In short
- Godalming's town centre is a conservation area with many listed buildings; lime is often the only appropriate render.
- Bargate stone, the local sandstone, should generally not be rendered in cement.
- Farncombe and the post-war estates are a straightforward fit for modern through-coloured render.
- Much of the GU8 countryside is in the Surrey Hills National Landscape, where rendering an unrendered house needs permission.
A town where materials matter
Godalming's character comes from its materials: timber-framed buildings along the High Street and Church Street, walls of Bargate stone, and old soft brick. Much of the centre is a conservation area and many buildings are listed. On these, render is a conservation question. Lime render and limewash are usually right; cement-based renders and impermeable paints can trap moisture and damage the fabric.
Farncombe, Binscombe and the newer estates
Beyond the historic core, Farncombe's Victorian terraces, interwar semis and the post-war estates around Binscombe and Aarons Hill offer a broader range of options. Brick and block houses from the mid-twentieth century onward usually suit silicone or monocouche. Solid-walled Victorian terraces are better with breathable systems.
Planning in Godalming
Waverley Borough Council currently handles planning here. Surrey's district and borough councils are being replaced by new unitary councils, so check which authority handles planning at the time you apply. Beyond the conservation areas, much of the countryside around Godalming, including Busbridge, Hambledon and Hascombe in GU8, lies within the Surrey Hills National Landscape, where cladding a house in render is not permitted development. See planning permission for rendering.
Questions we answer before any Godalming job
- Have you worked on listed or conservation-area buildings, and can you show examples?
- Will you use lime, and which type, on solid walls?
- How will you protect the work from frost and rain during curing?
- Will you apply for, or support, the consents needed?
Questions people ask
Can I render a Bargate stone house?
Generally it is not advisable to render Bargate stone in cement, and in a conservation area or on a listed building it is unlikely to be approved. Take conservation advice first.
Is lime render more expensive?
Usually, because it is applied in several coats by hand and needs protection while curing. It is the right investment for historic solid walls.