Dealing With Damaged Paving

If you have an extensive renovation project on your hands, you will be lining up various contractors to look after certain parts of it, as the work progresses. You may already have engaged the builder to create the structure and the roofer to do their finest work. Next, you need to make sure that all the walls, both outside and inside are protected and look as good as possible. For this work you will need to find cement rendering services.

To put simply, cement rendering is a protective coating. It can be applied to both the exterior and interior walls of a home for purely decorative effect, while also helping to avoid the degenerative effects of rain and sun. So what options are available to help protect and beautify your home and how do they stack up against each other?

Cement

Traditionally, cement was the material of choice and it's still used extensively on outside walls. It is usually applied in several different coats and is mixed on site. Each coat has a different consistency and must be applied carefully and promptly if it is to take hold and be durable. Individual pits or scratches are incorporated into each layer, which allows the next coat to set properly on top. The final coat has a thinner consistency to give it a special sheen and to make it ready for painting.

Polymer

While cement is very popular, it is vulnerable to structural movement and can crack in certain circumstances. It may also need regular painting to maintain its appearance. This is why contractors often turn to a polymer mix, featuring lime and white cement. These polymers make the surface less prone to structural movement or cracking and they can be applied in a number of different colours. In this case, it may not be necessary to paint after all.

Acrylic

You may decide to mix the approach and apply concrete as a base, with an acrylic render as the finished coat. This is very durable as it has a fibre content that prevents cracking. Different colours may also be selected here and silicon-based acrylic renders are very easy to keep clean.

Lime

If you want to avoid concrete altogether, then you may consider opting for a solution made from lime. These are a little more expensive than cement and traditionally come in a special tub or a bag. The tradesmen will mix the solution with sand and apply with a hand trowel in the usual way.

If you want to learn about these and other alternatives, ask your contractor about costs, labour and time, so you can price and prepare for your job accordingly.