Eco Mortar R series-St Astier.

violets dad.

New Member
Hello to everyone, New to this site, and after some advice on the Product in the heading. I've rendered over about 300m2 of old brickwork (about 110 years old, and Durisol block, in NHL 3.5. Not too many problems with that. I've been advised to use the Eco Mortar R series finishing plaster, as it apparently is more hard wearing, which is needed in the property i'm working on. I did a test with the Skim coat on Friday, and found it to be of a 'doughy' consistency, not a problem when laying it on in two passes, but I did have real problems in trowelling it up, I found that the eco mortar doesn't fill in like gypsum plaster, and it doesn't close, in the same way either. I have no experience in using this product, hence the test panel, I trowelled it as I would trowel Multi Finish, that wasn't great, then I used a sponge float, removing the fat, then pushing it back on again, slightly better results, but not what's required. The issue on this job is that all of the internal walls and party walls have been roughed-Skimmed With Sand and cement -Multi Finish, so it's a nice smooth finish, the external walls are Durisol block, which are made up of reconstituted timber, so these walls have to breath. Am I being over ambitious in thinking that I can achieve a smooth finish with the R series Plaster finish, or am I (probably) going wrong somewhere in the process of trowelling up? Any advice would be greatly appreciated.
 
I have never used the gear your on about but, you could Try another panel and try laying on and in with a cross grain float it may help with the misses.
 
I have never used the gear your on about but, you could Try another panel and try laying on and in with a cross grain float it may help with the misses.
Thanks for the reply raggles, i'll give it a whirl, it's a headache, that's for sure. I've phoned the technical department of the company that specialises in the stuff, and they weren't that bothered.
 
I have never used the gear your on about but, you could Try another panel and try laying on and in with a cross grain float it may help with the misses.

you can never lay anything on with a cross grain float. always a straight grain float. the cross grain float was only used on internal angles, skirting lines and ceiling lines on good quality work.
a lime finish will be a lot more open then a multi finish wall , multi is to fine a plaster.
 
Use a fine car sponge, if it's anything like the lime finishes I've used lay on in one coat, fill in where required, then get the sponge on it when it picks up, and again once all sponged up and almost set to sponge out any roughness. All about timing.
 
Thanks for that, i'
Use a fine car sponge, if it's anything like the lime finishes I've used lay on in one coat, fill in where required, then get the sponge on it when it picks up, and again once all sponged up and almost set to sponge out any roughness. All about timing.
Thanks for that, i'll give it a try. One of the problems that I've had, is that the lime render has fully dried out, I think the first time I laid onto it, I hadn't soaked the wall enough, today was different, I think that I over soaked the buggers! Took an age to pick up, and had a fair few air bubbles, which isn't a problem, as they were disappearing as time went on, and I found that using only a small amount of water and a fair bit of angle on the trowel was helping to close things up, although I think that i'll have to give it a dry trowel in the morning just to close it that little more. The gear i'm using takes an age to set. Am I right in thinking that it'll be difficult to achieve a really smooth finish with a lime plaster? this stuff is very fine, and binds together, I may have mis-understood your reply a little, but you do put the trowel on it after you've used the car sponge? sorry for all of the questions, all advice appreciated.
 
Thanks for that, i'

Thanks for that, i'll give it a try. One of the problems that I've had, is that the lime render has fully dried out, I think the first time I laid onto it, I hadn't soaked the wall enough, today was different, I think that I over soaked the buggers! Took an age to pick up, and had a fair few air bubbles, which isn't a problem, as they were disappearing as time went on, and I found that using only a small amount of water and a fair bit of angle on the trowel was helping to close things up, although I think that i'll have to give it a dry trowel in the morning just to close it that little more. The gear i'm using takes an age to set. Am I right in thinking that it'll be difficult to achieve a really smooth finish with a lime plaster? this stuff is very fine, and binds together, I may have mis-understood your reply a little, but you do put the trowel on it after you've used the car sponge? sorry for all of the questions, all advice appreciated.

With lime finishes you have to accept they will be slightly different....i.e grainy compared with multi finish. But if you go over the lime a few times catch it at the right time with the car sponge you should be able to get it very smooth...the final sponge takes any sponge marks out.

Generally I don't trowel lime finishes...maybe some on here do? But I've found using a sponge I can get a smooth finish.

Try just getting it on...flatten in, fill any hollows etc...then leave it, come back to it when picked up, sponge it, once it's all sponged up, wait until it's firmed right up then sponge any sponge lines out...

Got to be patient...

Hydraulic lime should be finish same day, Lime putty can be left over night finish next morning depending on temps.
 
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