Rendering is a simple process of covering an exterior wall with different kinds of mixtures, such as cement, lime, acrylic or similar. There is no easy way, choice or option for this type of project. When you apply the render finish on a wall you need to follow some basic principles.
The render mixture should be applied in three layers, each one a little bit thicker than the other. You can use a simple brush to apply them or a special machine that will make the render much faster and easier.
What It Means to Render a Brick Wall?
To render brick walls is something very interesting. This process will transform your exterior wall from an ordinary surface into something special, giving it a new look and feel. It is possible to use different kinds of finishes for this type of project, depending on your preferences and your budget.
When you render brick walls, it will give it a beautiful finish that other options simply don’t have. You can use different kinds of renders such as cement or lime for this process. Each one has its own characteristics and advantages. The render should be applied in a number of layers, each one a little bit thicker than the other.
What Material to Use When You are Rendering a Brick Wall?
Depending on your needs and preferences you can choose from various kinds of materials for the main coat that fits your home best. Make sure that when applying them, you follow all safety precautions so you won’t attract any kind of health risks for yourself or your family.
When rendering your walls don’t forget to take the weather conditions into consideration. If you live in a region with high humidity levels choose special render materials that are more resistant to moisture. It is also recommended to use mortar with a high proportion of cement in it, but make sure you don’t apply layers that are too thick to the mortar joints.
Take precaution before you render
Make sure that when rendering a brick wall you protect the soil around it as this is a perfect place for moss and other kinds of moisture to ruin your finish. You can also use some special rendering machines that will make the job much easier and faster, saving you lots of time and effort.
How to Render a Wall?
Rendering a wall is not a difficult task and you can do it by yourself if you follow some basic principles and steps. When rendering walls you need to apply three different layers, each one a little bit thicker than the other. This is necessary so the render can stay on top of the wall for a longer period of time and your home will look much more beautiful.
How to apply the first layer?
The first layer should be applied in the same direction as the surface of the bricks, and it needs to be a little bit more than half of the wall’s height. The second layer should be applied in a perpendicular direction, and the third one from the top, but make sure you leave some space between each one so it can dry easily.
After applying all layers mix them using a small machine, a mixing drill or a hand-mixer before you start brushing on the surface of the wall. When rendering brick walls you need to protect the area around them with some plastic sheets to make sure nothing will damage your newly rendered wall.
What are the Advantages of Rendering a Brick Wall?
There are many advantages when rendering these types of walls, but one of the most important is that this process can change and improve their appearance. It is possible to use different kinds of materials for rendering, which will give you an opportunity to choose what is more appropriate for your surroundings.
When rendering these walls the process helps to protect them against moisture that can be absorbed since the render has small pores in it. When you apply to render on a wall it needs to dry well before covering it with wallpaper or different types of coats.
When rendering brick walls you can use a different kind of mortar, depending on your preferences and budget. It is very important that the mortar consists of a high proportion of cement in it, while some producers will add animal hair to make it more flexible and durable.
If you want to give your house a special look, rendering brick walls will help you achieve this goal. There are a lot of different materials that can be used for doing this job and each one has its own advantages and disadvantages.
How does Cement Rendering Work?
This type of rendering is a building material for finishing interior or exterior walls. Cement render acts like adhesive products and it sticks to the wall. In the process, a texture is created which makes it look like bricks or stone.
How does it work?
This type of render works in the following way: the render is applied to the wall with a trowel, which leaves a pattern on the surface. A brush follows these grooves and adds texture.
The rendering is applied to the wall by a machine, which mixes the cement with water and sand. The mixture is not thick like concrete; it should remain malleable and slightly damp when placed onto a surface. Once dry, this semi-solid material will maintain its shape and rigidity. Plastering over an already dry render will crack and damage the surface.
How to Apply Render to a Brick Wall?
Most people have no idea how to render a brick wall for the home. These three rendering techniques are used both for new builds and refurbishment projects. All of them start with the same preparation work before any render can be applied to an existing or brand-new brickwork wall.
The first step is always to remove any excess water from the surface because it will cause problems during the render process including discolouration, deterioration, and laitance (a skin that forms on newly applied render). This article aims to show you how you can achieve that in four easy steps, no matter if your wall is indoors or outdoors!
Here’s what you need:
Start off by cleaning the brickwork thoroughly using a garden hose pipe. Three meters should be good enough for most uses.
Add two teaspoons of washing-up liquid to a five-litre bucket filled with water. Use this mixture to clean the wall again using the hose pipe for at least 30 minutes. Then let it dry until any damp spots are gone. It’s very important that your bricks are completely dry before adding new rendering materials on top, or else you will get discolouration.
You will need a trowel to apply the rendering mixture onto your wall. The broadside of it should be about 30cm wide and 12 cm high. The thickness of the rendering layer depends on how much work you are willing to put into it, but six millimetres should be enough for most cases.
A Layer of Render for a Brick Wall
Apply the coat of render so that it’s around six millimetres thick. Apply the render and don’t worry if it appears way too thin on the surface at first because this layer of render will be spread out with the next step. Use a metal float (brush) to distribute the render evenly over the wall in sections that are around one square meter in size. Follow our tip and ensure you cover all corners and edges in order to get rid of laitance.
A finished brick wall surface after rendering
The sand in the render will create a rough surface that helps to prevent water from seeping into your wall. As soon as this layer is done, you can easily apply another one if you want to achieve deeper cracks or an even more pronounced stone-like texture. This type of render may take up to 48 hours to dry completely, but it may not be completely dry inside if weather conditions are too cold. Instead, it will simply be harder to touch and lose some flexibility.
How Much does It Cost to Render a House in Australia?
When you render a house, the average price will be $1.32 per square metre for an exterior render and around $2 per square meter if you want interior rendering work completed. This type of job is more expensive than many other types of home renovation projects due to the time required for applying multiple layers.
That said, the cost of the finish will increase when there are plenty of additional works involved such as parapet walls, high walls or weird angles in your roof space. The cost will also be higher when special finishes like pebble dashing are required over existing render that has already started crumbling away.
However, take into account that with most basic jobs you can expect to pay around $700 to $1,300 for an exterior rendered wall that is around 20 square metres in size. For interior walls, you can expect to pay $35 to $50 per square meter plus additional costs per coat. Any special finishes like pebble dash will add another $100+ to the job.
Can You do Rendering Yourself?
With regards to rendering your own house, the short answer is no. If you have never done home renovations before, applied coats, colours, then it’s very likely that you don’t have any of the necessary skills or expertise.
For example, if there are little gaps between each brick that need to be filled up with cement rendering, then you would need to use a special tool to smooth it out. Even if you have done home renovations before, this still doesn’t mean that you have the skills required for rendering jobs.
The Benefits of Hiring a Professional
The benefits of hiring a professional render company are clear because they will know exactly what equipment to use, how to apply each coat during the entire project and how much work is necessary for each job. They will also understand and have access to all of the relevant building codes, information and requirements, as well as waste disposal.
They will have all of the necessary skills to apply to render properly so that it looks aesthetically pleasing after it has been finished, unlike a failed DIY project. These professionals have tools and equipment at their disposal which you probably won’t own yourself, such as trowels, floats, sandpaper and screeds.
