Breathable Cork Render, Thin EWI Alternative & Long-Lasting Decorative Finish
Do your external walls look tired, cracked, stained or dated — pebbledash you can’t stand, patchy render, mismatched materials, or coastal weathering that makes the place look older than it is?
Spray cork is a breathable cork-based external wall coating that upgrades both appearance and performance. It goes on as a thin, seamless layer to create a modern decorative finish while adding thermal and acoustic benefits, resisting algae, and standing up to UK weather far better than conventional exterior paint and many rigid renders.
As an approved Spray Cork applicator, we install spray cork externally across Sutton Coldfield and surrounding areas, delivering a clean, uniform finish that’s built to last.
Spray cork is used for both internal and external applications — if you’d like a full overview of how the system works, you can read more on our main Spray Cork insulation page.
What Is Spray Cork for External Walls?
Spray cork is a sprayed cork render / coating system made from natural cork granules blended into a high-performance binder and pigment. Applied to the outside of your property, it forms a flexible, weather-resistant and vapour-permeable membrane.
In simple terms, spray cork is a decorative external finish that protects your building like a jacket, while also helping it perform better. It can be used to refresh and modernise tired-looking exteriors, cover existing sound render without the need for full removal, and improve weather resistance while reducing ongoing maintenance. Spray cork also helps limit heat loss by adding a thin, insulation-style layer to external walls, provides a flexible and crack-resistant finish, and replaces the need for frequent repainting with a longer-lasting, breathable coating.
Why Homeowners Choose Spray Cork: Improved Appearance Without Ongoing Maintenance
Many homeowners feel stuck between two options:
- Repaint again (and again), or
- Re-render / fit external insulation boards (big cost, big disruption)
Spray cork sits in the sweet spot:
- Stylish, uniform finish
- Thin build-up that doesn’t swallow window reveals like thick EWI systems
- Low maintenance because it resists algae and UV fading
- Flexible so it helps prevent those ugly hairline cracks that return every winter
If your existing render is sound, spray cork can often be applied over it after proper preparation — giving your property a fresh new look without unnecessary demolition.
A Smarter Alternative to Traditional Render
Spray cork overcomes many of the problems associated with rigid sand and cement render. Traditional render does not respond well to the natural movement of UK homes caused by seasonal temperature changes and moisture cycles, which often leads to cracking over time. Spray cork is naturally flexible and impact-resistant, allowing it to bridge over hairline cracks, reduce shrinkage cracking, and cope far better with everyday building movement. This flexibility helps external walls stay looking cleaner for longer and makes spray cork particularly well suited to older properties, coastal homes, and buildings that have suffered from ongoing cracking issues.
Thin External Wall Insulation Benefits Without a Thick EWI System
Spray cork isn’t a replacement for a full thick-board external wall insulation system when someone needs major U-value upgrades. What it does offer is a thin external performance layer that improves comfort and reduces cold bridging by covering the surface seamlessly. Because it goes on without boards, joints and fixings, it avoids many of the weak points where cold bridging and future defects can appear. For homeowners who want an external finish upgrade that also nudges energy performance in the right direction, it’s a very practical middle ground.
Why Choose an Approved Spray Cork Applicator
We are an approved Spray Cork applicator, and with any external coating, the product is only one part of the outcome. The finish, longevity and real-world performance all depend on correct surface preparation, correct application and proper detailing around edges, openings and junctions.
Spray cork is a specialist system. The substrate must be assessed properly, any defects repaired correctly, and the coating applied at the right thickness using the correct technique. When these steps are rushed or done incorrectly, even a high-quality product can fail prematurely.
We are trained to install spray cork the right way, following the approved process from initial assessment through to final finish. This ensures the coating bonds correctly, cures as intended and delivers the durability, flexibility and weather resistance it is designed to provide.
The result is a spray cork finish that looks right, performs properly and continues protecting your property for years — not just on day one.
Get a Quote for Spray Cork External Wall Coating
If your walls are cracked, discoloured, stained, outdated, or you’re simply tired of repainting and patch repairs, spray cork gives you a durable decorative finish with real performance benefits. It improves kerb appeal, reduces maintenance, helps walls cope with UK weather, and adds comfort without the disruption of thick external insulation systems.