The RIGHT Way To Render A Wall | Learn From My Mistakes

I messed up a few months ago - now it's time to make it right! I'm going to show you the CORRECT WAY to render a wall.
This video is a big one for me because I'm learning from my last failed attempt at rendering a wall. And the funny thing is that this is the other side of the wall I failed on.
So this is a major lesson! I'm going to show you how to render a wall like a BOSS. I'll show you:
- How to finish a rendered wall
- The right way to apply sand cement render
- The best weapon I use for floating
- The biggest mistake I made in my last video
- The correct way to render a wall
- The ONLY way you can get a tradition sand/ cement finish
- The 2 Golden rules you NEED to follow before you start rendering
- The tools you'll need for success
And mucho, mucho more!
I’ll also talk about timings. This has been a massive issue for some of the subscribers from our Plastering For Beginners KZbin channel which is why we’re going to uncover how and when to float the render.
So there's a lot to learn from this video. If you rate this video, then please like and subscribe. We’d also love to hear from you so feel free to leave your comments below the video and I’ll get back to you personally with any questions you have.
For more information visit our website:
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plasteringforb...
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Thanks for watching and we’ll see you on the next one!
Blaine Gray

[@daniellauwerys4913]

I dont even know why I'm watching plastering videos but it seems really interesting to say the least. I have a bricklaying apprenticeship which I'm starting in August. Hope it goes well.

[@PlasteringForBeginners]

Thank you for watching and good luck with your apprenticeship my friend!

[@Vics251]

I’ve been doing all kinds of plastering including rendering for nearly 40 years. I used to enjoy it, now I hate it. Backs gone , along with knees, elbows, wrists and thumbs. 🙁 Sick of the muck , the dust and heavy lifting.

[@66journeyman]

I always enjoy your videos Blaine. Nice that you’ve made mistakes and been open about it, it happens to all of us. Not a criticism, just a suggestion, but get yourself a couple of trestles and a few planks, oh and a cement mixer. If you’d have put enough waterproofed/retarder in the scratch coat, that wall would just need a light spray with water. Be good if you could do a video on the ‘one coat renders’ if you haven’t already👍🏻

[@pagey5457]

Wavy scratch coat love it best way to do it in my opinion I worked doing restoration work for 2 years even though I’m a plasterer of 22 years these boys are on another level and they can’t stress enough to do a wavy scratch

[@johnbaker8248]

Couple of tips always keep your timber straight edges clean and wet we always form our corners free hand,when we reverse the timber and float run the sponge over that edge before removing the timber and always lift the back edge and slide away at an angle . A wider straight edge something like 100mm chamfered skirting is perfect for forming edges when damp and clean it holds itself in place most of the time great if your working alone. Don’t like the idea of a wet brush over the surface a splash of water and hard steel trowel will bring the fat to the surface and give you a chance to sponge back into finished work if it’s going off ,these are tips picked up from the old boys who also used to teach in the college’s hope you might find these useful.

[@PlasteringForBeginners]

Thank you for the advice my friend! There's some great tips there so thank you. Hope you're well my friend 👍

[@MarcusT86]

Always love it when a new vid of yours pops up mate. Going to watch this at once... and rendering too! 😀

[@glenmiles6279]

Why not just put waterproof in first coat?

[@jdc9128]

There will be waterproofer in the scratch coat, you would be a fool not to this time of year , still need to give the wall a good soaking or it will dry instantly.

[@glenmiles6279]

Once you have waterproofed the scratch coat no way would you ever wet the wall prior to putting the next coat on,if you do you’ll be giving yourself a whole lot of grief.

[@jdc9128]

@@glenmiles6279 are you a plasterer ? Because I have rendered properties for that last 20 years using waterproofing admix in the scratch coat and always wet it before topping in the summer , only the depths of the winter I would apply top cost onto a dry scratch, even a wall as small as the one in the video if you didn't control the suction by wetting scratch in that sun it would go of almost immediately.

[@mikiex]

The result is good, but I can't help thinking that Acrylic or Silicon renders that you scratch are a hell of a lot easier?

[@PlasteringForBeginners]

I don't like how they stain over time. I just like to stick to sand cement because it's a time tested method. But you are right...the Silicon renders are a lot easier to be fair.

[@rbaker73]

Why don't you use a Spot Board and Trestle, they increase the speed you can lay on plaster

[@thomasmurray723]

Hi would love to see a video of you rough casting a wall not dry dashing as there seems to be confusion some people wet dash onto the scratch where a laying coat is always what I seen

[@DaveO-Outer-Hebrides-Hunter]

great video brother, I've got an outbuildings 30_40 years old single skin breeze block, would this be classed as lightweight blocks Or not lol ? Cheers Da

[@jonesconrad1]

Thanks mate, perfect timing for me this one. My skimming is improving significantly after watching your other vids.

[@adrianb9743]

Excellent video as I think I might need to render a wall at my new house, as a guide, how much material did you use for that job trying to work how much I would need to get. Thanks again for the tutorials

[@hammerofolympia3716]

There are render calculators online where you put in the length + height and it will tell you how much you will need

[@PlasteringForBeginners]

That's good to know actually. Cheers pal 👍

[@johnpemberton5089]

I like to give the wall a good soaking the night before if I can, depends what the weather is like the next day, especially if its going to be hot & windy.

[@PlasteringForBeginners]

Fair enough matey! It all helps doesn't it 👍

[@ljones396]

Interesting that you use a megamix for render, I always thought spinning cement too quickly killed it, might be codswallop though! I always give the top 2/3rds portions of the walls a bloody good soaking, then the bottom 1/3rds half as much, doesnt bite you in the arse after 5pm still too wet to do anything with, at least that's the theory anyway. Though this time of year youre usually chasing your own arse 😂. Good vid Blaine! p.s I could never get used to those waffled face refina floats 🤦🏻‍♂️

[@PlasteringForBeginners]

It's always been ok for me but I do actually prefer the cement mixer...I just couldn't get it in the back garden ha! That's a good way to look at it...I'll try that pal. Thanks For the heads up 👍 It's great now it's broken in but I must admit it took a while! Thanks you for watching matey. I really appreciate it!

[@bethtp1]

if you leave the mixer going all the time the sharp sand gets less sharp and the mix goes sloppy takes a long time though

[@ljones396]

@@bethtp1 what the fuck 😂🤔

[@darrenrea6541]

Iv been in the building trade for 30+ years and have never done any rendering.I’m going to start a bungalow render job onto brick and block . Do you recommend I seal the surface first or just add an add mix in the render . Thanks

[@karolbianga3631]

Hello Blaine, nice work. Lately instead traditional sand and cement render I`ve used K-Rend HP 12 base coat, two coats with mesh and finished it the same way you`ve finished traditional render on this video. Looks pretty much the same, without Silicone render texture, which still many people don`t like . And I was able to finish it same day, what do you think? Some may call me cowboy, but I`m constantly trying to find new, easier ways to do same old things, maybe You could try it some times? Best Regards. Good Luck out there.

[@shaunjones1682]

Hi Blaine, I watch a lot of your videos and really enjoy them, thanks for taking the time. I’ve been going about a year and they really help. Great how you can admit you’re wrong too, we all make mistakes and these are the best videos for me to learn from. Can I ask 1 question, why didn’t you beads on this video?

[@PlasteringForBeginners]

Thank you mate. I really appreciate your kind words, it means a lot to me! I used one bead for the vertical but I don't really know why I didn't use the other one. just prefer to do it free hand sometimes.

[@shaunjones1682]

Fair enough mate, it was good to see how it’s done without a bead. Suppose it might be good for certain repairs or if you run out. Looked just as crisp.

[@paulashford4155]

Great video... I just tried it for the first time ever on a garden wall in Wales. Wish I watched this first... I am currently.. Rough as hell... : )

[@PlasteringForBeginners]

Haha you can always try again mate. It's always easier the second time...let us know how you get on with It pal 👍

[@MrNest24]

I've got a question for sand and cement, what is the best float, Diamond Face ABS Float, or POLY FLOAT, do you know? I've seen a Refina poly float or thinking about the other?

[@daleo150]

Have you ever used a polyurethane darby for render ,I'm only diy but have found if i give a coat of sbr first helps stop it drying out to quick ,have found your videos great help and had good comments of people on rendering I've done thanks to your help 👍

[@terrygilligan790]

Hi Blaine, another great video. I've done your course on plastering and well worth the money. I taking on a rendering job of my own and I need to insulate the walls too, my question is should I render the wall and add insulation on top or first apply the insulation? I intuitively think insulation first but I wanted any input you have to save me time and money. Thanks in advance Terry

[@shaunjones1682]

Hi Blaine, quick question, what are your thoughts on damp proof course? would you ever render over it, if not, how far above the DPC would you set the beads? Thanks. Shaun.

[@JamesDixon]

Hi Blanie, your rendering videos are top notch, I've followed them and had a go at rendering myself. I wondered, do you ever return to these jobs and paint the render or do you leave that to the client or a painter? Any tips if so?

[@PlasteringForBeginners]

Thank you mate...I really appreciate that! I don't actually do the painting but I know that they tend to use a stabiliser On the Render before painting. Everyone also seems to use the Sandtex paint 👍

[@johnblackburn7673]

Ha I don't do much rendering at all still have my dads wooden float works a treat much better than the modern one's. Only criticism I have and I'm being a bit nit picky. I think I would be using a couple of trestles and a few planks lol get the top on and drop down rather than struggle off a step ladder.

[@master_Blaster91]

How long do you think a 1 coat sand and cement render will last straight on block and brick

[@MarcusT86]

Fucking amazing Blaine. You're an artist with a trowel. That render finish was like glass!

[@PlasteringForBeginners]

Haha thanks Marcus! Hope you're well my friend and thank you for watching. I really appreciate it 👍

[@lewiscushway8743]

Great video I have some rendering to do soon and I haven't done it in bloody years what mix was you using??

[@Sqwotz]

Quick q - what’s the one coat render like from b and q ???

[@ep91monster]

We all make balls ups mate. I've had my fair share. Happens to the best of us. Cracking content as usual though lad 👍🏻

[@PlasteringForBeginners]

Thank you mate. I really appreciate that 👍

[@Blue60]

Hi what’s your thoughts on using Tetrion as a finishing coat when patching large blown render

[@leegorman3329]

What do u think to the refina diamond float compared to the traditional float?

[@artisan998]

Diamond floats are way better for floating it up. It takes less effort to fill in the hollows and leaves a neater more uniform finish than a sponge

[@PlasteringForBeginners]

They take a long time to break in but they are really good when they do! I like mine to be fair...give it a go!

[@jdc9128]

Having to re wet a wall this size spells danger for a decent size end , you could have soaked that wall by letting hose run on it before you knock your mix up ,by the time you mixed up then it would be perfect to lay on , I would put a small section like that completely on before ruling of, fill any hollows and rule of again , have a cup of tea ,sling that diamond face refina in the bin because you won't be able to start floating with that until it's almost to dry and the wall will overtake you , get a lightweight poly float and you could float that whole section before needing to sponge, job done, just my 2cents

[@paultant6741]

Nice one.👍👍👌👌

[@PlasteringForBeginners]

👍👍👍

[@SajidHussain-lj5mr]

Eye lyke plarsterinn 👍

[@dannymeredith4652]

What additive did you put in the scratch coat? Also I'd use a mixer to mix render. The whisk can add to much air to the mix and make it weaker. Also you can then have a mix in the mixer and one in the barrow.

[@johnjtplastering6991]

I been plastering for years but good job buddy

[@PlasteringForBeginners]

I put waterproofers in the mix and I do prefer the cement mixer. I just couldn't get it in the back garden ha! Thanks for watching 👍

[@artisan998]

Do you ever use OCR Blaine just to safe time and effort of the scratch coat and mixing?

[@PlasteringForBeginners]

You know that a lot Of people have mentioned it now. I feel I need to try it because a lot of renderers talk about it! I'll look into it. Cheers pal!

[@Blue60]

How long do you leave it between putting it on and floating

[@joebruniges6478]

Pucka job mate 👍

[@PlasteringForBeginners]

Thank you mate! I appreciate that...cheers 👍

[@rockroll456]

Brilliant bud mint that

[@PlasteringForBeginners]

Thank you mate! I really appreciate that 😊

[@jauld360]

I bet that you made the best sand castles as a kid! You make it look too easy.

[@PlasteringForBeginners]

Haha cheers matey!

[@benlambert1991]

Wicked vid as always! Quick question - I find Lime very hard to mix even with a drill. Often there are little lumps in the mix. Have you ever had that? Any tips to stop it?! Thanks 👌🏼

[@artisan998]

Mix the lime first to get the lumps put then add the sand & cement

[@benlambert1991]

@@artisan998 thanks mate. Mix the lime through dry or wet?

[@artisan998]

Knock it up wet. It's not going to increase the setting time if you over mix it like cement will. It's a pain when it's lumpy. Or to save mucking about use an OCR (pre mixed bagged render). It works out slightly more expensive in materials but saves you in labour costs

[@benlambert1991]

@@artisan998 that’s perfect thanks a lot mate!

[@guybertrand5300]

I would like more info on the hand float and where I can have one .

[@PlasteringForBeginners]

The one I used was the Refina Diamond Float. You'll be able to find it online my friend 👍

[@garybarnett4821]

what mix would you use t o render inside walls?

[@PlasteringForBeginners]

Just a standard mix mate. 4:1 scratch and 5:1 finish 👍

[@robgray9620]

Great video Thankyou

[@PlasteringForBeginners]

Thanks matey!

[@brendanosullivan3664]

Hi Blaine what type of float are you using it's not emir I know they don't make them any more

[@PlasteringForBeginners]

It's a Refina Diamond Float. They take a bit longer to break in but they're great when they do. I really rate it 👍

[@incorrect1844]

How much per square m please?

[@joewestcott1629]

Did you not have any waterproofer in the first coat

[@PlasteringForBeginners]

I did matey 👍

[@eggsoups]

💪

[@jonnyhayes979]

How much would you charge for this?

[@TalencioJamaican]

This took you very long to accomplish. We do this way different in Jamaica. The result is often immaculate too, but we do it the faster ways possible.

[@joshuahall433]

At least you can admit to your mistakes pal....we all mess up from time to time. Admiting that fact helps us learn for next time.

[@MrSmid888]

Mesh and plug system belt n braces nowadays. Once moisture gets behind scratch coats or between coats it will boss. We’ve all seen it. Saying that May I add that removing mesh system renders is a right pain in the ass, cheers. Nice finish 👌🏻

[@PlasteringForBeginners]

You are right mate...once the moisture gets in your doomed! Thank you for watching 👍

[@MrSmid888]

@@PlasteringForBeginners 👌🏻

[@mrvarus8957]

@3:48 Your health is important fella.Is it worth the risk.

[@LstResortXBL]

My problem with rendering is i can never get the timeings right lol

[@PlasteringForBeginners]

That's the tough part mate. It does get easier with time though!

[@MrHadley31]

Please see top

[@songzhou]

我去，话唠

[@paulbrindley3414]

Or you could just paint the wall in masonry paint and never have to pay for rendering again 10 years down the line

[@PlasteringForBeginners]

There's that I suppose. What ever works for you pal!

[@MrHadley31]

Please stop

[@Blue60]

How long do you leave it between putting it on and floating

[@PlasteringForBeginners]

Great explanation my friend 👍

[@Blue60]

@@Berry-fr5wj thanks for the information cheers