How to Prepare a Wall for Rendering

Where to begin?

The main reason you have your walls rendered is to aid in the weather proofing of the exterior and to create a nice finish with attractive textures. Once your walls have been rendered you can finish the job off with a smooth coat or other textured materials such as small stones. But what steps should you take before having your wall rendered is the main question of concern.

How can I prepare my wall to be rendered?

In order to prepare your wall to be rendered you must first clean the wall efficiently. Next you want to take a good look over the wall and make sure there are no cracks where the rendering is no longer bonded to the wall. This can be done by tapping the wall lightly; you will hear a hollow or bubbled sound if the render is loose.

If you would like to patch a crack, you need to widen the crack first with a screwdriver or even a trowel. This will help to remove all the debris and dust from inside the crack and render. Next use the trowel, and press mortar mix into the crack and smooth out. After a crack has been fixed you want to finish with a render coat, that can be put over the whole crack. This will help to disguise your fix up job.

Before actually applying the render coat you will want to wash your wall thoroughly with a power washer. If you notice any mold on the wall you will have to wash it with a fungicide to remove it.

When it is time to render a wall, you want to make sure you clean it appropriately with a treatment that can help prevent mold and plant growth. You should also put a coat of lime on the wall as it will help to bond and prepare additional coats. The preparation for rendering the wall should cure for at least 4 days before any render can be added.

When you actually apply your render coat make sure you use a thin coat about 8 to 10 mm in thickness because some render coats have shrinkage problems. The first coat of your render should be applied as thin coats and then smoothed with a trowel. You will need to apply the render in a circular motion, and avoid overworking it as this will make lime come to the surface.

You should also score the render in diagonal strokes; this will help to create a rough surface for the next coat to catch onto to. The last step involves wetting the render down before applying the last coat to it. This will help ensure that the renders stay in place. The majority of rendering services are done with cement renders. This is the best option if you are looking for a longterm fix.