render not sticking

[stevethespreader]

do you ever mix your sands ? say 2 sharp 1 soft, or 2 plastering 1 soft?

Steve, yes , if it is a too coarse. Sometimes it's a little dead or greedy and a bit of soft in the mix gives it a bit of life.

You're still not making the overall aggregate too soft though if you just put enough in - but as you know that depends on the sand .

Sometimes we get a batch of 'Leighton Buzzard' that's very dead and a few shovels of soft does the trick.

cheers micilin when you say dead or greedy do you mean not workable enough? and adding the soft sand makes it more workable?

 

[Micilin]

do you ever mix your sands ? say 2 sharp 1 soft, or 2 plastering 1 soft?

Steve, yes , if it is a too coarse. Sometimes it's a little dead or greedy and a bit of soft in the mix gives it a bit of life.

You're still not making the overall aggregate too soft though if you just put enough in - but as you know that depends on the sand .

Sometimes we get a batch of 'Leighton Buzzard' that's very dead and a few shovels of soft does the trick.

cheers micilin when you say dead or greedy do you mean not workable enough? and adding the soft sand makes it more workable?

Yeah, Steve - 'dead' is not workable - 'greedy' sometimes wants a little bit more cement in it

 

[iron]

I too have had much the same problem. My Scratch Coat was a 5:1 mix, Top Coat 4:1. The sand did seem far too fine to me but wasnt sure if it would make a difference. Plus I was using a combined additive ( plasterciser, waterproofer and something else I cant remember now, It was 3 in 1 thing) ..I usually use waterproofer and thats that!! .. Float coats blown and the scratch is still stuck but very sandy ( New breezeblock Wall ).. Am I safe to add the Top Coat and try again seeing as the scratch is dusty? Removing the scratch now would be a nightmare. Thanks

 

[NickB_99]

I too have had much the same problem. My Scratch Coat was a 5:1 mix, Top Coat 4:1. The sand did seem far too fine to me but wasnt sure if it would make a difference. Plus I was using a combined additive ( plasterciser, waterproofer and something else I cant remember now, It was 3 in 1 thing) ..I usually use waterproofer and thats that!! .. Float coats blown and the scratch is still stuck but very sandy ( New breezeblock Wall ).. Am I safe to add the Top Coat and try again seeing as the scratch is dusty? Removing the scratch now would be a nightmare. Thanks

Welcome to the forum - you're better off starting your own new thread rather than resurrect an old one. Can always add a URL in yours if you think it's appropriate.
(PS I thought the scratch coat should be the stronger mix of the two)

Regards.