Corticyte — seamless, colourfast, naturally thermal.
A natural cork-based external render system that insulates, waterproofs and finishes walls in a single sprayed coat. Crack-bridging, breathable, fire-rated and available in 18 architectural colours — applied by Duratite-approved installers across the UK.
The natural evolution of external wall finishes
Replace paint, render, cladding or insulation with a single spray-applied cork system that does the job of all four — and lasts 25 years without cracking, flaking or fading.
Thermal insulation
λ = 0.038 W/mK. Cuts heat loss, reduces condensation, stops cold bridging at wall surfaces.
Stops condensation
Warm surface temperature eliminates interstitial and surface condensation — no more black mould at wall-window junctions.
Fire-rated B‑s1,d0
Class B Euroclass fire-reaction. Suitable for domestic and commercial envelope use.
Acoustic dampening
Cork structure absorbs airborne noise — reduces external sound ingress by up to 5 dB.
Algae & fungi resistant
Naturally resistant to algae, mould and fungi — no black streaks, no chemical treatments needed.
Fully waterproof
Seamless, jointless finish. Stops wind-driven rain while letting walls breathe vapour out.
Crack-bridging
Elastomeric finish flexes with the substrate — bridges hairline cracks up to 2 mm.
Colourfast 25+ years
UV-stable mineral pigments. No fading, no chalking, no annual repainting.
Cork oak bark to your wall
Corticyte turns a renewable, sustainably-harvested natural material into a 25-year architectural finish. Here's the journey.
Cork oak harvest
Portuguese cork oaks (Quercus suber) are stripped of their outer bark every nine years — never felled. Each harvest increases the tree's CO₂ uptake for the next cycle.
Granulate & bind
Cork bark is ground into fine granules and blended with water-based elastomeric binders and UV-stable mineral pigments — zero solvent, zero VOC.
Spray & finish
Duratite-approved applicators spray Corticyte in two coats across external walls. A 3-bed detached house is typically complete in 1–2 days weather permitting.
Ideal applications
From tired pebbledash to brand-new builds, Corticyte goes over almost any sound substrate. Typical uses include:
External walls
Brick, block, render, pebbledash, rendered insulation — over almost any sound existing wall.
Commercial envelopes
Fast refurb of tired commercial facades without a full re-render or cladding overclad.
Damp & failing render
Stops water ingress, bridges cracks, and prevents surface spalling where old render has failed.
Heritage & conservation
Breathable finish suitable for traditional stone and solid-wall properties where vapour must escape.
How we deliver your project
No deposits until you've seen exactly what we'll do and how much it costs. Four steps from enquiry to finished wall.
Free site survey
Our technical team visits, measures, inspects substrate condition and photographs every elevation.
No-obligation spec
Within 5 working days we send you a priced specification, colour sample request form, and project programme.
Prep & spray
Loose material removed, damp/algae treated, substrate primed if required. Corticyte sprayed in two coats by trained applicators.
25-year finish
Sign-off, final walk-round and handover pack. Your Corticyte finish lasts 25 years+ with no repainting or re-rendering.
Corticyte colour visualiser
Upload a photo of your property (or use our sample home below) and preview Corticyte in any of the 18 colours.
Sample propertyChoose a colour
Visualiser previews are indicative. For a precise site sample on your substrate, call us on 01208 832602 and we'll arrange a free swatch visit.
Corticyte system specification
| Property | Value |
|---|---|
| Thermal conductivity (λ) | 0.038 W/mK |
| Standard applied thickness | 3–6 mm (2 coats) |
| Fire reaction (Euroclass) | B‑s1,d0 |
| Water vapour permeability | Class W2 (high breathability) |
| Elastomeric elongation at break | > 55% |
| Adhesion to substrate | > 1.0 N/mm² |
| Sound absorption (α) | Up to 0.35 @ 2 kHz |
| Service life (manufacturer) | 25 years + |
| VOC content | Zero VOC |
| Substrate compatibility | Brick · block · render · stone · GRP · metal · timber |
Corticyte vs the alternatives
One product that replaces paint, render, insulated render and external-wall insulation — and outperforms each on the metrics that matter.
| Property | Corticyte | Masonry paint | Acrylic render | EWI (insulated) |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Thermal contribution | ✓ λ 0.038 | ✗ | ✗ | ✓ λ 0.022–0.030 |
| Waterproof | ✓ | Partial | ✓ | ✓ |
| Breathable | ✓ W2 | Some | ✗ | Depends |
| Crack-bridging | ✓ 2 mm | ✗ | Partial | Partial |
| Fire class | B‑s1,d0 | Varies | B/C | Varies |
| Colourfast (no repainting) | ✓ 25 yr | 5–10 yr | 10–15 yr | 10–15 yr |
| Application time (3-bed) | 1–2 days | 3–5 days | 7–10 days | 4–6 weeks |
| Scaffold required | Rarely | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| Sustainable (natural) | ✓ | ✗ | ✗ | Depends |
A finish with sustainability built in
Cork is harvested from the bark of the cork oak (Quercus suber) every nine years without ever felling the tree. Each harvest actually increases the tree's CO₂ uptake for the next cycle.
Renewable raw material
Cork oak forests are FSC-managed. The tree keeps growing and absorbing CO₂ between harvests.
Zero VOC formulation
Water-based carrier, mineral pigments, no solvents — safe to apply occupied buildings.
Carbon-negative net
Cork sequesters more CO₂ in its lifetime than Corticyte emits in manufacture and transport.
End-of-life recyclable
Stripped Corticyte waste can be ground and reused as insulation or acoustic fill.