Service

External wall insulation in Leeds

External wall insulation (EWI) fixes insulation boards to the outside of your walls, then covers them with a reinforced base coat and a render finish.

About this finish

How external wall insulation works

What it is

An EWI system is built up in layers: insulation boards fixed to the wall, a base coat with reinforcing mesh, and a decorative render finish on top. It insulates the wall from the outside, so rooms inside keep their full size.

Where it suits

It is most often considered for walls that cannot easily be insulated another way, such as solid walls. It also changes the look of the building completely, which many owners want anyway.

What to plan for

Adding thickness to a wall affects window sills, eaves, pipes and fittings, and Building Regulations may apply. We go through what applies to your property before you commit.

Approved contractor

Manufacturers we are approved by

We are approved contractors for render systems from Ecorend, K Rend, VPI, DecoRend and Parex. Ask which system suits your property when you request a quote.

Select a manufacturer to see the systems we install.

Approved contractor

Ecorend

Ecorend is a UK render manufacturer based in Dalton, North Yorkshire, and part of the Wetherby group. It makes through-coloured (monocouche) and thin-coat render systems in Yorkshire.

Ecorend systems we install

As approved contractors, we can install render systems from the Ecorend range, including:

  • MR1 One Coat Render: a through-coloured monocouche render that Ecorend describes as low-carbon
  • LMR1 Lime Monocouche: a one-coat lime render for traditional solid masonry and older buildings
  • SR15 Silicone, SF15 Sil-Flex and SR365 Ultimate Silicone: silicone thin-coat renders
  • DR1 Dash Receiver: a base for dry-dash finishes
  • EWI versions of its systems: for external wall insulation

We confirm the exact system for your walls at the site visit and in your quote.

Suitable for

New and existing masonry homes and commercial buildings. Ecorend positions the lime system for heritage and solid-wall properties that need to breathe, and its insulation systems for improving energy efficiency.

Finishes

Through-coloured renders give an even colour and texture with no painting. Thin-coat systems come in a range of colours and textures; Ecorend offers a colour selector.

Main benefits

Ecorend states its products carry British Board of Agrément (BBA) approval, and that through-coloured finishes remove the need for repainting.

Maintenance

Through-coloured renders carry their colour right through, so they do not need painting. Keep gutters, downpipes and window sealant in good order so water does not run down or behind the render. Silicone finishes are made to shed water, but shaded or north-facing walls can still pick up dirt or green algae over time. A suitable render cleaner applied gently is usually enough; avoid a pressure washer held close to the surface. For a specific product, follow the manufacturer's own care guidance; we can tell you which applies to your walls.

Related services

Product information from: Ecorend website · Ecorend on NBS Source. Checked October 2026.

Approved contractor

K Rend

K Rend is a render manufacturer founded in 1989 and based in Larne, Northern Ireland. It makes its renders from limestone quarried in County Antrim and describes itself as the UK and Ireland's market-leading through-coloured render manufacturer.

K Rend systems we install

As approved contractors, we can install render systems from the K Rend range, including:

  • K Mono: a cement-based, polymer-modified through-coloured render
  • Silicone K1: a silicone render
  • Silicone TC 15 (K Rend Silicone Thin Coat): a multi-coat silicone thin-coat system
  • Dash receivers: bases for dry-dash finishes
  • K Lime: hydraulic lime renders and mortars

We confirm the exact system for your walls at the site visit and in your quote.

Suitable for

Rendering masonry walls on homes and commercial buildings, from one-coat through-coloured work to silicone thin-coat finishes.

Finishes

Coloured, ready-finished renders in a range of colours. The texture depends on the product chosen.

Main benefits

K Rend states that a wide range of its products has held BBA and NSAI accreditation for 30 years. Its systems are made in its own plant from local limestone.

Maintenance

Through-coloured renders carry their colour right through, so they do not need painting. Keep gutters, downpipes and window sealant in good order so water does not run down or behind the render. Silicone finishes are made to shed water, but shaded or north-facing walls can still pick up dirt or green algae over time. A suitable render cleaner applied gently is usually enough; avoid a pressure washer held close to the surface. For a specific product, follow the manufacturer's own care guidance; we can tell you which applies to your walls.

Related services

Product information from: K Rend website · K Rend on NBS Source. Checked October 2026.

Approved contractor

VPI

VPI UK Products Ltd is a render manufacturer based in Durham. Its NBS Source listing says it is part of the Vicat Group and makes premixed mortars and finishing products.

VPI systems we install

As approved contractors, we can install render systems from the VPI range, including:

  • MonoCal GM / GF: a single-layer (one-coat) through-coloured render
  • Crepilane T / TM: a decorative render
  • RenoPass Chaux GM / GF: a lime render

We confirm the exact system for your walls at the site visit and in your quote.

Suitable for

External masonry walls on new-build and existing homes and commercial buildings, with a lime option for older walls.

Finishes

Coloured one-coat and decorative renders; VPI publishes its colour range on its website.

Main benefits

VPI states that MonoCal has BBA certification. One-coat renders are colour-finished in a single system, without painting.

Maintenance

Through-coloured renders carry their colour right through, so they do not need painting. Keep gutters, downpipes and window sealant in good order so water does not run down or behind the render. For a specific product, follow the manufacturer's own care guidance; we can tell you which applies to your walls.

Related services

Product information from: VPI website · VPI on NBS Source. Checked October 2026.

Approved contractor

DecoRend

DecoRend supplies render products for walls through its own website, decorend.co.uk, including a through-coloured render, base coats and a cork-based coating.

DecoRend systems we install

As approved contractors, we can install render systems from the DecoRend range, including:

  • Monorend: a cement-based, through-coloured scratch render, applied by hand or spray
  • UltraBase Coat: a cement-based base coat, used under a through-coloured scratch render or as the flat base for a thin-coat render
  • Spraycork: a water-based coating made with natural cork, for facades and other surfaces
  • Mesh, beads and High Polymer Basecoat: the supporting products for its render systems

We confirm the exact system for your walls at the site visit and in your quote.

Suitable for

External walls on homes and commercial buildings. DecoRend says Spraycork can be used on facades, terraces and roofs, indoors and outdoors.

Finishes

Monorend gives a scraped, stone-look finish with the colour mixed through. UltraBase Coat can be finished flat to take a thin-coat render.

Main benefits

DecoRend describes Monorend as water repellent and breathable with good adhesion, and gives UltraBase Coat a W2 water-repellence rating.

Maintenance

Through-coloured renders carry their colour right through, so they do not need painting. Keep gutters, downpipes and window sealant in good order so water does not run down or behind the render. For a specific product, follow the manufacturer's own care guidance; we can tell you which applies to your walls.

Related services

Product information from: DecoRend website. Checked October 2026.

Approved contractor

Parex

Parex is a render brand owned by Sika, the Swiss building-products group. In the UK, Parex renders are supplied by Sika Limited, which now makes Monorex GM in the UK.

Parex systems we install

As approved contractors, we can install render systems from the Parex range, including:

  • Parex Monorex GM / GF: through-coloured, one-coat renders in 48 standard colours
  • Parex Monoblanco: a bright white one-coat render
  • Parex MAITE and Parextherm: an adhesive, base coat and finish used in external wall insulation systems

We confirm the exact system for your walls at the site visit and in your quote.

Suitable for

Vertical masonry and concrete walls, including blockwork, brick and sound existing render, on homes and commercial buildings.

Finishes

Monorex can be finished medium scraped, spray textured (from a light tyrolean to heavy roughcast) or smoothed spray textured.

Main benefits

Sika describes Monorex as weather resistant and breathable. Its data sheet lists BBA Certificate 21/5888 and an A1 reaction-to-fire classification.

Maintenance

Through-coloured renders carry their colour right through, so they do not need painting. Keep gutters, downpipes and window sealant in good order so water does not run down or behind the render. For a specific product, follow the manufacturer's own care guidance; we can tell you which applies to your walls.

Related services

Product information from: Parex Monorex GM data sheet (Sika) · Sika building finishing brochure. Checked October 2026.

About the render systems we install

On site

Preparation, finishes and maintenance

Preparation

Before boards go on, we survey the walls and plan around pipes, cables, sills, eaves and anything fixed to the wall, since the wall gets thicker. A starter track sets the base line, then insulation boards are bonded and mechanically fixed.

Finishes

Over the boards goes a base coat with reinforcing mesh, then the finish. On our Roundhay project that was a white silicone render. Manufacturers also offer other finishes for their insulation systems, such as dash receivers and brick slips.

Maintenance

Treat the finish as you would a silicone or thin-coat render. Fixing anything new to an insulated wall needs fixings designed for insulation, so ask before drilling. Keep sealant around windows and pipe entries in good order.

Benefits

Why people choose it

  • Insulates without losing room space
  • Renews the outside appearance
  • Finished in a render of your choice
  • Planned around sills, pipes and eaves
Front of the house in Roundhay, Leeds after external wall insulation with silicone render
During and after

See the difference

Rear of the house in Roundhay, Leeds after external wall insulation with silicone render
Rear of the house: insulation boards being fixed, and the finished render
How a job runs

From first visit to finished wall

  1. Site visit and quote

    We look at the walls, talk through the finish you want and give you a free, no-obligation quote.

  2. Preparation

    Protecting windows, doors and surrounding areas, and preparing the background for the system being applied.

  3. Application

    Base coats, reinforcement where the system needs it, and the finish coat.

  4. Finishing and tidy-up

    Detailing around windows, doors and edges to complete the finish.

Questions

Common questions

Will I lose any room inside?

No. The insulation is fixed to the outside of the wall, so internal room sizes stay the same.

Are there grants for external wall insulation?

Funding schemes change and depend on your circumstances. We do not promise grant eligibility, but we are happy to discuss the work if you are applying for one.

Does EWI need Building Regulations approval?

It can do, depending on the work. We will talk through what applies to your property during the site visit.

Other services: Silicone render · Through-coloured render · Pebble dashing · All services

Customer reviews

What customers say

Reviews are on independent sites. Figures shown were checked on the date given and are not updated automatically.

44 reviews across platforms. Some customers may review on more than one site.

We would recommend Leeds Render Systems

Leeds Render Systems recently completed rendering our existing house and the new side extension to the house. Jordan and his team were reliable and helpful, working closely with our builder to schedule the rendering work. We are very happy with the quality of work, the finished rendering, and the professional and friendly service from Leeds Render Systems. We would definitely recommend them.

Gurm BacchusTrustpilot review, March 2024
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