Wondering what peoples experience is with the differing types of external render avaliable these days. I have read the pros and cons of each but a lot of it is "marketing", so if anyone has real world experience or knowledge of the actual finished product, twould be much appreciated.
Need to remove/replace existing blown 1930s pebble-dash, however the norm in the street is now a smooth white render. It is a standard semi-detached, with bottom 3/4 in brick work, a decorative divide, then top 1/4 in pebble-dash. It is not in a particularly exposed area.
So my options:
1) The standard Sand and Cement...then painted white. Apparently this does not let the brickwork beneath "breath". Concern over lack of elasticity so cracks may appear. But maybe a tried and tested method, why question it... (Some apparently add lime to the mix to reduce chance of cracking etc.)
2) Lime Render? Lets brickwork breath, moves with brickwork, so less cracking? What are the downsides with this method? Time consuming? Cost?
3) Modern One Coat Render with "polymers" etc which apparently has the benefits of Sand/Cement but also breaths and moves? However read many conflicting reports about how good they really are...
4) Also seen something about clay based render, which is meant to be a very green option but do not know much else.
Any thoughts!
Need to remove/replace existing blown 1930s pebble-dash, however the norm in the street is now a smooth white render. It is a standard semi-detached, with bottom 3/4 in brick work, a decorative divide, then top 1/4 in pebble-dash. It is not in a particularly exposed area.
So my options:
1) The standard Sand and Cement...then painted white. Apparently this does not let the brickwork beneath "breath". Concern over lack of elasticity so cracks may appear. But maybe a tried and tested method, why question it... (Some apparently add lime to the mix to reduce chance of cracking etc.)
2) Lime Render? Lets brickwork breath, moves with brickwork, so less cracking? What are the downsides with this method? Time consuming? Cost?
3) Modern One Coat Render with "polymers" etc which apparently has the benefits of Sand/Cement but also breaths and moves? However read many conflicting reports about how good they really are...
4) Also seen something about clay based render, which is meant to be a very green option but do not know much else.
Any thoughts!