How do I get a smooth finish on concrete render?
A smooth finish – also known as a traditional, sponge, or float finish – is achieved by smoothing down a base coat render with a sponge float and coating with an external quality paint.
What are the different render finishes?
6 different types of render
- Cement. Cement render is one of the most basic and traditional types of render.
- Lime. Another different type of render is lime, which is made using lime and sand to form a mortar.
- Pebble dash.
- Acrylic Render.
- Silicone Render.
- SprayCork.
Can you chalkboard paint concrete?
Be sure not to confuse chalkboard paint with chalk paint. Chalkboard paint is just what it sounds like—paint that allows you to turn the item or wall you’re painting into one you can write on with chalk. It creates a hard, scratch-resistant surface and can be applied to wood, metal, drywall, glass, concrete and more.
How do you mix smooth render?
A common mix ratio used for rendering is 6 parts sand, 1 part cement and 1 part lime. Any general purpose cement can be used, although the sand should be fine and clean of impurities. Coarser sand is usually used as the base layer and slightly finer sand for the top layer.
How long do you leave render before sponging?
If you notice that the float is ‘pulling’ at the surface of the render, it may not be ready to be floated. Wait for 10 minutes and try again. If you are applying a second coat, wait at least 24 hours between coats.
Can I use sharp sand for rendering?
The sand must be plastering sand or rendering sand, not building sand – do not use building sand for rendering because it shrinks and cracks. Sometimes you can add some building sand to the mix for the base coat but it shouldn’t be your primary sand.
Can you skim over external render?
A question we are often asked is, can you skim over external render? The answer is yes, providing the surface is sound and clean. To prevent your external render cracking, an alkali-resistant fibre glass mesh can be embedded into your scratch coat. This will stop new external render cracking.
Is K render better than sand and cement?
2) K-rend can get dirty quickly Unlike sand and cement render, K-rend never needs to be painted because it is coloured all the way through. Unfortunately, however, it is prone to mould and algae growth (especially in coastal areas) which can make it look quite unsightly quite quickly.
Is silicone render better than sand and cement?
Depending on your budget and requirements, you could choose between monocouche and silicone rendering which are much more superior to the conventional rendering methods made from cement and sand.
Can you use chalk on concrete?
Although it is designed to be used on sidewalks and driveways, the chalk contains colorants, which may stain clothing and other household surfaces. If the chalk is used on a newly poured sidewalk or driveway, there is a possibility that the open surface pores in the concrete could absorb the colors.
Can you use chalk on chalk paint?
Chalk cannot be used to write on chalky finish paint. The surface painted with chalkboard paint is rougher and not as deep black as the surface painted with slate or slate-substituted chalkboard. Occasionally, you will need to apply another coat or two of chalkboard paint to revive the surface.