Rendered walls are a stylish design choice for residential and commercial properties alike, giving a unique texture to the facade of a building. The result of applying a coat of cement to outdoor walls, rendering allows for a smooth or textured finish to be achieved. While this is a popular design choice, it also sees your walls benefit from greater durability and water repellence, making it a highly functional inclusion on all properties.
However, rendered walls inevitably become subject to wear and tear, making regular maintenance and quality render repair an important task in maintaining the functionality and aesthetic appeal of your property. To assist you in this process and make sure you’re never left wondering how to repair a rendered wall, the team at All Districts Coatings has produced this step-by-step guide to make sure your rendered walls remain in fantastic condition.
Step 1: Prepare The Work Area
- Clear The Area
Before you begin repairing rendered walls, it’s important to clear the work area of any potential obstacles or objects that may inhibit your work. It’s also a good idea to lay coverings on the surrounding ground to protect them from the dust and debris that may be present. Following this, any loose or damaged material must be removed, as well as any dirt or dust that may interfere with the render repair process. Preparing the area will allow for work to be completed quickly with minimal interferences, and it will make for a more efficient and effective process.
- Take Precautions
The best render repair processes are always conducted with the greatest respect for safety, with protective eyewear and gloves being important in protecting yourself against dust and debris. The use of a dust mask may also be advisable when undertaking a render repair on a large scale.
Step 2: Identify the Problem
Problem identification is a vital step in repairing rendered walls as it ensures the correct solution is implemented. This makes sure the initial problem is properly addressed and prevents future issues from occurring.
- Common Issues With Rendered Walls
To assist you in identifying the problem you’re facing, it’s vital to gain an understanding of some of the most common issues that rendered walls face. Cracks or holes within the surface of rendered wall often occur simply as a result of general wear and tear, and chips, flaking, and peeling of the rendered surface can occur following prolonged exposure to the elements. Excessive moisture or UV exposure also can result in discolouration, stains, and surface degradation, all of which require specialised repairs.
- How To Diagnose The Problem
A number of easily observed features can assist in the diagnosis of the problem, and this makes sure the most appropriate solution is implemented. Initially, it’s advised to simply look for the signs of damage and wear on the surface, check for any moisture or water damage, and to determine the extent of the damage. This will help determine whether full re-rendering is required, or whether crack repairs, hole filling or a render patch repair is required.
Step 3: Gather the Tools and Supplies
- Essential Tools and Materials
To carry out effective render patching, it’s important to have access to a variety of different tools. Aside from precautionary protective equipment, you’ll need a trowel, a quality putty knife, sandpaper and sanding block, a patching compound, and a paintbrush. A two-part epoxy anchor will also be required if you are repairing a hole within your rendered wall.
- Tips For Choosing The Right Products
The best render repair will always make use of the most appropriate and specialised equipment, and central to this is your choice of patching compound among the various alternatives that are available. Compatibility is crucial to this process, so it’s important to select a patching compound that matches the texture of your existing compound, or at a minimum comes close to the existing texture. Once the proper products have been sourced, it’s vital that you keep in mind the specifications of its use to ensure you allocate sufficient drying time before undertaking any further repairs.
Step 4: Repair the Damage and Apply The Patch
Now that you’ve prepared the surface, assessed the damage, and sourced the necessary tools, it’s time to begin repairing the damaged surface.
- Repairing A Crack or Hole
To repair a crack in your rendering, you’ll need to use your thick-bristled brush to clear the area of any dirt, debris, or loose render, and then apply and then mix your chosen patching compound. When mixing the compound with water, ensure it reaches a smooth, creamy consistency that will be easy to spread.
Then, use either your trowel or putty knife to carefully push the compound into the crack, pushing it firmly to the edge of the crack to create a seamless bond. Repeat this process until the crack is filled entirely, and then use either the sanding block or trowel to smooth the surface and remove excess material. Following this, leave the area to dry for the recommended period of time, and then sand the surface down until it achieves your desired texture.
- Repairing a Hole
When a hole in your render is to be repaired, the repair and render patching process will be relatively similar, but instead, it will centre around the use of a two-part anchor. In this process, the anchor will be placed within the hole, and only after this will the patching compound be used to fill the hole.
When repairing a hole in your render, it’s also important to not spread the compound too thick, as this may result in inconsistent drying and see further cracking occur. To achieve a particularly smooth finish to your render patching, a damp sponge may be used to smoothen the surface prior to its drying, ensuring a consistent end result is achieved.
Step 5: Final Touches
To ensure your render repair has been completed to a high standard, there are a number of steps that you must take to inspect its quality. It’s important to check that the damaged area has sufficiently dried and the patch is secured. Determine whether there are any additional cracks or defects within the patching, and carefully sand down any ridges or inconsistent parts of the patch to ensure a consistent finish. Once these steps have been completed, it’s important to clean the surface and, if desired, add a sealant to the surface to give it further protection from the elements.
However, the key to properly repairing rendered walls is undoubtedly a consistent schedule of maintenance. Cleaning your rendered wall on a regular basis is a good place to start, as this prevents the build-up of any dirt and debris that can contribute to future damage. Regularly inspecting your wall and identifying any changes in its appearance is helpful in addressing issues early on, and consistently reapplying sealants will help protect the surface of your wall.
Still, Need Some Help?
By following these steps, your next render patching process should be a seamless and simple process. However, if you feel that you still need some help, don’t hesitate to contact the experts at All Districts Coatings who have years of experience in rendering repairs.
