Monocouche Render: Is it really the best option?

Is Monocouche render still viable?

With many different rendering options available on the market today, it can be tricky to navigate them all. When considering your render options, you might have come across the term ‘monocouche render’. But what is it and is it really the best rendering option for your property?

Monocouche is a cement-based, thick coat render. While it has some useful properties, it is extremely prone to cracking, water damage and discolouration. Silicone or acrylic-based products may be a more viable option as they are flexible, breathable, hydrophobic, and can be tinted to any shade you wish.

In this blog post, we will outline some of the key characteristics of monocouche render. We will discuss what it is, its properties, and why you might want to consider other rendering solutions. Read on to find out more about Monocouche Render.

What is Monocouche Render?

Monocouche render is, or at least used to be, a popular choice of render in the UK. But what actually
is it?

Monocouche Render is a type of thick-coat render. When translated from French, it simply means
mono (or one) layer. Therefore, it is essentially a product that is applied in a thick coat to your
property’s exterior. It is typically composed of white cement. This is what creates its oftentimes
chalky finish.

Although monocouche is a widely used render, its properties are outdated and have now been
surpassed in the market by other, more modern, and technologically advanced products.

What is the difference between Monocouche and Silicone Render?

1) The most significant difference between these products is that monocouche render is a thick-
coat product, while silicone is a lightweight, thin-coat product.

2) Monocouche is also a cement-based product. While a cement-based render is generally a good
option, they can be extremely prone to cracking over time. Some modern monocouche renders
incorporate the likes of silicone into their solutions, but they are still largely cement based.
By comparison, a silicone-based render possesses certain qualities that provide a longer-lasting,
decorative finish.

3) Another obvious difference between monocouche and silicone renders is the look and feel of
the finish they deliver. For example, a monocouche finish is distinctly through-coloured (usually
white or beige) with a chalky texture. This means that it has very limited colour tinting
capabilities. Whereas a silicone base provides an attractive and sleek finish that can be tinted to
any shade you wish.

Is Monocouche render waterproof?

A key feature that you should look for in render is if it is waterproof or weatherproof. This is
important, especially in the UK, as we experience a lot of rainfall.

So, you might be wondering if monocouche render is waterproof?

While monocouche has some waterproof properties, it is not considered a hydrophobic render. One common experience of monocouche rendered properties is that their walls eventually turn green. This is a result of algae build-up due to water absorption by the render.

There are significantly better options available if you’re looking for a highly water and weather-proof render solution. For example, even our most basic package of silicone render (EWI-075) is noticeably more waterproof than the industry standard monocouche render.

Therefore, we would recommend opting for a silicone-based render solution if hydrophobic or water-resistant properties are a priority for your home.

Is Monocouche breathable?

Breathability in a render is essential as it ensures water or moisture doesn’t get trapped within the wall. Dampness and trapped moisture within walls can lead to faster decay and problems in the future.

While monocouche is breathable to an extent, it does not hold up against other renders on the market. Since it is a thick-coat render, it has limited breathability. This is a significant disadvantage of it.

In this instance, we would highly recommend EWI-077 Nano Drex Silicone Render. This is our most breathable thin-coat render. Opting for a highly breathable option will benefit you in the long term.

Is it flexible?

While monocouche is more flexible than sand or cement-only render, it is a cement-based product. A common problem that crops up with cement or sand-based products is that they tend to crack over time. This is because your house will expand and contract in response to varying weather conditions.

Therefore, if you want to avoid cracks on the surface of your external walls, we recommend opting for an alternative render solution.

What render should I use?

At this point, you might be wondering what products we would recommend instead of monocouche. The answer to this is that we recommend using more modern alternatives that are typically silicone or acrylic based.

At EWI Store, we have a range of incredible EWI Pro thin-coat renders. Our Nano Drex Silicone Render is our most advanced option, offering unmatched breathability, waterproofing and flexibility. Our other silicone-based renders are also excellent options. EWI-076 Premium Bio and EWI-075 are both flexible, breathable, and waterproof rendering options.

You can also opt for acrylic render such as the EWI-010. This is great if you want your property to retain its colour brightness.

Conclusion

Overall, we recommend that you opt for a more advanced, silicone-based rendering method than
monocouche.

In this blog post, we have explored this type of render and its various properties. We found that it is not the most breathable, flexible, waterproof, or durable rendering option available on the market. By comparison, silicone render possesses all these qualities.

For this reason, we believe it would be more worthwhile for you to opt for silicone or acrylic render for your property. Great options include EWI-077 Nano Drex, EWI-076 Premium Bio or EWI-010 Acrylic.

You can check out our full range of specialised render solutions here. Or you can contact our sales
team on 0203 034 0022 for more information!