How to render?

Question

built a bloke wall in my garden about 10ft x 3ft. would like some adive on beading the render mix and how to render. after a smooth finish. i've done plastering at home before but never rendererd. any adive would be a big help thanks

Answer 1

wots a bloke wall

Answer 2

Ok, here goes, a sensible answer.

The mix you want is six parts sand, one ordinary portland cement, (OPC) and one part hydrated lime.

The sand should be ‘washed sharp sand’ also known as plastering sand or rendering sand. Not sharp, not soft.

Also add to the mix some ‘Feb’ plastersizer for added workability and time to use it.

It ideally should be a two coat application the first one being a scratch coat and depending on conditions the second coat should be applied within 24 hours or you will have to spray the scratch coat down with a hose to wet it again.

On normal house walls usually one would add waterproofer to the scratch coat, but I would say this isn’t necessary for a garden wall.

The mix should be fairly runny, a consistency similar to a slush puppy, it should curl round the mixer and not drop in lumps from the top and it goes round.

Beadings can be stuck on with a smear of  bonding or browning mixed with cement power, to make it go off quick and stick firm.

Wet the wall first with a light overall hosing of water and start rendering close to the ground and work your way up, not right on the ground as you will pick up debris, try to keep your mix as clean as possible as dirt and lumps are your worst enemy. Put it on with a wooden or a composite plastic float as these do not encourage the water to rise to the surface. Apply the bit near ground last. Rule off with a straight edge using a zig zag motion and touch up the low spots. When its firm, give it a scratch with a plasterers comb in roughly horizontal, wavy lines.

Here is the important bit.

Try to get the first coat on the wall as efficiently as you can. e.g. don’t work it too much or keep rubbing it, this will bring the moisture to the top and it will likely fall off. This is only the first coat and it really doesn’t have to be perfect, this is like a bridge between the wall and the final coat -which because it will have a better key you will be able to work and smooth it a lot more.

The trick is all about timing, knowing when the best time after it is applied before you can work it. Better later than sooner. Sometimes you can give it a final rub the following day if it’s getting late and cool, but normally rub up in a circular motion after a minimum of couple of hours. For this use a metal float and have a bucket of water so you can flick a bit of water on with a big paint brush as you smooth.

Do be discouraged if it starts to slump just leave it to dehydrate a bit before carefully pushing it back. Remember in this case, less is more. Good luck to you Gaz, I hope it goes well

Answer 3

if you are trying to coat the wall in a plaster with significant texture, then on this side of the Atlantic we would call that stucco and when we render something it would be what a lard factory does., please define render