breezeblock/cinderblock outside garden wall

[francais2english]

Hello,
I'm new to the forum and not at all a handywoman! I live in a French island in the South Pacific (temperature at the moment around 25° in the daytime).
I've got a cinderblock wall separating my place from my neighbour's and want to paint it to improve the look of the garden. I can make a bit of a mess as it's not a feature wall!!! So far I know that I have to literally "throw" the fairly liquid rendering mixture on the wall, let it dry then cover the wall with a second coat. What sort of tools do I need and does anyone have any useful hints for someone who has a project but has never done this before! I'd be very grateful for any help.

 

[Micilin]

Hello,
I'm new to the forum and not at all a handywoman! I live in a French island in the South Pacific (temperature at the moment around 25° in the daytime).
I've got a cinderblock wall separating my place from my neighbour's and want to paint it to improve the look of the garden. I can make a bit of a mess as it's not a feature wall!!! So far I know that I have to literally "throw" the fairly liquid rendering mixture on the wall, let it dry then cover the wall with a second coat. What sort of tools do I need and does anyone have any useful hints for someone who has a project but has never done this before! I'd be very grateful for any help.

Well this is one I was hoping someone would answer!

If you are not bothered too much with the finish, and it is just a small wall, and you don't want to buy many tools -

You can use a bucket to hold the mix,and use a scoop or small hand shovel (something 4-5" wide) to throw the mix onto the wall. Cover the area, flattening in roughly with a piece of wood about 2 or 2 foot long as you go.

Scratch this as you go (before it dries out) with a 'comb' like scratcher .

Next day, wet down the wall m and apply a coat up again but this time you can use a large sponge to give you a finish. it will smooth it in a bit.

First mix 4-1 sand-cement
Second coat 5-1

Give it a go and please let us know how it went!

Anyone else?

 

[roughcaster]

Make sure you give the cinderblock wall a good soak before you start, plus, i don't know whether you can get hold of a waterproofer to use in the scratch coat, because trying to top coat render in 25 degrees without it, would be a nightmare. For the rest of the job,,,, just as Micilin says, and even if it doesn't turn out perfect, you'll learn from it.

 

[francais2english]

This is great - thank you so much for your help and advice. At least now I know what to look for in terms of tools. As for the heat, I thought wetting the wall and then adding the render wouldn't be good as it would seal in the water! I think I'll just give it a go and learn from it so thanks very very much

 

[Micilin]

Good point there RC.

Maybe think about doing it at a cooler time of day. Ideally evening , if you allow enough time for when the light is good - then you have the night for it to set before the sun hits it.
Other wise a very early start!