Search results

Normal bricklaying mortar is usually gauged by shovel, coloured mortars gauged by buckets. The darker the colour the more critical the consistency becomes. Internally or Externally

Have you considered internal insulation? Something like an Actis multifoil inslation system?

Had the agent from Socli (Castle and Roundtower) round to specify internal and external renders. He advised to use the Natural hydraulic lime (3.5 or 5) / sand with a handful of cement as a base coat for both and then Monolys internally and Rencolor externally. Both systems can be manual or...

Does that help the problem or make it worse Brendan? i.e. is it like external bricks, absorbs moisture and then releases without adverse effects

From memory, wasn't there a time when chopping out the walls ties was all the rage to cure this problem. Must have looked like the backdrop to a 20mm firing squad.

It's the sealed windows and doors that cause the problem. It always makes me laugh when we buy weather sealed windows and doors and then fit background ventilation vents in the frames.

Heat and Ventilation.

Is that internal surface condensation or interstitial condensation?

Normal clay blocks are made from a log extrusion, cut and then fired. The cutting and firing distorts the block a little. Not normally a problem if laid with a normal 10mm mortar bed joint. These blocks are extruded in long lengths, the lengths are then fired and then the blocks are...

I'd be keen to keep customers happy if I were charging 4-500% the cost of the materials just for mixing and bagging.

The machined faces on the blocks I used where as flat as any machine bed I've ever seen, they were exact and the thin bed joint worked well.

I've found the trick with these blocks is to be very exact in the laying of the first course. It must be bag-on level and plumb as there is no room to alter later, with there being no bed joint. The rest ‘should’ have been pretty easy, however, the 50’s do not come with the accessory...

Meshing sounds complicated.

I think it goes like this. It's very much like electric room storage heaters. The fire bricks inside the heater, which are high mass, take-on-board heat from an electrical element and stocks it until needed. It then gives it back on demand. In the case of high mass insulation...

Here's a link to the actual blocks I've used, R50's which are 500mm deep...

Hopefully got a rep from a company called Socli coming out on Monday to show us some Chaux Aerienne products for the internal walls, not a nhl. I think it's probably a non-hydraulic lime cement mix.

They really don't need it. When I said I was not convinced of the stated ‘U’ values, I’m never convinced by any manufactures of their thermal insulation figures as they are tested in labs and not on sites but I don’t think they are far short. They are quite a bit different from the...

The companies here pay quite a lot for their indemnity insurance as I believe it covers a compulsory 10 year guarantee on all works. I've been in France for 2 years on-and-off getting this house out the ground so I still keep up with what's going on in the uk. I only dissolved the company...

Company taxes and indemnity insurance can be high pushing rates up.

Odd post coming from someone called spunky.

I'm not totally convinced by the claimed 'U' values either that's why I went for the 50R (500mm thick). Out here it's not so much the winter insulation more the summer insulation from the direct sunlight. They stood up well during last years warm season, you just have to be mindfull of too...

I think I'm going to try the same for some small interior areas, different local lime render mixes and see how they take. The bigger areas I'll dot-n-dab plasterboard as I think the mixture of the two textures will work nicley inside. Many thanks for your help Brendan, it's very much appreciated.

Prices for renderers as far as I can see are not low here, but they are not expensive either. I think the recent slowing of British customers has brought prices to their natural/usual levels, hence why I'm not to worried about paying for the rending as a package. I imagine that the working...

Thanks for the advice. I imagine I'll end up with a supply & fit package as I'd rather have the assurance if things go wrong. Make sure the company has been around a good few years too.

I wasn't having a pop either and take the advice with thanks. I think you're right about product selection. I need to do a bit more research. Also, I thought the cheese/toast senario worked well as rendering falling off a wall isn't goin to kill ya. P.S What are Mats?

I've been through the literature a little more and it even gives the mix and application specifications and for all render types mentioned before, Lime, S/c and Monocouche. I think I'm coming to my own conclusions that Monocouche, being French and probably developed for the more Mediterranean...

Hi plasterjfe, As I've explained in earlier posts, I'm not trying to reduce the price and compromise the quality of work, quite the oposite. It's just the price of materials. I've set aside a sufficient budget for the rendering. As a percentage, it will be the most expensive part of the...

Sorry, here they are as links not HTML. Is there a way of editting posts? https://www.porothermuk.co.uk Clay Block, Walling System, Modern Wall Building Methods of Construction

Hi lucius, Thanks for the reply. Here are some links below to the uk version for the Porotherm blocks I've used. The first is a general site link, the second takes you to a pdf download page. I've just recieved a pdf of rendering specifications but it's in French, I've ask for it in...

Thanks Brendan, that all kind-of makes sense. I'm not completely convinced by the prebagged renders being breathable enough for the Porotherm block background. These blocks are very porus, which gives them their insulating quality, howerver they are used here a lot and the monocouche seems to...

What is a builder to do?

Hi Brendan, Thanks for the reply. Are the Brendan Kelly on Youtube giving lime rendering leasons? Have you used both lime renders by blending lime (NHL3.5 or 5) and sand on site and used prebagged products like Monorex to give a comparison?

Not sure about gettng a pitted finish with sand cement, I would go for a sponged finish as it would be cheaper anyway.

If I was to render it myself in nhl I would spray apply and taloshe (wooden float) the tops back, or talosh and sponge a smooth finish. The reason for the pitted finish with Monorex is that it works out cheaper and would still be a nice contrast against the sponged raised bands around the...

Unfortunely not. Still, no a problem, as long as I don't pay over the odds I'm not worried.

Yes. I've found everthing made in France is more expensive in France than in the UK. Can't work it out.

South of France, Languedoc-Roussillon region.

Hi besty, Thanks for the offer, but I rarely get involved with the plastering/rendering side of things. When I do I just usally let the guys get on with it, that's what they're good at and I trust them. Unfortunately my usual guys aren't availavle for this project due to location. I don't...

Good call, I'll email them. They must have come across Porotherm before as it's very common for this type of build. I've been in touch with Wienerberger but they won't be specific about product naming, just types of render.

I'm not quite ready for render yet anyway, just doing the homework. I should be ready for about September/October this year. I've been talking to some others that have used the nhl/sand hand mix, to what success, I'm not sure. I think you've got to really know what you're doing with it...

Sorry, misread that mate. Doh!

What do you mean by 'leave it with nhl'? Just so I know.

I would like walling to be scraped with raised banding around windows in smooth. I would also like all the walls with windows inside to be rendered smooth.

Here spunky, I've been sat here going over some CAD drawings for a planning application and enjoying the crack. I'm pretty sure it's worth going with the bagged products (Monorex) just for the peace-of-mind and the finish. Hope I can find good trade to do it justice. However, I'm still not...

No I don't understand the difference. The CoSH sheet for Monorex doesn't state it contains much other than NHL3.5 and sand aggregates. It mentions other minerals but nothing specific, and as far as I can see, not in any significant quanities otherwise it would have to be listed for CoSH...

I presume so as the heating process of calcium and clay produces silicates

Ok, but ALL plasterers I know and have used in the past site mix their S/c render. I've never been asked to supply cpi or any other similar product. It might be the go for larger sites where time is premium, that's not necessary in this case. I've just come back from a builders merchants...

No, neither are you expected to have aggregrates, limestone and gypsum quarries, but you still use sand/cement renders mixed on site. Do you buy sand/cement prebagged?

Please don't get me wrong spunky, I realise that the usual bagged products, bonding, multi finish etc. are all blended products, but I thought lime renders were a little different in as much as it was usual to make your own mix.

I personally do not have the knowledge to do so, but I assume you guys do but still choose to use the premixed products. The question is why? If I employ a professional renderer, I assume they have the knowledge and experience to blend a mix fit for purpose as I'm sure many of you have done...