Ending the repainting cycle on the coast
A painted render front on this stretch of coast rarely stays fresh for long. Sun, sea air and a wet winter work on masonry paint constantly, and on a south-facing elevation it can look tired within a few seasons. Silicone render solves that in a different way. The colour is mixed through the top coat itself, so there is no paint film to fade, flake or peel, and the silicone in the finish makes rain bead and run off rather than soak in. Walls stay cleaner for longer, and the finish never needs painting.
Which Bognor homes it suits
Silicone render works on brick, block and sound existing render, and on insulation boards as part of an external wall insulation system. In Bognor that covers a lot of ground:
- Post-war houses in the suburbs that now run on from Bognor into Aldwick, Pagham, Felpham and Middleton-on-Sea, where tired render or pebble dash is ready for a change.
- Extensions that need to match or refresh the main house.
- New builds wanting a crisp, low-maintenance finish from the start.
- Flats and commercial frontages where scaffolding is a big part of every repaint, and a finish that lasts saves the next one.
West Sussex County Council's historic survey of the town describes a built-up coast around 12 kilometres long, running from Pagham Harbour to Middleton-on-Sea, and the whole stretch takes the same sea weather.
Over old render and pebble dash
A common question is whether silicone can go straight over what is already there. Often it can, if the existing render or pebble dash is sound and well bonded. We tap and inspect the walls first. Hollow patches, cracked areas and anything coming away are cut out and made good. The wall is then cleaned, beads are fitted to corners, reveals and the base, and the system goes on in layers: a basecoat with reinforcing mesh bedded in, a tinted primer, then the thin, through-coloured top coat.
Colour, conservation areas and permission
Choosing a colour is the enjoyable part, but in some parts of town it needs care. Arun District Council lists several conservation areas in and around Bognor, including The Steyne, Hotham Park, Aldwick Road, Aldwick Bay, Felpham and North Bersted, and Craigweil House in Aldwick has two Article 4 Directions removing certain permitted development rights. If your home is in one of these areas or is listed, check with the council before changing the colour or finish of the walls. Outside them, re-rendering a house in a similar colour is usually straightforward.
Weather windows on this coast
Silicone systems have temperature and weather limits while they cure, and fresh render has to be protected from rain and frost. Spring to early autumn is the working season, and good spells book up. If you are thinking about a summer job, ask for a quote in late winter.
For a traditional finish instead, see rendering in Bognor Regis. If you want the house warmer as well as smarter, the same top coat can finish an insulated wall; see external wall insulation in Bognor Regis. There is more about the system on our silicone rendering page, and everything we cover locally is on the Bognor Regis page. Call 07824 165672 for a free, no-obligation quote.
