Difference Between Rendering and Plastering

Rendering vs Plastering

For those in building or construction activities, rendering and plastering are words that they use commonly to prepare walls once they have been erected using bricks and mortar. Materials used in these two activities are similar and include cement, lime, gypsum, sand and other mixing materials. Common people think of rendering and plastering as simply covering walls with a protective sheet so as to apply paint later on. There are many who think these are synonyms and use them interchangeably. However, the very fact that these are two different terms that exist together indicates there is difference between the two and this article will highlight these differences.

Both plastering and rendering refer to the act of coating mortar over the brick work. However, a distinction is made between outer walls and walls inside a home and coating outside walls is referred to as rendering while covering inside walls to make them ready to be painted is called plastering. The major difference between rendering and plastering lies in the strength of the material that is used for coating these walls as outer walls are subject to the vagaries of nature and bear the brunt of both hot and cold weathers apart from rains. This is why rendering involves use of a richer mixture containing more of cement than plastering that is done with a mixture containing less cement.

The main purpose of plastering is to make walls inside a home as smooth as possible so they look more appealing and beautiful when painted whereas the main purpose of rendering is to make outer walls as strong as possible to be able to withstand extreme temperatures as well as rains and hailstorms. Rendering must be water resistant and must not develop any cracks when exposed to rain and heat for long durations. The composition of both a render as well as a plaster remains the same. The main ingredients are cement, sand, water, and sometimes lime. The difference lies in the proportion of cement used in rendering and plastering.

In brief: Difference Between Rendering and Plastering • Rendering and plastering are similar processes of covering walls that have been erected with brick and mortar with a coating. • The process of coating outside walls is called rendering while the process of coating inside walls is referred to as plastering • More cement is used in the mixture used for rendering as the major purpose is to make strong walls that can withstand vagaries of nature as well as effects of rain and snow • Less cement is used in plastering as the major purpose is to make walls as smooth as possible so that they look appealing when finally painted.