Maintenance of The Different Types
Avoid using a harsh hose nozzle when you do come to wash down your render, as you don’t want to cause lasting damage
Here, we’ll talk about the maintenance required for different types of render. The amount you’re willing to spend on maintenance and the time needed should go into your decision of the render you select for the finish of your home.
Monocouche - taking care of this finish is crucial if you would like it to last for life. It is possible for it to last forever, but only if you’re committed to taking good care of it. A gentle pressure wash or hand wash is recommended once every 6-12 months, or when you notice that it is looking a little dirty.
It’ll give it back it’s sparkling finish, and you’ll be able to avoid using more harsh cleaning chemicals later on down the line, which could break up the render and make things more expensive for you in the long run. When you have had this render initially installed, you should usually refrain from touching it for a minimum of 28 days, as everything needs to be cured and set.
It’ll take around 28 days for this type of render to reach its optimum strength. Avoid using a harsh hose nozzle when you do come to wash down your render, as you don’t want to cause lasting damage. Always rinse off detergent as you go along so that it doesn’t cause any damage.
Fungicidal wash can get rid of mould growth if you notice it, but this may not be necessary. You can apply this with a sponge, cloth or knapsack spray, then leave it to dry for 24 hours.Silicone - as this option is hydrophobic, it tends to resist organic growth such as mould, so you will often find that it needs very little maintenance for as long as you have it. It’s better to clean this option as and when you need to, as it probably won’t show much dirt at all.
Never use acid cleaners as this will damage the render. If you want to paint over this at any point, using silicone paint is required. Silicone paint will extend the lifetime of your render, but make sure you give it a gentle wash and allow it to dry fully first.
If organic growth does happen to appear, a fungicidal wash works best.Acrylic render - grime and pollution tend to affect acrylic renders more, as they do not have the same hydrophobic properties as other render options. Because of this, they may look dirtier over time. If you live in a cold or wet area, you are likely to notice mould.
The larger the grain size, the more chance you have of your render retaining dirt. A soft bristled brush can be used with warm water as well as a household detergent to clean your render. If it looks very dirty, a low-pressure jet wash will work.
As a minimum, one gentle wash a year is a good idea. You may want to paint over the facade with silicone paint if you begin to notice heavy staining at any point.Mineral render - the aftercare for this type of render varies slightly from the rest. After the mineral render has been applied, it must be painted with silicone paint so that lime bloom can be prevented. If the render is subjected to damp conditions and paint is not applied, lime bloom will appear.
The silicone paint will help to seal the render against the elements, giving it a tougher finish and protective layer. Lime bloom is very difficult to get rid of once it has appeared, even with the cleaners that are available on the market to get rid of it. Because of this, you should always use a silicone paint on your mineral render. Signs of lime bloom include lightning and patchiness.
Providing you apply silicone paint, lime bloom will not be a problem for you and maintenance will then be the same as silicone render. Simply remove dirt with a gentle jet wash and soapy water. If you want to refresh this, later on, you can apply silicone paint to give it another protective layer and a fresh finish.Pebbledash - this is supposed to be an extremely hard wearing finish, but there are still problems that can cause things like mould growth. Removing any organic growth with a brush and water is a good idea, but scrubbing too hard will cause stones to fall off, so do be careful.
Spray the rest with the EWI-360 Fungicidal Wash and leave it on for 24 hours afterwards. There shouldn’t be any growth left after this, but if there is, the brush and water should get rid of what’s left. Over time, the stones on pebbledash may fall off naturally. This is just due to weathering, but it can affect the overall look of your property. The lack of stones will also leave the render susceptible to bad weather.
You can’t repair pebbledash in patches, and painting over it will likely make it look worse. If you want the old look back, you will have to have it re-rendered. You may want to replace it with coloured render.