When you own a property, some tasks come along once every twenty or so years, which need completing, often this will mean that you have two options, finding and paying a tradesperson to meet the said task or, if possible, doing the job yourself. One of these rare tasks that need attention is rendering the exterior walls of your home, and it is a critical component of the overall aesthetic look of your property.
The Five P’s
As with any task you have not attempted previously, the often-used five P’s are a great mantra to use. That stands for Proper Preparation Prevents Poor Performance; using this mindset and taking some time to investigate how to complete any work correctly is a great starting point. It is also crucial you have all the right tools for the job in hand and know what to do with them; render is essentially a protective covering for the property’s brickwork, so it is vital.
The Right Tools for The Job
Several options are available when sourcing the tools to render your property; many hire companies now stock the right tools, including a purpose-built rendering machine to mix the render. That may be the preferred option if you do not intend to render again. If you purchase the tools, always choose a high-quality option once you have finished the work; you can then claw back some funds by reselling them online. The tools needed to render successfully are –
- Stainless steel trowel – a high-quality trowel is essential
- Scratching comb – used to scratch undercoats of render.
- Bucket trowel – used to carry render from the bucket.
- Plastic render float – used to finish the render.
- Sponge float – used to smooth the finish.
- Corner trowel – used to render around corners.
- Speedskim – for the final smooth finish.
- Plaster Buckets – purpose-made is the recommendation.
That is by no means an exhaustive list and does not include the ppe equipment, such as protective gloves, goggles, and hard hats with a first aid kit always on hand. Some mixing apparatus is also needed; paddle attachments for a hand drill is an option if you don’t have access to a mixing machine.
Different Types of Render
In the past, there were not many options when rendering your property; many post-war homes were coated in that grey pebble dash that you can still see today. There are now plenty of specialist options to choose from, which can include –
- Cement renders – standard option, mixed on-site, multiple coats, then painted.
- Polymer renders – pre-mixed and often pre-coloured.
- Through-coloured renders – again coloured added no painting needed.
- Lime renders – Making a comeback, more expensive but a better finish.
- Acrylic insulated render – a new product that can reduce heat loss from the property.
Benefits of Rendering
If you consider rendering your home for the first time, this is an excellent option as around 30 per cent of the energy used to heat the home is lost through the walls. Using the acrylic insulated render is a great way to improve your property’s energy efficiency without any internal compromising. When the job of rendering is effectively completed, the exterior outlook of the home is also improved to your benefit as it is often the first thing visitors and passers-by see and form their initial impressions of you and the property.
I hope this short article has given you a good starting point; take some time to explore the wealth of information available online. With a good mindset and excellent preparation, I’m sure you can conquer rendering, good luck!
