Best Mix For Render…FULL GUIDE | Get The PERFECT Mix For Rendering

In this Video we'll show you how to get the best mix for render. This is a massive question that gets asked all of the time and it's very crucial to your success with rendering.
Which is why I'm going to go into great detail on how to get the best mix in rendering. I'm going to show you:
- The best ratio of sand cement for the perfect mix
- The reason why you have 2 coats of render
- My secret recipe for the perfect mix
- The reason why you should use Hydrated Lime...and when to use it
- The different ways you can mix render
- The big exception to the perfect mix and when to use it
- The biggest mistake you can make when mixing render and the consequences you'll face if you get this wrong
And mucho, mucho more!
We're going to go into detail on how to get the perfect mix in rendering. The mix is probably the most important stage to rendering a wall because getting it wrong will lead to complete DISASTER!!
So make sure you watch the video completely because there's some massive lessons to be learnt here!
If you liked this video please like and subscribe to our channel. This way you'll never miss a new video when it's released! Also feel free to leave a comment because we'd love to hear from you!
You can also visit our website for more information on plastering:
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plasteringforbeginners.co.uk
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Thank you for watching. I'll see you on the next one ;)
Cheers.
Blaine Gray,
Plastering For Beginners

[@JohnChuprun]

The hidden key here is the specific Plastering Sand you have access to. This changes wildly based on location, and dramatically changes the mix. So, while your instructions will be good for some people, a lot of others will have trouble if they follow this verbatim unfortunately. They may have to experiment with different types of sands, suppliers, etc. However, excellent video and a great discussion on what it takes to get the results you want! Thanks

[@andrewholdsworth2198]

Thank you for video, I rendered a small wall for the first time yesterday, I was put off because friends say it’s really hard , which it was abit tricky at some points, but following your exact steps, wow I’m so happy with my rendering-thanks again your instructions were very clear

[@dreamsc4pe197]

I learnt plastering in Eastbourne by an old guy an was shown the exact same way as you are saying 14 years later I have had no complaints from any rendering I have done, keep up the good work it's nice to see someone doing proper videos that are not a bodge job. 👍

[@robertengland9352]

Excellent vid just started out in plastering your other’s videos have helped me out been plumbing nearly all my working life but fancied a change it’s a real work out keeping me fit as iam 60 years old but love a challenge keep up the good videos cheers bob england

[@MrMrfrankward]

Thank you. Really learning a lot from these videos. Done a small wall now, can't wait to do the rest.

[@markd3209]

Fantastic and informative. I have searched the web and this is most definitely the best!! Thanks for the time you have put into making the video!!

[@mrboyban]

Great video, it is exactly what I was looking for. Many thanks.

[@johnwealthy6044]

Great video Blaine and ready for rendering a garden wall. I didn't notice how much SBR to put in the water only the 250 ml integral waterproofer per bag of cement.

[@anthonybamber4348]

Simple, clear, straightforward. Thanks

[@PlasteringForBeginners]

Thanks matey!!

[@andyman1032]

great video and explanation you obviously know what you your stuff a major like from me

[@billy4148]

Great advice we'll presented.

[@pawelwilczynski3729]

Nice one! Thanks

[@spatel3783]

Thanks Blaine, very helpful

[@MarcusT86]

Great video as always mate.

[@kevinlee5368]

Blaine that was spot on thanks very much top Man 👍

[@richardjordan7029]

I was going to pick you up about substrates, but you got it in at the end. Good video 👍

[@PlasteringForBeginners]

Glad I managed to cover all bases. Cheers, hope you're well!

[@hannahswann747]

This was a huge help as I have a mix of block and thermalite to render and would have f****d up if not for your excellent instruction. Thank you 👍🙏🌞

[@stuartm8997]

Love your videos. Been plastering 14 years now and never rendered since training. If I was going to render a garden wall of house entrance that has roughcasting, would there be any further stages before the scratch coat to prep the walls?

[@rajputlahore5994]

Amazing guy. Comment about scareface was funny lol. Thank you for your videos. Explained in simple and easy way for those who are not in building trade but enjoy doing home DIY. Wishing you all the very best and keep up the good work. Thanks again. 👍👏🏻

[@PlasteringForBeginners]

Haha thanks matey! Thank you for watching and good luck with your plastering. Cheers 👌

[@jauld360]

The plastering sand i got from Wickes for a small DIY job had lots of small broken stones, which were a pain when sponge floating. The broken stones made the surface look like pebble dash. What's the grading of sand like that you buy?

[@eddiecollins6668]

Brilliant vid mate

[@PlasteringForBeginners]

Cheers matey!

[@davydacounsellor]

Just plastered back of house with extended outhouses all stonework with new windows with concrete block work, the plaster who did the front did a great job but full of cracks, sbr scud with quarry dust, then 5:1:1 sand, cement and lime scratch, then 6:1:1 the outhouses added over time, used a weaker mix to try and cut down on cracking, no waterproofing in scratch as old stonework needs to breath, yeah chased it but fingers crossed no cracks.

[@kilcool01]

Very informative and well presented. Hello from Dingle, Ireland

[@PlasteringForBeginners]

Thank you my friend 👍

[@miker8149]

Thanks great vid

[@aileenjohnson1508]

Just found your video a great video so informative I am hoping to render for the first time on breeze blocks, I also want to render directly on to a brick wall any thoughts, Finally have you ever rendered onto pebbledash is it possible? Thank you again I will follow your future viideos

[@darrylfranklin7490]

Always prefer to leave my scratch coat a few days to cure properly before top coat don’t think a day is enough, Always at least 3 days is rule of thumb, Scratch coat needs to be completely dry , Otherwise it’s still drying behind top coat hence separation between coats, At it 35 years no issues , Always used 4 and 1 and 5 and 1 mixes with additive, Always use a proper cement mixer. Great vid

[@CaptianGaming1]

Thank you

[@dalefixter]

thank you!

[@hamidlyndonynsz681]

Good work

[@chazshier]

Question. What's the maximum depth I can make my scratch coat? If beyond a certain depth, would I essentially need two scratch coats? Trying to render where an external door was and I've removed it and blocked it up.

[@JamesHand-px8fk]

Great videos..

[@mikesearle6710]

Great video 👍

[@PlasteringForBeginners]

Cheers pal!!

[@twillum]

How much SBR are you adding to your scratch to get is sticky? 250ml like the waterproofer? Great video thanks

[@georgiivanov1902]

Great video with firm guidelines, perfect to sort out our front garden wall which is light weight blocks. Thank you 🙌🙌

[@rayking507]

Hi there when you put mesh in your scratch coat can you still scratch it with patterns

[@davidbuchanan3374]

Your using hydrated lime. I'm Pebble dashing my house so is it ok to add lime to the top coat mix or will this affect the stones from sticking?? All advice will greatfully appreciated. Bests wishes. Dave from Northern Ireland..

[@grahamwest8957]

Great video buddy, really helpful. Noticed that your extension lead is still mainly on the reel, I always unreel mine, as the only time i didnt, when using an SDS for a long period, it ended up overheating the coils and they started to melt, as the coils on the reel, sort of act like an electric fire. So my advice to anyone, always unreel your extension cable.

[@PlasteringForBeginners]

Very good point! I'll bear that in mind...thank you pal. Hope you're well 👍

[@Known-unknowns]

Unnecessary most of the time. We never uncoil the electric lead. If you are using short burst of power ie drill, even a plastering mixer the lead won’t go past tepid heat. Uncoil it if you are using a cement mixer , but even then I’ve never felt the cable go hot. I suppose if the mixer was on all day it might but you won’t find a labourer working that hard. All that cable in a nest on the floor sounds like a trip hazard to me. People talk bs.

[@grahamwest8957]

Can't see how a recommendation is talking BS. Each to their own...

[@nickrider815]

Do you not use pva on air blocks? Also I have no end of trouble explaining to builder merchants what sand I want. I just work with what I can get.

[@thomasryan8358]

We always put a shovel of lime in the finish coat here in Ireland gives it lovely white finish

[@brendanosullivan3664]

Hi Blaine I always at ad lime to the finish coat of sand and cement because if goes against you you speard a of water with a brush but a final coat of sand and cement with lime is 3 sand 1 cement one lime Blaine that's how my father done it and he taught me

[@PlasteringForBeginners]

Sounds bang on my friend! Thanks for the comment ☺️

[@grahamekenyon5817]

Hi blaine you mentioned 250ml of waterproofer to the scratch coat, sand cement,, but how much sbr do we add,? to scratch coat.. also blaine do i have wet the wall (old ( brick gable) even when i,ve coated it with RenderGrip?? 👍🤔🤔

[@juliapayne3312]

Greetings from Hastings 😊 can you let me know which plastering sand is best? Where from? Most review say b and a , wickes etc have big stones and no good. I am so stuck. Pls reply and let me know.

[@jamescamplin8512]

How can I stop the rippling when putting on render? I'm trying to learn as I go.

[@elizabethverity3873]

hi this might be a silly question but what are the weights of the bags of the fine grain sand and the cement as i live in France and maybe different sizes. ? Thanks like your video well explained .

[@PlasteringForBeginners]

The bags here are all roughly 25kg mate - good question actually... definitely worth asking 👍

[@stewartkeeble2371]

Thanks for the info great stuff. Quick question, if you’ve rendered the scratch coat on a Friday and can’t get too the top coat until Monday would you prime the 1st coat with unibond / sbr or just wet down well and render the top as usual!! Cheers 👍👍

[@PlasteringForBeginners]

Not a problem! Thanks for watching. A good hose down before starting is more than enough mate - you don't need to use anything else 👍

[@markjones8437]

Another excellent vid. Have you tried 12mm polypropylene fibres in the scratch ?? Basecoat will be less prone to cracking and failing. Brilliant for screeds and concrete too. Having said this it's difficult to get any meaningful quantity of materials at the moment ............world has gone mad...Who would have thought that cement would ever be in short supply......

[@PlasteringForBeginners]

A good renderer I know used to put fibres in his scratch and I don't really know why I never adopted it to be honest mate. It's a good reminder though so thank you Ha tell me about it. It can't be good if there's a shortage in timber and cement...what would get done ha! Great hearing from you. Cheers 👍

[@Justino_de_Paula]

Cracking vid. Cheers Blaine. (When you say put a little SBR in the scratch coat, how much do you mean?)

[@PlasteringForBeginners]

Cheers matey! Just a few swigs...not too much. Just enough to give some grip to the mix. Hope this helps my friend 👍

[@christopheclarke1955]

In buckets is it still 4 buckets to one cement for the scratch coat?

[@seanbrown..brownsbuildings1424]

Great videos . Would you still use lime and rendamix , if dry dashing . Thanks

[@PlasteringForBeginners]

I would mate. I think it ask helps 👍

[@neilrollason]

I was taught 5.1.1 scratch and 6.1.1 top. Also with render mix you shouldn't use lime,as it over aireates the mix according to Feb technical department.

[@aquatechplumbingandheating7526]

Iv built garden seating area I want to render would it be good to sbr the blocks then 4-1 scrach coat then 5-1-1. On top coat

[@gemmaeuden8179]

Hi, what mix would you recommend for limestone building? Any videos with these types of buildings (converted church) :)

[@PlasteringForBeginners]

I'll be honest, you're best asking a specialist in Lime render. I wouldn't want to provide false information...sorry I can't help!

[@lukewalker7305]

Hi mate i'm in Australia and our extreme temperatures are all over the shop with highs and lows, can you put hydrated lime or anything else in a basic cement render mix to help with cracking ?

[@PlasteringForBeginners]

Hi mate. Yeah, I always use Hydtated Lime in my mix would definately help with the higher temperatures. Great hearing from you 👍

[@frankiez7414]

with all the new systems available like K Rend and the Johnstone"s system etc, there are many options to the numbers of coats.I get that you are talking about traditional renders here. In Germany we used a bagged premixed render which was a one coat system, sprayed, machined or hand applied.The premixed systems are far better. Most of the uk has houses all with cracked renders with its cement based two coat systems with lottery mixes. You are right with your mixes but why use traditional mixes and not the modern silicone based or pre bagged renders available today ? Britain is a bit behind the times with some building techniques and materials.

[@LukesDIYSchool]

What mix would you use for mud bricks? 7 or 8 to 1 cement 1 lime?

[@elmarieward22]

What's the ratio of accelerator to speed up the top coat.

[@werdna21]

Hi Mate, Few questions:- With the top coat, do you add the Lime after you've mixed the Sand/Cement and Rendamix? With regards to water, how much do you add do begin with in the bath? If I added say 3 buckets and its too thick, its ok to then just keep adding water until its the right consistency isnt it? Also, how long goes the render last in the bath when not on the wall? Do you get enough time to use it? Not like Multi where it goes off like a rocket lol

[@Rureal42]

You put the lime in at the same time as the rest of your materials mate.

[@davidfarquhar2180]

Really appreciating the videos, How do you manage to get any work done?.... I can't get plastering sand anywhere 😫 Do you have any idea when the shortages in building supplies will be resolved? At this rate I'm just going to have to use wooden cladding on my garden retaining wall! Would soft building sand be a suitable alternative? Cheers

[@desimundainuk5617]

Try selco. I got mine straight away

[@davidfarquhar2180]

@@desimundainuk5617 cheers, appreciate the help but there's not a Selco in Scotland and I'm just a diy'er so can't get a trade account. I keep trying all building merchants near me, even B&Q and Wickes but still no joy. I've done my back in so will be next year now before I will be able to do it.

[@stevenolivero5207]

I'm wondering how long to leave between coats and do you prime the wall with something or just wet it just before the second coat

[@PlasteringForBeginners]

I like to leave it for 1 day between coats. You can prime the walls with SBR before rendering but water is often enough.

[@liamquayle5082]

Hi someone did a scratch coat on my.walls 3sand 1cerment...what would I use for a top coat thanks

[@PlasteringForBeginners]

It’s quite strong that so I’d probably go 5:1:1 for the top coat👍

[@r00tginger]

How many litres does that bath hold? loving these vids 👍

[@martinslater952]

Hi Blaine, will the top coat adhere properly to the scratch coat if you've waterproofed it. Thanks.

[@deaosatori216]

What did you discover in the end?

[@1968krug]

Hi, I’m rendering an indoor brick kitchen with arches. I wonder if one coat of render would suffice?( some indoor walls Dad rendered with what appears to be one coarse coat half a century ago still look perfect..) I assume no mesh or waterproofers etc? Thank you

[@garycooper227]

How do you renda on to plywood

[@paulashford4155]

Enjoyable!!!

[@PlasteringForBeginners]

Thanks mate!

[@peterlumper5376]

What's the recipe for internal rendering of 9" solid brick walls? Can't find it anywhere but must be needed for lots of 1930's housing. Keep seeing people mentioning the need to 'breath' and use lime but what's the point if the outside has been rendered in cement???

[@geewilliams2178]

Thanks mate. Getting ready to render a 1m X 10m retaining wall but I made it with Engineering bricks. Do I need to paint sbr on first or do anything different here?

[@leedavis7663]

You should apply Weber rend aid or rendergrip primer first. Engineers are not ideal to render over.

[@PlasteringForBeginners]

Exactly that Lee. Bang on!

[@geewilliams2178]

@@PlasteringForBeginners thanks ai already have SBR can i paint that on instead? or add to the mix as an additive ?

[@johnpainter1163]

Would you use this method if doing an internal walls for scratch coat? Then skim onto of that

[@PlasteringForBeginners]

It's pretty much the same pal 😉

[@bee8583]

How do I calculate how much sand and cement I need based on the size of the area being rendered?

[@seanyharp]

Hi Blaine..could you do a video on K rend?

[@PlasteringForBeginners]

I'll look into it pal! Cheers 😊

[@bb6075]

How much water are you using for each coat?

[@uniquelytrained4950]

I’m gonna attempt to render my garden wall…what do you 4:1:1/2 …like 4kgs, 4 bags? Also how much water do you add? I plan on following all your tips. Could you show us a picture of the brands and cement etc you use?

[@jakebonner7855]

It doesn't matter as long as it is 4 to 1 it can be shovels or buckets as long as they are roughly the same size .If you are using a cement mixer just put half a bucket of water in first with sbr and waterproofing in it and then just add water through the mix as you need it.

[@scottbutler5667]

How much SBR do you add?

[@user-bf9zo9kr2r]

What type of cement do you use?

[@thebeginnersworkshop3094]

Please can you do a video on K rend from start to finish. I’ve just had my house started and it’s a horrendous job. I had to ask him to stop and not come back. He also did the gable end in sand and cement and it’s like artex!

[@benllewellyn1887]

Same as conventional render but comes pre mixed and finished with a metal scratch float.

[@thebeginnersworkshop3094]

@@benllewellyn1887 Thanks Ben but a video would be informative.

[@1414141x]

Do you ever apply pva to a wall before you put on the scratch coat. I know you use PVA on celings before putting bonding coat, but you have not advised using PVA on a wall. Sometimes you may be rendering a wall that has old paint on it so it would seem beneficial to put on PVA to help the scratch coat adhere to the surface..

[@PlasteringForBeginners]

Never use PVA for rendering mate. It's better to use a product called SBR - this is what you should use for rendering. And try to avoid rendering into paint unless you use a specific primer like Rendagrip 👍

[@kevinmccarrick7429]

How much SBR would you use?

[@treenahally4358]

Monster energy drink for the plasterer and a wee diddy bit thrown into the render mix is the ultimate mix😂

[@Bennett123100]

I find weeing into the mix after drinking a Monster works even better ;)

[@hectorskmetija3015]

I did a NVQ plastering course centuries ago. But only for my own homes. Hadn't done it for......? Just been patching my old farm house with crumbling bricks. Oops been doing it completely wrong, so now wait for it to fall off 🤣🤣🤣 Should have seen this first, not half way through.

[@ashleycollier]

Do you still PVA/SBR the brick walls?

[@PlasteringForBeginners]

I usually put SBR onto existing brickwork pal!

[@jammybap]

Why would you use rendamix in the top coat and not SBR, does the increased sand content in the topcoat not ensure its still weaker even with SBR?

[@PlasteringForBeginners]

It’s not to make the mix weaker. It’s just not great finishing with SBR in the mix - I prefer Rendamix but that’s just my opinion pal 👍

[@frankiegunner3380]

What about for inside?

[@joseeduardobarrundia332]

Que marca es tu plato????

[@kf5541]

Base 3+1+1 (3 Leighton buzzard+ 1 plastering sand + 1 Portland cement + Bostik W.P) Top 3+2+1+.5 (3 Leighton buzzard+ 2 plastering sand + 1 Portland cement + .5 hydrated lime Bostik W.P)

[@samiramohamad8727]

Great video. Can I use this mix on fibro walls?

[@PlasteringForBeginners]

I'll be honest, I don't know what that is. Hopefully someone reading can help...sorry I couldn't answer your question pal!

[@Freefajter]

should i use waterproofing liquid indoors?

[@PlasteringForBeginners]

It depends on the situation but I don’t think it’ll do any harm!

[@omarnaja508]

I saw you adding SBR to the mix, isn't that harmful ?

[@JohnBrown-sn3kh]

Why would it be harmful?

[@alanyoung7532]

Really respect your workmanship and attention to detail, however I am not convinced that you are wholly right on the mix because this needs to vary in accordance with both the background and also the exposure level. In the case of old solid walls, cement render with a water-proofer will prevent them from drying outwards by evaporation - old buildings need to breath as SPAB point out in their guide. For anyone interested, obtaining reliable guidance on actually selecting render this can be found in Building Research Establishment publication “Good Building Guide No 18” (Choosing external rendering) as this provides information on such matters as suitable preparation options, appropriate mixes for different backgrounds and exposure levels, and examples of good detailing.

[@parycash]

Thanks Blaine, When mixing the SBR and Waterproofer, it says on each label, it is best to mix in the full amount of gauging water. 1. How much water/ litres (approximately) do you put in the mixing tub per mix or at least you start with. 2. How much SBR in the scratch coat per mix? 3. On lightweight blocks, before scratch coat and mesh, do you apply/ paint a slurry of SBR/Water/Sand.

[@PlasteringForBeginners]

Hi matey. I usually start with 1 bucket of water, I just use a few swigs of SBR (you don't want too much) and I usually use Rendagrip on Light weight blocks before rendering. Hope this helps pal 👍

[@alanmcgaughey]

You'll get better results with the hydrated lime if you premix it with water into a putty 24 hours earlier... especially if you try and throw it into a mixer in powder form... 😆 How are you gauging the lime, by weight? I always gauge by volume with the putty.

[@Adultsleep]

But how much water?

[@CJessie007]

Would you use this mix internally?

[@haggardfalcone]

Can you do a video on rendering a curved wall?

[@neilrawlinson8090]

Only a small amount of waterproofer in scratch for me,,no lime just plenty of plastersicer ,in top coat,,cement mixer to...half building half rendering sand on scratch coat,,always sbr before top coat..on the rendering needs staberliser be for painted...that Feb stuff is good....think k rend is the way forward..cheers as long as we get paid lol

[@AndyMacsworkshop]

How much water do you use

[@Louisthesaxman1]

No rule of thumb for this because sometimes the sand is much wetter than others. If you're using 4 buckets of sand and 1 cement I'd normally start with about 3/4 bucket of water and add extra as needed.

[@AndyMacsworkshop]

@@Louisthesaxman1 thank you

[@davidellis5964]

I remember everybody used sharp-sand which is more durable, or 4 plastering sand and 1 sharp 1 of cement for scratch coat and pit and plastering for top coat. Don't you find the plastering sand drags in the top coat. Most water proofing additive's have plasticiser.

[@TheRsrunner]

What would you use on a old stone bungalow?

[@PlasteringForBeginners]

I wouldn't use sand/ cement pal. I'd use a traditional Lime render for stone walls matey 👍

[@epec20]

Wow that accent. Its like Northern, London, urban, ghetto

[@ImranHussain-tn5xm]

Lime and cement don't mix so why would you use the combo?

[@rossmcleod7983]

And yet, I hear people are hacking off their cement render and replacing with lime render so the building can breathe.

[@villaman2261]

Why not use lime in your scratch mix Then this allows moment in brick or block work

[@PlasteringForBeginners]

This is Hydrated lime which is more for workability rather than flexibility 👍