Rendering Series #1 SCRATCH COAT (How To Mix Render/ Application/ Rendering Tips & Tricks)

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One major part of plastering is learning to how to render a wall.
which is why were creating a whole series dedicated to Rendering. This is a massive subject which takes a lot of practice to get right. You have to make sure your timings are right, you follow the right process and you need to develop the right skills to become successful with your work.
However, this video will walk you through the full the first step...applying the scratch coat. There are 4 major steps.
1. Applying the scratch coat
2. Applying the top coat
3. Ruling the render flat
4. Float and sponge the render to a tradition finish!
These are the 4 major steps you will need to take to learn how to render a wall. We’ll walk you through the whole event and show you everything you need to know over the next few weeks.
Wether your learning as a trade or simply wanting to render your own house, we’ll show you everything so you can start.
If you liked this video please like and subscribe and feel free to leave a comment below.
Cheers.
Thanks for watching.
Blaine
Partnering For Beginners

[@steved6472]

I actually sat through this and I’m a bloody spray renderer lol and I enjoyed it ! It’s my weekend off and I’m watching render videos 👍

[@Russ1007]

Great video mate, looking to render my brick garden wall and this has give me the confidence to try it, I'll look forward to the next video, 👍

[@nellychaz7037]

This was very satisfying to watch

[@rhysedwardsrdplastering5679]

great work again mate! always good to see a fellow spread enjoying the job

[@PlasteringForBeginners]

Cheers pal. I really appreciate that!

[@hudi42]

appreciate the good work and the time to share it with us. I learn a lot from your videos. cheers from Israel

[@PlasteringForBeginners]

Thank you so much for watching my friend!!

[@murraycooper2655]

Thank you for putting your channel together to teach beginners such as myself. Your experience and method of teaching is very well received, especially here in Australia… keep up the great work

[@PlasteringForBeginners]

Thank you for your kind words my friend…I really appreciate it. Cheers…great hearing from you!

[@martinjames4064]

Brilliant, just magic 😃

[@paulfleming8348]

Another quality job mate. U make it look easy. 👍👍

[@PlasteringForBeginners]

Cheers matey!! It's doesn't always feel that way 😂

[@peterquinn6377]

Blaine as a complete novice and after watching a few videos on rendering yours is awesome brother Thank you 👏🏻👏🏻🙌🏼 - great warm intro to the steps - Quality

[@PlasteringForBeginners]

Thank you so much! I really appreciate that - cheers 👍

[@tonysingh2627]

Super recorded video...so much extra information provided.... definitely going to have a go after seeing this excellent vid!!!! cheers

[@PlasteringForBeginners]

Cheers mate! I really appreciate that...thank you!

[@ep91monster]

Top job as usual mate! 👍🏻

[@PlasteringForBeginners]

Cheers pal!

[@tobybeswick36]

Great video, and couldn't have come at a better time as i'm about to do my first rendering in the next few days!

[@PlasteringForBeginners]

Good luck mate!!

[@kasimpivano943]

Eagerly awaiting the 2nd part to this video Blain 👍🏽

[@kasimpivano943]

Blain when are we getting the 2nd part to this video please mate?

[@jonathanmcrae3728]

Appreciate the tutorial vids you do. Nice job 👍👌

[@PlasteringForBeginners]

Thank you for watching my friend! Cheers 👍

[@dm7325]

Love your practical ideas and simple solutions

[@PlasteringForBeginners]

Thanks mate!!

[@dm7325]

No my pleasure even my wife watches it so thanks again best instruction out there by a mile !! You couldn't show me a picture of the drip bead you'd use on the old building? Thanks

[@fergilism]

Great video

[@mattWallJsy]

Always good to watch! Fancy a holiday in Jersey 🇯🇪 😎 👌

[@PlasteringForBeginners]

Mate, I had family in Jersey. I used to go every year... beautiful country! I love it there!

[@mattWallJsy]

@@PlasteringForBeginners I used to live near Hastings too! Funny how things change. 👍🏼

[@hotdogpaul395]

Great watch and a big help! Im doing a small rendering job today never done it before not even plastered do I’m a complete beginner lol! You make it look easy

[@ustaadaadam]

Hello can I do it too, have you did it well

[@willm437]

Wow looking cool mate

[@PlasteringForBeginners]

Cheers pal!

[@Mr-vm2lo]

Watched vid twice now pal like all your vids keep them up too work

[@PlasteringForBeginners]

Thank you so much mate! I really appreciate that 😊

[@crigdastig91]

Blaine mate that was a really brilliant execution in rendering that big wall without a labourer that must of been hard on the body, great little series cant wait to watch what you have in store for everyone 😀 keep up your good work buddy 👍 great inspiration

[@PlasteringForBeginners]

Thanks pal - it can be tough without a labourer but it keeps me young ha! Thank you so much for watching and I look forward to sharing the rest of the series 😁

[@torvaldalexander4906]

Thanks Brother, fantastic efforts with knowledge passed on. Respect from still "scared plaster "will set before I get to it even though it never has .

[@PlasteringForBeginners]

Thank you for watching my friend! I really appreciate it 👍

[@anythinggoes9049]

Top job mate.

[@PlasteringForBeginners]

Thank you mate!!

[@MarcusT86]

Rendering series? Oh wow I am in!!

[@PlasteringForBeginners]

Cheers matey! hope you're well my friend 👍

[@l.pcarpentry321]

Brilliant videos you explain every thing clearly lucky chap who ever is you apprentice I am a chippy and going to tackle a wall in the garden cheers

[@PlasteringForBeginners]

Thanks mate...it’s great to hear that it’s helped! Good luck with your Rendering and thank you for watching

[@jonathanhall8656]

You make that look too bloody easy!!!

[@jeffyoung321]

Cracking job.

[@PlasteringForBeginners]

Thanks pal 👍

[@jamespalin92]

Great video mate, s&c rendering is a dying art! You was right in explaining why we work right to left when applying render but also we work right to left so that we are keeping our thickness consistent (always working into the thickness applied) if we was to go from left to right we work away from the thickness we started with and can fade away into a shallower thickness. Keep up the good work mate, I enjoy watching your videos strangely with this being what I do daily you’d think I’d have had enough come evenings and weekends 😂

[@PlasteringForBeginners]

Thank you so much for the insight mate. It makes do much sense - I really appreciate it! Cheers pal...you're a legend 👍

[@amanurrahman9362]

Agreed. 💯 I believe we always 😮 everyday we learn 👍🏽

[@ljones396]

Loved the Napoleon Dynamite music when you were applying the scratch. Tidy work, Blane 😎

[@PlasteringForBeginners]

Hahaha what a film 🤣

[@nathanmurfin6024]

You're vids are great and informative. Thanks. Do you as lime at all to your top coats?

[@leerolfe5332]

Blaine man you truely are a good spread! Chuck a pair of tidy wellies in the van for future tho matey ;)

[@rockroll456]

Awesome bud

[@PlasteringForBeginners]

Cheers pal!!

[@rafmo7413]

I was taught to SBR the wall and use plasticiser in the mix, could it be done that way. Also how much would you charge for rendering on this job, labour only, I really struggle with pricing a job.

[@amanurrahman9362]

Weather proof Boots hit him up. Let see who what top ten in the world reply 😊 top podcast love this guy

[@johnrawlings1972]

A man who works with his hands is a laborer; a man who works with his hands and his brain is a craftsman; but a man who works with his hands and his brain and his heart is an artist. ... cos that is my friend.

[@PlasteringForBeginners]

I like that!

[@MrRumbing]

G'day, What do you reccomend for stripping paint off of blocks? HCL or TSP, maybe something else?

[@ukpipeline]

Great video, thanks for posting. Any thoughts on applying an SBR / cement mix to wall to act as primer or adhesion aid?

[@PlasteringForBeginners]

Thanks matey! They do a lot of it in Ireland and even NZ when I worked there...Scudding I think they call it. Like I said, I did it in NZ but not much over here my friend.

[@thomasshirley1743]

That's old school tanking mix for waterproofing sub floors and damp problems it's not used anymore due to in a bag tanking products

[@user-tr3hk1ot1o]

Thank you so much for your video. How long do you need to wait for the second rendering?

[@MG-qs5zq]

Hi Blain. Big fan here.Your doing great work. A small additional video or a verbal instructional on old style cottage rendering would be greatly appreciated. I have the scratch coat done, thanks to you and the finish will be with a bubble or wavey like effect, like the whitewashed walls of old. Nobody on the net has done one of these and it would be great if you were the first. Cheers

[@PlasteringForBeginners]

That's a great idea...I'll look into it my friend! Thank you for watching 👍

[@jeremybuckley6176]

Thanks for the video! Some really handy tips for a DIYer like myself. Can you let me know how long you let the render cure before you screed it with the straight edge? Cheers

[@PlasteringForBeginners]

To be honest there's no set time with rendering...it all depends on the substrate your working on so I couldn't say a definitive time my friend.

[@tommason485]

Can you do a full tutorial on dot and dabbing me and my friend could do with a few pointers and also tips for heads and reveal would be appreciated

[@grababadger]

Hi, great videos...very educational. Any ideas on how to rectify a situation where you have very little depth left against the bead after doing the scratch coat? I rendered about half the thickness of the bead, but after I scarred it, the height of the scratch coat increased. I’ve now very little depth to rule against my top coat. Any ideas would be greatly appreciated.

[@PlasteringForBeginners]

You can try to scrape the high spots left over from the scratch. That should give you a little more room but if not, you'll have to hack a bit back. Good luck pal, hope it goes well 👍

[@blackesteyes1133]

Hi Blaine, nice explanation as always. 👌 I'm just wondering why you bridged the dpc with the render?, I always finish with a bead just above dpc.

[@cephalotus59]

I was thinking that - where's the drip bead? Much neater finish.

[@ertaszorlu4756]

very hard work my friend... on the big wall, there is something in the middle. Is that a guid to help skimming?

[@adamprice9214]

Nice video.. do you wet up the block work 1st especially if like now it's been dry for days on end and how much? Also how soon do you get on and scratch coat after wetting g up the walls.. thanks, I'm a chippy by trade and a noob to this game 😀 your work looks spot on btw 👌 👍

[@TheTotalCatfish]

How long is the normal apprenticeship for plastering? Also how long after you completed your apprenticeship did you decide to fly solo?

[@JamesKooper]

Great watching a good renderer at work. Don't think it was mentioned but what sand did you use for the scratch; do you change the sand ratio between first and second coat? Also ever do any work on firewalls?

[@PlasteringForBeginners]

Hi mate! Plastering sand all the way through and it's 4:1 scratch and 5:1 Top coat 👍

[@kristianwhittall6490]

Hi there Have a building company that does a lot of K rend in Blackpool, yes I know its not the best near the coast but everyone in the trade installs it. I picked up on your use of 15mm beads.......ok so I get nipped on price all there time because I only use 15mm beads minimum. lots of jobs I go around undercut my company by using 10mm bead or even less. It doesn't last and I would love you to comment on your thought on using a lesser size bead. thanks

[@adamprice9214]

I've also got some hydrated le and keep reading everywhere that my mix should be 6:1:1 6 plastering sand 1 cement and 1 lime.. also unsure what adds I should be using with lime as there are so many different opinions out there.. thanks for any help in advance 🙏 👍

[@nicklloyd8191]

Hi can you tell me can you use building sand for rendering or is there a better sand as l have been told not to use building sand as it tends to crack.thanks nick9toes

[@chchedda]

Nice video mate. 1. What's the white thing running down the middle of the wall. Expansion bead? 2. What you put in mix apart from waterproofer

[@PlasteringForBeginners]

It's power for a light feed and for the scratch it's 4 sand, 1 cement, waterproofers and a little bit of SBR. Hope this helps pal 👍

[@75clarkejones]

Any need for scudding before scratch coat ? My shed is 4" solids, built 6 mths ago. Thanks.

[@lewiscallaghan1421]

How do you render right to the floor? Do you bridge the dpc or use beads in between the dpc?

[@PlasteringForBeginners]

I often use stop bead (plastic) above the DPC and render it in or you can use a drip bead you like. It just depends on what the client wants really

[@jamieb1826]

Yes Blaine. Another great video. Did you do the foundations and lay the blockwork on this job did you say ??

[@PlasteringForBeginners]

Cheers pal! No sorry...I rendered the whole house last year. I'm no Brickie 😂

[@chriswhite2184]

You should have a whack with one of them dewalt 54v mixing drill banging bit of kit

[@plummetplum]

How did you fix beads? Thanks

[@dm7325]

About to render the wall of an old cottage - what would you advise mix-wise? And would you recommend using a drip bead? Cheers

[@PlasteringForBeginners]

Same mix and I'd probably use a drip bead on an oldder building 👍

[@chrisswan3986]

Have you broke in the nela trowel yet?. Got same trowel and its a pain to break in keep going bake to the Marshalltown

[@paulos78]

Proper!

[@barringtonsmythe3464]

Hi Blaine, do you ever use K rend or Weber monocouche. Be good to see a video on that if you do

[@PlasteringForBeginners]

I don't really mate...if I do, I'll post a video 👍

[@hughespaintingdecorating3348]

Great vid, can I patch pebbledash onto breezeblock? If so how mate?

[@PlasteringForBeginners]

Watch this video for rendering onto breeze blocks pal 👍 kzbin.info/www/bejne/mWqnY62vaJZ2p5I

[@vinrobinson75]

If the second coat is poor and dried what options have I?

[@monami5201]

I can see there is no roof on in this situation so understand why you rendered, but internally In what circumstances would you use render instead of hardwalll on a brick or block wall. What are the benefits?

[@brendanosullivan3664]

Hi Blaine just watching using your mixing drill to sand and cement do you not have a mixer do you not use lime in your mix of sand and cement I all always do I find it spead better

[@PlasteringForBeginners]

I do have a mixer but I just prefer the bath - you can get a lot more in there which is the bonus and no lime in the scratch 😉

[@desimundainuk5617]

Quick question can I ask why you don't apply pva glue?

[@davidellis5964]

You didn't mentioned the sand you use. ? which is important. I use Pit sand and Sharp sand for the scratch coat and pit with a handful of sharp for the top-coat. I know years ago the old plasterers used sharp sand only, better for durability and water proofing but not good for a fine finish.

[@petermurphy4662]

How was beads put on, ie s&c or nailed

[@michaelrodgers7742]

Nice work pal..do you work on your own.?

[@rafmo7413]

Great video, I noticed that you didn't go over the white capping, does that matter at all? I guess that'll get covered with the next top coat?

[@PlasteringForBeginners]

Yeah it will be covered in the next coat my friend 👍

[@rafmo7413]

@@PlasteringForBeginners thanks, did you use anything as a guide when ruling off? How do you know how thick it is and ensure that's the even thickness over all of it? I've ruled off before and just did it by eye to ensue it was at least straight, looks like this is what you did too?

[@jamesbrooadley9534]

How long would you allow this to set for? Also what temperature ranges?

[@PlasteringForBeginners]

I would go back and finish it the next day as long as it wasn't raining. You can finish render the same day if you have enough time...some say it's actually better that way.

[@richardmacdougall6330]

Do you not wet the wall before coating it .

[@doughtyp86]

First off, great videos, I'm learning a lot! Just a few questions. 1. You say you use 15mm beading, is that how far it sticks out of the wall edges? 2. For the scratch coat, it's not to the entire depth of the beading right? 3. Finally, when you do the top coat, am I right in thinking that the very edge of the wall is still beading, i.e. you don't completely cover the beading edge with render? Do you just paint the beading and wall and it blends in so it's not obvious it's beading?

[@scraige3232]

Paul, did you ever get a reply to you questions? I'm in the same place as you were then. Any advice would be appreciated. Thanks mate, Ste

[@doughtyp86]

@@scraige3232 I didn’t get a reply unfortunately no. I haven’t attempted anything this year either as I’ve had too much on. Maybe next year!

[@blackhoundrise8431]

We plan to skim our ceiling in all rooms with artex. However I’m worried that the noisey stomper neighbours above me might make the skim fall down with their banging and hyper active kids. Is that a concern or over thinking in my part?

[@brandonwavish4321]

Overthinking. As long as it’s done properly you’ll be fine

[@giggitygoo3945]

Will you be covering the render in case it rains blaine thanks

[@PlasteringForBeginners]

I always check the forecast the day before and try to avoid any rendering if rain is due. It's not worth the stress pal.

[@dennishegdahl8616]

Hi, I'm trying to help my daughter and son-in-law with a old wall outside the front of their house. It's a 3 foot high by about 15 foot long project. This is a old wall and has been rendered before ( Many,... many years ago ). The question is, can this be re-rendered ( for lack of the correct word ) or do I need to chip it all off. I enjoy your videos and thank you for any help, ideas and etc in advance.

[@rome3766]

Did you get an answer to your question? Have you had the job done, did you have to rip off the old render of render over it. I'm in the same boat. Cheers

[@billyt9921]

Have you got any experience with modern coloured renders? How do they compare to traditional sand n cement render, in terms of application?

[@PlasteringForBeginners]

I've used Acrylic Renders and the common Monocouche but I'll be honest, I just stick to S/C. It's probably easier to use the coloured renders but I just like using the old school methods mate.

[@flippinheck]

Nice work, however there are so many ways and mixes for rendering it's difficult to say which is best, I find 4/1 ok for block but would use 3/1 for old brick, some scratch with soft sand and top coat with a grit, SBR again some use some don't, it wasn't always around, then there's the very best render, lime render, but that's very rarely done as it's almost gone but lime mortar has made a huge comeback, nice work though

[@matthewarthur9638]

How long does it take to mix in the bath? Is it quicker? Or just easier to take around than a belle mixer?

[@PlasteringForBeginners]

I'll be honest, it's probably easier with a Belle mixer but it doesn't hold as much. If you have a labourer, go for the mixer pal 👍

[@PlasteringForBeginners]

I'll be honest, it's probably easier with a Belle mixer but it doesn't hold as much. If you have a labourer, go for the mixer pal 👍

[@rome3766]

Can you render over old render. Or would you need to break all the old render off back to brick and start again?

[@PlasteringForBeginners]

Ideally you'd having it off and start again matey 👍

[@kasimpivano943]

Blain what sand is that your using, doesn’t look like plastering sand to me?

[@PlasteringForBeginners]

It's Sandgate Plastering sand - it's brilliant stuff. A bit more expensive but worth the money 👍

[@elloco271]

4 to 1 ratio do you gage in a bucket or just put 2 bags of plastering sand in with 1 bucket of cement blaine?

[@M.A.691]

You can use shovel to size the portion of 4-1

[@mikejackson6511]

Great video as always buddy, did you use plastering sand?

[@PlasteringForBeginners]

Hi Mike! Yeah pal I did. I always use plastering sand for rendering. Hope you're well my friend 👍

[@mikejackson6511]

@@PlasteringForBeginners i did wonder as the sand looked a red ish colour. Cant wait to see the next vid with the top coats going on. Im good thanks buddy hope you guys are too and hope your all enjoying your first mothers day together. 👍🏼

[@tomo3509]

It would be really good to see you make a video on how to render using Weber monocouche. For a novice like myself it feels like there is less to go wrong when compared to sand and cement.

[@kingsleylincoln339]

i guess it is kinda off topic but do anybody know a good place to watch newly released series online ?

[@bentleyrowen79]

@Kingsley Lincoln I dunno I use Flixportal. you can find it thru google :D -bentley

[@kingsleylincoln339]

@Bentley Rowen thank you, signed up and it seems like a nice service :D Appreciate it!

[@bentleyrowen79]

@Kingsley Lincoln Glad I could help :)

[@psgardens]

If you were scratch rendering a large area would it all need to be done in one go of could you do left side one do right side the next?

[@PlasteringForBeginners]

It doesn't matter with the scratch coat because you'll never see the join. However the top coat needs to be done in one hit 👍

[@PlasteringForBeginners]

It doesn't matter with the scratch coat because you'll never see the join. However the top coat needs to be done in one hit 👍

[@ryanwalker7289]

Haven’t you bridged the damp course here ?

[@taherakhan7044]

What was the reason for the plastic beading over the metal ones?

[@PlasteringForBeginners]

I prefer plastic mate. They don't rust, they're cheaper and are a lot better in the elements. Big winners in eyes 👍

[@poepflater]

Consider getting a helper... before lockdown I was doing everything myself and had long lead times and low volumes... In lockdown, I appointed 4 young guys and taught them how to do the work... had to get rid of two of them due to their work ethic, but the two that are left have swollen our turnover by loads and we can turn out jobs in a fraction of the time it used to take. Doig that wall would kill my body... too old now.

[@Mr-vm2lo]

👍👍👍

[@TheSqueak11]

What type of sand do you use

[@PlasteringForBeginners]

Plastering sand pal 👍

[@Matrixresin]

Always thought use a sharp sand for scratch coat ?

[@PlasteringForBeginners]

You can add sharp sand if you like - I just used Plastering sand pal 👍

[@MrAjmorley1]

Why don’t you put SBR in the top coat?

[@nickydavies4]

Is that the insulation filling that cavity that internal wall will be damp as any cavity should have an air flow gap the out side wall is all ways ur wet wall and the inside is always ur dry wall in a few years time when the water proofer starts to fail in the render and water starts to soak in to the wall it will soak the insulation and make the inside wall damp this is why u had so many problems when they started pumping cavity full of the beads then spent millions getting it all back out all cavity need air flow and a gap between wet wall and insulation

[@markfoulds7665]

Hi all I literally have never done this put like to have a go at everything. I want to buy one of them terraline machines to splatter on meaning the top cost will hide everything! So my question is would I do the same as this video for the first coat ?then what mix would I put into the terraline box? Thanks again

[@PlasteringForBeginners]

You should always apply a scratch coat otherwise the blockwork will shine through 👍

[@pagey5457]

Quick question from a fellow spread of years experience why you scratching that it’s miles away from being ready

[@PlasteringForBeginners]

The builders wanted it scratching before the conservatory goes up. The main wall is being finish before assembly so that's the reason 👍

[@pagey5457]

@@PlasteringForBeginners I’ve currently got an on going job that they want bits and pieces done and can’t finish one room drives me mad as want to get in and out not keep going back keep up up the good work

[@gregoryderwon3133]

You know in my country they never applie a sratch coat... The first coat is the only coat..and that is rendered smooth. So I wonder why this is done... Maybe depending on climate? Cause we live in a tropical country

[@IANNEIL77]

Should of just mixed ya render in the puddle (LOL)

[@PlasteringForBeginners]

Haha that's not a bag idea 😂

[@Saintathantwinpeaks]

One coin deducted for 'of' instead 'have', a free pass on 'ya', and ten coins awarded for your comment.

[@tobybarker6808]

it says on the sbr that you can and should use it in the top coat, unless I read it wrong. off to check the bottle now

[@PlasteringForBeginners]

It's just horrible to float and sponge with - it makes it harder to get a nice finish. That's just my opinion pal 👍

[@tobybarker6808]

@@PlasteringForBeginners cool thanks. do you use water proofer in top coat?

[@bankboybenstevens5687]

I’ve been plastering for 22 years , great video shame you used the wrong corner beads should use stainless steal ones

[@cormacs4749]

What's the difference I'm just wondering ? Thank you :)

[@mogsybriggs5930]

where do you live please can you do my house.

[@dbgers784]

4:1 scratch coat is very weak, especially outside 😳

[@PlasteringForBeginners]

It's pretty standard matey 👍

[@GaZonk100]

any stronger and he crack