your wall meets your neighbour's on a semi-D or terrace
Questions to ask about the finish
- Which render system, and whose? Ask for the maker's name.
- Acrylic or silicone, and the price difference between them
- Can I see a sample board outside, against the house next door?
- How will the finish meet the neighbour's wall on a semi-D or terrace?
- What's the guarantee on the render, and who gives it?
- Who repairs it if it cracks in the first years?
Get the answers in writing with the quote. Two quotes with different render systems aren't like for like, so ask each contractor to price the same finish if you can.
Looking after it
Check the render once a year for cracks, and keep gutters clear so water doesn't stream down the face. HomePros.ie advises annual inspection and repairing cracks to protect the insulation underneath (HomePros.ie, 15 June 2026).
Questions people ask
What finishes can house wrap have?
Usually acrylic or silicone render in a range of colours. Brick-effect finishes are also available.
Is silicone render worth the extra?
It's sold as self-cleaning and more durable. Ask the contractor for both prices and the maker's guarantee on each.
Can house wrap look like brick?
Yes, brick-effect finishes and brick slips exist. They cost more than plain render.
Does the finish affect planning?
It can. Under Class 63, the wrap mustn't make the house look out of character with its neighbours.
Sources (3)
Prices and facts on this page were checked against these published pages. We are not connected to these businesses.
- Isotherm cost guide: isotherm.ie
- ShamFix: shamfix.ie
- HomePros.ie: homepros.ie
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