For UK rendering specialists

Rendering quote template (UK)

A clear layout for an external rendering quote that sets out access, the render system, per square metre pricing and VAT properly, so the customer knows what is included before the scaffold goes up.

What a rendering quote should include

External rendering quotes go wrong in two predictable places: access and the substrate. The scaffold is often the single largest line, and the state of the wall behind old render is rarely known until you strip it. A good rendering quote prices the system and area firmly, prices access as its own line, and handles the substrate honestly, so the customer is not surprised and you are not out of pocket.

• Your business. Trading name, address, contact and your VAT number if registered.
• The customer and the site. Their name, the property address and the elevations being rendered.
• The render system and finish. Traditional sand and cement, monocouche, a silicone or acrylic thin-coat, a K-rend style through-coloured system, or a pebbledash finish. Name the colour and the texture.
• The area. Wall area in square metres by elevation, so the customer can see how the price is built up.
• Access and scaffold. Priced as its own line, with the duration on hire, because it does not scale with wall area the way the render does.
• Preparation, beads and mesh. Substrate preparation, stop and angle beads, bell drips, and reinforcing mesh in the basecoat where the system calls for it.
• VAT. If registered, subtotal, 20% VAT and total. If not, say so.
• Timeline. Days on site, plus curing and drying time between coats, which is weather dependent.
• Payment terms. When you expect payment and any deposit against ordered render and scaffold hire.
• Exclusions. Making good render around windows after new units, painting a breathable coating over a sand and cement finish, or external wall insulation, unless quoted.
• Validity period. "Valid for 30 days" so a material price does not follow you around after supplier costs move.

A rendering quote example

The figures below are illustrative and shown only to demonstrate the layout. They are not market rates. Price every job from your own supplier prices, measured area and day rate.

Scope note: "Erect scaffold to all elevations, strip loose render, prepare substrate, fit beads, apply basecoat with mesh, apply through-coloured silicone topcoat to agreed colour and texture, strike scaffold on completion. Excludes external wall insulation, window making good and any painting." Terms note: "Price assumes the substrate is sound once exposed and the weather allows continuous working. Any hidden defect found on strip back, and any delay caused by frost, rain or high winds, will be quoted or agreed in writing. Valid for 30 days."

The mistakes that cost renderers money on a quote

• Not pricing scaffold separately. Rolling access into a square metre rate hides the biggest cost and leaves you exposed if the hire runs long. Give it its own line with the hire duration.
• Assuming the substrate. Committing a firm price to a wall you have not stripped is how a job runs at a loss. Say the substrate condition is confirmed on strip back and add a clear variations line.
• Ignoring the weather. Render will not cure in frost, heavy rain or strong sun. State that programme dates depend on suitable conditions so a washed out week is not held against you.
• Not specifying the system and finish. "Render the house" invites a dispute over colour and texture. Name the system, the colour reference and the finish so there is nothing to argue about.
• Leaving external wall insulation vague. If insulation and its depth are part of the job, price the boards, fixings and the extra reveal depth. If not, exclude it plainly.

Should a renderer send a quote or an estimate?

For a defined job, a known system on a measured area with the wall already exposed, quote it firmly. Where the true condition of the wall is hidden until you strip the old render, or the elevation has damp or blown areas you cannot fully see, an estimate with a firm quote to follow once the substrate is exposed is the honest approach. Put the scope, the system and the variations in writing either way. Our guide to quote vs estimate for UK trades explains when each is fairer.

This page is practical quoting guidance, not legal advice, and it does not cover building control or other obligations, which are set by the applicable rules. For a serious dispute or a large sum, take proper advice.

Rendering quote FAQ

Related guides: How to write a professional quote · All trade quote templates · Electrician template · Builder template · Plumber template · Plasterer template