Brick Walls: Three Practical Tips for Cement Rendering

You should think about cement rendering if your brick house has lost its aesthetic appeal and is showing signs of wear. This process will allow you to conceal the unattractive blocks with a render mixture, creating a fresh look for your walls. Moreover, you can enhance your newly rendered walls by painting, texturing or using pigments. If possible, you should hire an experienced contractor for cement rendering services. However, if you are interested in DIY home improvement, you should use the tips below for ideal results.

Prepare the Brick Wall

You should begin your rendering work by cleaning the brick wall. This process will allow the layer of cement to adhere to the blocks for a prolonged period. If the wall is covered with paint, old plaster and laitance, your new layer will fall off prematurely. Old bricks are typically quite strong, so you can use a steel wire brush to clean off the wall. You should also remove brittle mortar attached to the wall. Remember to cover the ground with plastic sheeting before applying your render. The cover will protect your pavements and other surfaces from spilt mixtures.  

Mix Your Render

Next, you should prepare your render. As an amateur, you should not plan on preparing your own material from scratch using sand and cement. This method might be cheaper, but it is riskier for a person without experience. If you do not get the proportions right, you will end up wasting your building materials and the render will fail. Ideally, you should purchase a readymade render mix. Your work will be only mixing the render with water. If the project is large, you might require a mixer for the work. However, most DIY projects are small and can be handled using a wheelbarrow or bucket.

Apply the Mixture

After preparing the mix, you can begin applying it on the brick walls. When applying the render, you should aim to create a uniform or consistent coating on the walls. If your brick wall has mortar joints, you should ensure that the furrows are filled to create a smooth surface. You should also take the chance to conceal holes and other imperfections on the brick. You should use long and even spreads when working with the mixture. Otherwise, the surface will not appear smooth and professional. If you would like to apply multiple layers of the render, you should texture the first coating to ensure adherence of the second.

Finally, you should use a float or trowel to finish the render for the desired texture.


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