Wednesday, October 28, 2015

Foundation to Great Exterior Finishes - Rendering Walls

Walls are a very crucial aspect of any structure. Rendering walls simply means an application of a previously mixed layer of sand and cement to cement it, brick it or even mud brick it. Cement rendering is the most common form of rendering done for residential and commercial structures and this is more prudent too. The wall is textured, painted and colored according to likes and preferences after the process of rendering is over. Rendering is mostly done on exterior walls but can be done on interiors too. Depending on the look or feel required the rendering can be fine or coarse, natural or colored, textured or can have a smooth surface, etc.

What is the utility of rendering walls?

  • The prime reason for rendering walls, particularly exterior walls is to safeguard against the weather .For centuries, walls have been seen to be weather resistant and also help the house to look great and have an aesthetic value. If you want to protect the quality and texture of the exterior walls, you can go for rendering with plaster, sand and cement, and you can also contact professional contractors for applying the thick and durable coats of rendering.
  • The walls particularly the exterior ones can crack up overtime due to heat and other external factors. This means that these walls need a fresh coat of paint to stand the test of time and to look as decorative as ever.

Types of rendering on walls

  • Acrylic rendering – These are superior as they have a greater water resistance and strength. These can also cover a wide area such as cement, concrete blocks and AAC concrete paneling. They can also be used on smoother surfaces such as the cement sheets, high grade polymer exterior cladding, etc. These exhibit much smoother complexion as opposed to the conventional ones and this is the reason why these are popular. There are different types of external finishes that these support. Acrylic rendering walls require few days to dry up, and depending on the quality of paint, the acrylic renders can be trowelled, rolled, and they can even be sponged upon.
  • Traditional rendering – Firstly in this type of rendering the surface is cleaned of any existent debris and make it free of dust particles. Old paint or old render is scrapped away. The surface is then roughened to make way for adhesion. Various additives are used during this process for increased adhesion .Finer sand is used for the top layer and harsh coarser ones are used for the bottom layers.

Tips on rendering the walls in the right manner

  • Firstly, start by cleaning your wall. This will make sure that the surface is clean of any dust and grime
  • The render product has to be mixed in any bucket. Follow the instructions on the bag. You can use a mixing drill to combine. The consistency should be just right for rendering. In this case it should like that of a toothpaste.
  • Now is the time to apply the render on the surface. One coat of render 4 ml to 6 ml should do the trick. Make sure that the render is applied as smooth and flat as is possible.
  • Render should be left to dry and firm up. Once it is put to dry after 30 minutes roughly, use a straight edge to flatten the render. Screeding is a very important step. The finish is highly dependent on this step. If you see hollows on some spaces then it means that the space necessitates more render.
  • Hollows need to be floated to make way for flat surfaces and better sponging g9ives a much better finishing on the walls.

You need to see if there are any vents in the way. If there are then make sure that you clean up around the vents so that you get the perfect finish that you aim for. If you want to know more about rendering walls then visit this link and get more information.