10272 External render recipes

Get some stuff called "Malta di Muratto WA500" I have used it for some rendering here and it works well. Stephano Lucozzi sells it in Amandola.

Hi there, if the building has old render this will ideally have to be chipped off, use a mix of 5:1 with waterproofer added and a little plasticiser to stop crazing. Hope this helps. Tony, (northern marche)

not sure how adept you are at this sort of thing and both previous replies help but to add to their comments there are a few other things to take into consideration...

after getting rid of any loose bits go around the building and infill with the suggested five to one ratio mix any larger holes and allow to dry...

to arrive at a sort of semi good looking finish an idea if the building is short enough say less than two meters long each side is to mount batons first to give you a line to aim for... to stop the outline of the bricks showing through you will need to add i would suggest at least a couple of cms of cover... so the batons should be at least that depth and you can either use wood or cement (create vertical lines using the 5 to 1 mix)

first thing is to get your mix right in consistency... because basically you throw the stuff at the wall...too dry it doesn't stick, too wet it slides off or cracks...

first coat does not have to be smoothed off too much...however if using your own sand and cement mix make sure you get fine sand as too coarse a grade will not provide a stick-able mortar..... the thing is layers... do not try to get too much on at a time and use the first coat basically as a keying coat which then makes subsequent layers easier to get on and also smoother looking....

the art of throwing stuff at a wall as i say depends very much on the consistency ... and is trial and error... no magic formula... however ..essential is a builders bucket as its sides are sloped to allow you to put the trowel in and get the right amount of mortar on... use a fairly largish trowel and get about the first quarter covered and then standing back launch it at the wall almost like a tennis swing ...mortar should fly off and stick.... handy tip is to put plastic sheeting to allow you to recover the bits that don't...especially whilst learning...

allow each coat to dry off ...say a day at the temps at the moment..ie you could do early mornings and evenings... if you are trying to get it done quick... if in full sun maybe when it is set enough damp it down every so often... always use a brush or fine spray to wet the surface anyway before each coast... including the starter coat...

the pre packed malta is the best one to use as your last coat ... and is generally just a skimmed on coat... ie you can stop throwing and use the normal technique for finishing using one of those flat metal trowels with the handle in the middle... as this coat is just a couple of mil... again if trying to make a rustic look to a modern building a good idea is to angle the corners...ie do not use batons to make sharp edges but smooth across the angle where the two ends of a wall meet so the edges do not look too sharp... slighly rounded .. what this means is that if you have used wooden instead of self built cement lines when you remove the batons...previous to doing the last skimmed coat you will have a gap... infill gap without using any straight edge and round it slightly... before starting your final coat...

with the finishing coat ... when the mortar has dried to damp and still will allow...use a sponge either board or from the kitchen to go over it in circular movements which brings out the sand grain and gives a much more traditional finish...it also forgives blemishes in your work....

where the walls touch the ground better to leave a couple of cm gap as if you plaster the building right down to ground you will find that in quite a short time ...damp gets up between wall and plaster and it starts falling off... at ground level lay a membrane of some sort on the floor and use a stronger mix... maybe a bit wider ...even tiles or bricks......sloping away from the building to add a sort of damp proof ... this will occasionally require redoing but its less than doing the whole wall...

another tip is that there are colored mortars... Marborite being one range... which could be used for the final coat... saves painting...
if making your own mortar you can also use white cement with lime and sand...it provides a sort of antique looking finish...slightly pink... again the five to one mix... is ok... i would add in another two shovels of sand and a shovel of lime to achieve a good mix of this sort of mortar...its also very flexible and sticky... making it easier to work with...

your ceiling problem ... paint the wire that is exposed ... with basically any paint except water based...that you have lying around ... then when that is dry ...you can use your mortar throwing skills to start a keying coat... once you get that on the ability to skim on a layer of mortar is quite easy... without it all falling off on your head... its all pretty well the same as for doing walls but harder... so if you get all your mixes and techniques sorted on the walls the ceiling will be a piece of cake for you...

I would add only that I heartily recommend you get a cement mixer, rather than hand mixing (look at Belle - really excellent. I'm on my second one now, after 25 years with the first one.) and to remind you that should you be filling any holes larger than a small apple, use some hard infill as well as the mortar. If you are rendering onto brick or block, you may find that "floating" you render onto the surface will prove easier than "hurling". Adapt to your surface as you find easiest.

[quote=Nardini;95497]............. If you are rendering onto brick or block, you may find that "floating" you render onto the surface will prove easier than "hurling". Adapt to your surface as you find easiest.[/quote]

my neighbour [Italian] used an air compressor and some type of scoop/jet to render his farmhouse with sloppy cement - seemed very quick and effective.

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Thanks so much for all that info - especially appreciate all the detailed advice. I must explain that it was Pete my other half who masqueraded as me to ask the q, you are too right about questioning my prev experience of rendering! He is pretty handy but my place is deffo as 'builders mate, chief cook and bottle washer'.
I think he has some more qs though you may have answered them already..sure he will come back later today.
The point about a cement mixer is a v good thought - is it possible to hire one anywhere in the Amandola/Sarnano area? If we have to buy one do you have any feeling for likely prices and is the builders merchant place at Servigliano a good place to start. We're over for a week from Sat to give the house some TLC and dry out from the constant rain this summer in Derbyshire..
Cheers
M

[quote=Marinaw;95507]Thanks so much for all that info - especially appreciate all the detailed advice. I must explain that it was Pete my other half who masqueraded as me to ask the q, you are too right about questioning my prev experience of rendering! He is pretty handy but my place is deffo as 'builders mate, chief cook and bottle washer'.
I think he has some more qs though you may have answered them already..sure he will come back later today.
The point about a cement mixer is a v good thought - is it possible to hire one anywhere in the Amandola/Sarnano area? If we have to buy one do you have any feeling for likely prices and is the builders merchant place at Servigliano a good place to start. We're over for a week from Sat to give the house some TLC and dry out from the constant rain this summer in Derbyshire..
Cheers
M[/quote]
Try the place on the Amandola - Communanza road, called Pastucci, its on the left hand side. He hires out mixers and also sells them as well. Bought a ex-hire one from him a few years ago.

[quote=Marinaw;95507]
The point about a cement mixer is a v good thought - is it possible to hire one anywhere in the Amandola/Sarnano area? If we have to buy one do you have any feeling for likely prices and is the builders merchant place at Servigliano a good place to start. [/quote]I'm sure someone closer to you will be able to answer about hiring, but I bought our [URL="http://www.bellegroup.net/en/catalogue/ProductData.asp?Range=Mini150"]Minimix[/URL] through a direct contact given by the [URL="http://www.bellegroup.net/en/dealerLocator/dealerLocatorIntl.asp?country=IT&Go=Go"]Italian export manager [/URL]- who speaks excellent English as well, by the way - just email him. My recollection is that it cost about €270. I really can't recommend it enough. It is pretty good at mixing potting compost as well, by the way!