Easiest way to render a wall

[dander]

Hi, after a bit of advice for a total novice.

I'm building a garden wall out of blocks which I want to render. My house is what I think is called roughcast - very deep chippings and painted. Ideally I'd like my wall to match this, but I wonder if this is actually quite a difficult kind of render to do. So, being a garden wall, it's not essential and, as long as I can paint it to match, I'm flexible.

As a beginner, what would be the best kind of finish/technique to try and achieve? Funds are tight and I'm not likely to ever render again, so I want a finish that requires a minimum of specialist equipment. All advise welcome.

 

[ToolbeltDandy]

I've never rendered before and I'm just looking into it myself so that I can also render a wall but I hate to see a post go unanswered, so for now I can tell you, you'll need:

hydrated lime (difficult to find in my area - one B&Q stocks it)
cement (slow drying/curing)
sharp sand - about four times as much sharp sand as cement will be used (look online for various ratios)

You'll need a float to apply the render. I've bought a B&Q value steel (£7.50) one, but maybe plastic (£4) also works well? Ideally, you'd have a hawk to maintain a supply to the wall (it will be a hassle to keep bending down to a bucket or wheelbarrow for every float-full) but perhaps you can improvise a hawk out of something? I don't suppose it would be as ergonomic. A plastic hawk can be had for £10 at a major hardware store, or possibly less on eBay and might later be used to help plaster?

You can mix the components on clean surface. I saw videos of it being done in the road with a spade and I'll probably do it in the yard with a spade and then shovel it into a wheelbarrow. You could conceivably use an alternative large container and mixing implement (a paint mixing tool on an electric drill would work well if you have one, otherwise stir it with a trowel or spade). I've no idea how long a mixture takes to apply and stays workable but avoid making too much at once until you gain some idea.

I think you also need to affix 10mm wooden battens to the wall, to acts as a depth gauge but how to affix, I'm not sure. That's what I came to find out.

 

[external]

maybe i can help,roughcast to be honest is one of the hardest tops to do right,you need to be fast and straight,not really for the inexperianced,but if the works painted you should be able to wet dash ,all thats involved is a scratch coat then a tight top coat,then throw a mix of stone and compo onto the green top coat ,bit like tennis m8 and theres no rush to the job,post a pick and we can advise on the mix strength for each coat.

 

[richard1600]

is sand-tex an option,,, i was told by a friend,, its just paint with sand in it gives you a nice look ?

 

[JMLanders]

? Ideally, you'd have a hawk to maintain a supply to the wall (it will be a hassle to keep bending down to a bucket or wheelbarrow for every float-full) but perhaps you can improvise a hawk out of something? I don't suppose it would be as ergonomic. A plastic hawk can be had for £10 at a major hardware store, or possibly less on eBay and might later be used to help plaster?

There is an alternative thing available

 

[SCUDmcCOY]

if you have never dashed before there is a 99% chance that you will make a total mess of it.if you take it on you could always plant a few bushes in front of it after.